UNESCO Adds Washoku to Intangible Heritage List

Tokyo, Dec. 4 (Jiji Press)--UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee Wednesday approved Japan's application to add its "washoku" traditional cuisine to the global body's intangible cultural heritage list. "Transmitted from generation to generation, washoku plays an important role in strengthening social cohesion among the Japanese people while providing them a sense of identity and belonging," the committee said. Washoku became Japan's 22nd intangible cultural heritage. The approval was made at a committee meeting in Azerbaijan. In March last year, Japan proposed that "Washoku, traditional dietary cultures of the Japanese, notably for the celebration of New Year" is registered in the list. The proposal described washoku as a social practice "associated with an essential spirit of respect for nature that is closely related to the sustainable use of natural resources." The proposal was partly aimed at helping win back trust in Japanese food lost due to the March 2011 accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s <9501> Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. In October this year, a UNESCO body that screens cultural heritage candidates recommended that washoku be inscribed on the list. END