Cultural heritage is a symbol of the history, traditions and culture of a country, but through various causes like wars and natural disasters, there are many properties of precious tangible and intangible cultural heritage which are currently placed at risk. International cooperation to protect cultural heritage not only shows respect for the cultures of others, but also creates a stable foundation for the international community. Accordingly, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been concentrating on that as one of the pillars its diplomatic (外交的) policy.
For tangible cultural heritage, Japan is taking part in the international system of protection established through the World Heritage Convention. It has also been donating money for the protection of the historic ruins and buildings in various countries through the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation of the World Cultural Heritage set up through UNESCO, and by employing the excellent repair skills developed in Japan.
For intangible cultural heritage, Japan began well-developed domestic efforts for their protection with the establishment of the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties in 1950, far ahead of other countries. Since then, it has been using the knowledge that it gained through that experience to take a leading role in the creation and enforcement of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the. Intangible Cultural Heritage. In addition, Japan has also been financially supporting the conservation of traditional dances, music, and craftsmanship in various countries through the Japanese Funds-in-Trust.
Cultural diplomacy may take a long time to yield results. Nevertheless, Japan believes the support for the cultural heritage is the pride of people in a nation which touches the hearts of people directly. This kind of aid does not stop with just material but also conveys Japan’s knowledge, skills and heart, which can bring about a great long-term benefit.
【小题1】What does-the underlined word “that” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Building an international community |
| B．Creating a stable foundation for the world. |
| C．Showing respect for the cultures of other countries. |
| D．Cooperating with other countries for cultural heritage. |
| A．Donating money. | B．Using repair skills. |
| C．Making relevant laws. | D．Setting a good example. |
| A．It helps to sell of Japan’s skills. |
| B．It brings about immediate benefits. |
| C．It advances international relationship. |
| D．It strengthens the national pride of Japanese. |
| A．Japan’s Cultural Heritage at Risk |
| B．Japan’s Cultural Diplomatic Policy |
| C．The Benefits of Cherishing Culture |
| D．The Classification of Cultural Heritage |
