Agency system in culture will strengthen government control on art and culture--Akahata editorial, December 26, 2001 (excerpts)

The Koizumi Cabinet is planning to turn the Japan Arts Council into an independent administrative agency as part of the government streamlining of special corporations.

The Japan Arts Council subsidizes artistic and cultural activities through the Arts Foundation, and is taking part in the management of the National Theater and the New National Theater.

The New National Theater has gained a key position as a house presenting challenging and creative works that deal with present society.

The National Theater, specialized mainly in performing conventional arts and shows, has an important part in performing some plays based on an unabridged version which doesn't pay in commercial theaters, and in educating possible successors.

The streamlining program calls for squeezing and an eventual end to state subsidies paid via the Foundation.

The serious problem is that after the Arts Council is turned into an independent administrative agency, the government can "control" artistic and cultural activities to which freedom and spontaneity are vital.

In the name of the need to cut administrative costs, the new agency would be subjected to "assessment" by a body in the Education, Science and Technology Ministry. By reflecting the assessment in the next fiscal year's budget allocation, the government can heavily influence the agency.

In enacting a basic law for the promotion of culture and art, Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers expressed concerns about possible government intervention, and demanded that it be checked. The streamlining program shows that the danger of state intervention in art and culture has become real.

The National and New National Theaters, after becoming independent administrative agencies, will very likely to be paid by the state less than before, with the result of their operations being commissioned to private companies.

Many drama and cinema people have protested against this streamlining program. Ways to improve the New National Theater and the Arts Foundation are now being sought after. The government should provide public support for the improvement of the conditions for artistic and cultural activities and should end its attempts to intervene in the management and performance of cultural bodies. (end)