Japan Press Weekly

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2024 October 30 - November 5 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

‘Far and expensive” prevents many people from enjoying culture and arts

Akahata editorial (excerpts)

Today, November 3, is Culture Day. The Basic Act on the Promotion of Culture and the Arts in its Article 2, Paragraph 3 states that the creation and enjoyment of culture and the arts is the “birthright of the people”.

According to a survey by the Cultural Affairs Agency, to the question “Did you participate in cultural or artistic events involving outings in 2023?” 45.3% of people answered “Yes,” down 6.9 points from the previous year.

Asked those who answered “No” for the reason, the most common response was “lack of interest” (23.6%), followed by “no performances or exhibitions in the neighborhood” (15.6%) and “too expensive, including admission and transportation fees” (14.0%). In other words, it can be said that “far and expensive” is what keeps them away from engaging in culture and the arts.

Long working hours in Japan may also deprive many people of sufficient free time to enjoy culture and the arts. It is essential for the government to promote measures which lead to shorter working hours in combination with higher wages.

Asked if their children have ever gone out to see performance arts and art exhibitions, about 60% of parents answered “No.” The lower the household income, the higher the percentage. This suggests that the economic disparity is creating a gap in children’s opportunities to have access to culture and the arts.

To the question “What do you think is important for children’s culture and art experiences?” the top response, at 30.7%, was “Enriching the experience of seeing performing arts and participating in cultural activities at school.” The government should improve its cultural and art programs so that all children can experience the arts at least once a year. It should ensure that the younger generations have opportunities to appreciate culture and the arts, with reference to, for example, the “Culture Pass” in France which directly supports the participation of young people aged between 15 and 18 years in cultural activities.

Japan is deficient in the promotion of the arts and culture. The budget for cultural affairs in Japan accounts only for 0.09% (106.2 billion yen) of the national budget, which is one-eighth that of France and one-twelfth that of South Korea. The government should cancel the planned major arms buildup, revise the regressive tax system that favors large corporations and the wealthy, and use part of the additional tax revenue generated to increase the cultural budget drastically.