The education ministry's Council for Cultural Affairs submitted a report to the minister on Friday recommending nine more people be designated as national living treasures, ministry officials said.
The nine include Sajio Hamada, 70, from Ino, Kochi Prefecture, who carries on the traditional Japanese skill of making paper by hand; Buncho Uji, 65, a shamisen player in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture; and Wakasanojo Tsuruga, 62, a Japanese puppet theater narrator in Tokyo.
The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry will officially announce the names shortly, the officials said.
A national living treasure is granted 2 million yen a year to help improve techniques in the arts.
The others are Nakasaburo Shinnai, 60, a puppet theater shamisen player in Tokyo; Minori Yoshita, 68, a gold leaf craftsman in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture; Kuroemon Katayama, 70, a leading Noh actor in Kyoto; Shoin Yamase, 68, a koto player in Tokyo; Kakiemon Sakaida, 66, a porcelain maker in Arita, Saga Prefecture; and Kiyotsugu Nakagawa 58, a woodcraft artist in Kyoto.
At present there are 113 people designated as national living treasures in the country. Japan has designated 279 people in total.