Revised Law Enacted to Beef Up Cultural Affairs Agency

June 8, 2018

Tokyo- Japan's parliament enacted Friday revised legislation to enhance the functions of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, ahead of the agency's relocation from Tokyo to Kyoto by the end of fiscal 2021.

The bill was approved at a plenary meeting of the House of Councilors, the upper chamber of parliament, the same day. The House of Representatives, the lower chamber, passed it in May.

The revised law will take effect on Oct. 1.

It newly stipulates the agency will cooperate with other government ministries and agencies to take the lead in cultural administration.

Certain business operations will be handed over to the agency from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, with which the agency is affiliated.

Such operations include administrative work related to museums and curriculum guidelines for music and art classes at elementary and junior high schools. Jiji Press