Japan group sets definition of hot spring culture for UNESCO heritage bid – Japan Wire by KYODO NEWS

Report on Japan’s Onsen Culture: UNESCO Bid and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

A formal initiative is underway to secure UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status for Japan’s hot spring (Onsen) culture. A key step in this process has been the establishment of a formal definition by the Japan Onsen Association. This report outlines the definition, the stakeholders involved, and analyzes the intrinsic alignment of Onsen culture with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.0 Definition and Cultural Significance

The Japan Onsen Association, in collaboration with cultural experts, has defined the practice as a long-standing tradition of bathing in natural thermal waters to achieve mental and physical comfort. This definition aims to articulate the tradition’s deep connection to Japanese cultural identity and its sustainable relationship with the natural environment.

• Historical Context: The practice is documented in Japan’s oldest chronicles, such as the Kojiki, demonstrating its ancient origins.
• Holistic Well-being: It emphasizes therapeutic bathing customs for physical relief and spiritual comfort, viewing geothermal resources as “gifts from the environment.”
• Connection to Nature: Bathing allows for a direct connection with nature and the changing seasons, reinforcing a cultural identity rooted in environmental respect.

3.0 Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The promotion and safeguarding of Onsen culture contribute directly to several key SDGs, positioning it as a model of sustainable cultural practice.

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The core purpose of Onsen is to provide mental and physical comfort through the healing and therapeutic effects of thermal waters. This directly supports the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The UNESCO bid is an explicit effort to protect and safeguard cultural heritage, aligning with Target 11.4. Onsen are often central to local communities, supporting sustainable tourism and preserving local identity and traditions.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land: The culture is founded on a profound respect for geothermal resources and the natural environment. This perspective promotes the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and recognizes humanity’s connection to nature.

4.0 Preservation Framework and Stakeholder Roles

The safeguarding of the Onsen tradition is a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders who ensure its continuity and sustainable management.

• Cultural and Governmental Bodies: The Japan Onsen Association and a government council are leading the UNESCO nomination process. Central and local governments provide a protective legal framework through various laws and ordinances.
• Local Stewards: Inn operators and traditional guardians, known as “yumori,” are active participants in the daily management and preservation of hot springs, ensuring their sustainable use for future generations.

5.0 Future Outlook

The government council is anticipated to select candidates for the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list within the year. The formal application will be submitted to UNESCO with the objective of achieving inscription by 2028. This recognition would formally acknowledge the global significance of Onsen culture as a sustainable practice that promotes well-being, community, and respect for nature.

Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article highlights that Japan’s hot spring culture is a long-standing practice for achieving “mental and physical comfort.” It mentions that people have long sought “physical relief through the healing effects of thermal waters” and that the practice offers “spiritual comfort.” This directly connects to the promotion of health and well-being.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The central theme of the article is Japan’s effort to have its hot spring culture inscribed on the “UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.” This initiative is a direct effort to protect and safeguard a significant cultural heritage, which is a key component of making communities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The article describes hot springs as “gifts’ from the environment” and mentions the role of traditional guardians known as “yumori.” This implies a culture of sustainable use and respect for natural resources. The onsen culture, supported by inn operators and local communities, represents a form of sustainable tourism that promotes local culture.

Specific SDG Targets

Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being

• The article’s definition of the onsen culture as a practice for “mental and physical comfort” and “spiritual comfort” directly aligns with the goal of promoting mental health and well-being as part of preventing non-communicable diseases.

Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage

• This target is explicitly addressed. The entire article revolves around the Japanese government’s “bid for the tradition’s early inscription on the UNESCO list.” The government council’s consideration, the crafting of a formal definition, and the aim for inscription are all concrete actions to “protect and safeguard” this intangible cultural heritage.

Target 12.b: Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism

• The article implies this target through its discussion of the structures supporting the onsen culture. The involvement of “Inn operators,” “traditional guardians known as ‘yumori’,” and the safeguarding of the practice through “various laws and related ordinances” by central and local governments can be seen as tools and frameworks for managing and promoting a form of sustainable tourism that benefits local culture and communities.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Implied Indicators for Target 3.4

• The article implies the existence and official recognition of traditional cultural practices that contribute to well-being. The government’s effort to formally define and seek UNESCO recognition for a practice centered on “mental and physical comfort” serves as an indicator of promoting cultural assets for health.

Implied Indicators for Target 11.4

• Government action for heritage protection: The primary indicator is the government’s formal process of submitting an application to UNESCO. The article states, “the government must submit an application to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization outlining the item’s definition and cultural characteristics.”
• Legal frameworks for preservation: The article mentions that “central and local governments safeguard the practice through various laws and related ordinances,” which serves as a direct indicator of established measures to protect cultural heritage.

Implied Indicators for Target 12.b

• Community-based management systems: The mention of “traditional guardians known as ‘yumori'” who “actively support the use of hot springs” points to an established, community-level system for the sustainable management of a cultural and natural resource.
• Formalization of cultural practices for sustainable tourism: The effort by the Japan Onsen Association to compile a formal definition is an indicator of developing tools to promote and manage this cultural practice in a sustainable manner.

Summary Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: english.kyodonews.net