Tomo Ishimura

Affiliation: Head, Audio-Visual Documentation Section, Department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
Job Class: Associate Professor
Specialty: Central Asia Archaeology

Research Topic

I am conducting research at the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, which contributes to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in Japan and overseas. I am also studying international trends in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, including the UNESCO 2003 Convention. In addition, as a cooperative researcher at the International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (IRCI), I am also involved in research on disaster risk management for intangible cultural heritage and research on intangible cultural heritage in SDGs.

Kanazawa is a treasure trove of intangible cultural heritage, including traditional performing arts such as Nohgaku and craft techniques such as gold-leaf crafts and Kaga Yuzen textile. As a visiting staff of this university, I carry out research that contributes to the protection and utilization of cultural heritage in this area.

Selected Publications

• Ishimura, T. 2020. Issues Regarding the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage Related to Religion in Japan. In S.-L. Wang, M. Rowlands and Y. Zhu (eds), Heritage and Religion in East Asia, pp. 187-203. London and New York, Routledge.