Traditional Japanese cuisine was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list Dec. 4, raising the government's hopes of enhancing its global recognition, attracting more foreign tourists and boosting exports of the country's agricultural products.
The proposal was formally approved by the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee in Baku.
The move comes as the country faces a low food self-sufficiency rate of around 40 percent and the spread of Western eating habits.
"Washoku" is the 22nd Japanese asset on the list. (Kyodo)
国連教育科学文化機関(ユネスコ)は12月4日、アゼルバイジャンのバクーで政府間委員会を開き、日本政府が推薦した和食を無形文化遺産に登録することを決めた。
The Japan Times ST: December 20, 2013