無形文化財人間国宝Mukobunkasai Ningenkokuho
Living National Cultural Treasure
重要無形文化財（人間国宝）
Japan is probably, as far as I know the only country in the world which has established a system of recognition of the capability itself in the art and craft of an artist rather than in its creation. This system has been established in 1950 in order to preserve the most traditional art and craft of Japan. However it does not mean that there are living cultural treasures for every sort of art, only those who really have to be0