Tanedori of Taketomi Island: Intergenerational Transmission of Intangible Heritage.

This paper examines performing arts as Intangible Cultural Properties, and considers their transmission, focusing on the case of Tanedori of Taketomi Island (hereafter Tanedori) one of the Important Intangible Folk cultural Properties of Taketomi-cho in Okinawa Prefecture. In particular, it focuses on the importance of the mutual relationship between local communities and schools. Tanedori refers to the ritual of planting rice or millet. In the past this ritual was performed all over Okinawa Prefecture. Tanedori faces the same sort of challenges as many other intangible heritage activities - lack of people to carry on the tradition and a declining and aging local population. This paper provides a case study on the role schools can play, through the active engagement of teachers and principals with the local communities, in the transmission of ritual performances