Among the intangible folk cultural properties (such as folk customs, public entertainments and traditional skills), the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology can designate the ones judged to be especially important as "important intangible folk cultural properties" (Article 78, Clause 1).
また、文部科学大臣は、風俗慣習、民俗芸能、民俗技術などの無形の民俗文化財のうち特に重要なものを重要無形民俗文化財に指定することができる（第78条第1項）。