Autonomization of Japanese State-owned Culture and Arts Facilities in Recent Years

Abstract

Autonomization soon became a debate during the first stage of modern Japan’s cultural policy as a result of the avoidance of central governments from cultural policy- making after Japan’s failure in World War II. Until the late 1980s, local governments and private sections acted as both dynamics and fundamental supports for the development of Japanese culture and arts. Since the 1990s, drastic changes have been seen together with the central governments’ active shift in cultural policy-making. The article provides a literature review of Japanese scholars’ studies and debates on enhancing autonomization of Japanese state-owned culture and arts facilities in recent years.