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On November 8, Man Nomura, Chair of the Nohgaku Performers’ Association and a Noh actor himself, visited the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to make a request regarding policies to promote culture and art. The meeting was attended by Takeshi Maeda (HC), Chair of the Committee on Corporate and External Organizations, Megumu Tsuji (Deputy Chair of the Committee, HR), Takashi Kii (Deputy Chair of the Committee, HR), and Hiroshi Hamamoto (Vice Chair of the Committee, HC). In addition, a DPJ member of the House of Representatives, Hideo Hiraoka, a close friend of Nomura, also attended the meeting. The participants exchanged opinions on the importance of measures for the advancement of culture and art.
Nomura stated, “On the occasion of the enactment of the Basic Act on the Promotion of Culture and the Arts, we established the forum that I chair and began work aiming to promote culture and art together with related organizations. I sincerely appreciate the adoption of petitions that call for the cultural policy to be set as a part of the core of the nation.” He continued, “Chairs of the Parliamentary League for Music, Kan Suzuki (HC) and Kansei Nakano (HR), made efforts to enact laws concerning the promotion of theaters and music halls. I appreciate the emphasis on art in the government’s work.”
Nomura submitted a request entitled, “Continuation and amplification of the exemption of fixed property taxes imposed on the land and buildings of Noh theaters and Noh stages, which are indispensable for the succession of Nohgaku.” Concerning the tax revisions of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the paper requests: 1) the continuance of existing measures and amplification of lasting measures; 2) the revision of exemption measures into no tax measures; and 3) the amplification of the applicable scope of measures to General Incorporated Associations, General Incorporated Foundations, Special Provisional Civic Law Incorporations and other organizations that fulfill certain terms and conditions. Nomura also stressed the importance of Noh stages for rehearsal purposes that do not open to the public, and called for taxation measures and support toward the maintenance of such stages.
Maeda showed his understanding, remarking, “I am fascinated with Noh. I believe it is one of the world's preeminent, deep and wonderful cultural activities. I hope above all that the three requests will be taken into consideration by the government in order to enhance this important aspect of Japanese culture.”
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