Through critical reading of publications by scholars, officials, and culture-bearers involved in intangible cultural heritage policy and practice, examination of history of heritage conservation; concepts of tangible and intangible heritage; pioneering roles of Japan, South Korea, and UNESCO in making intangible cultural heritage focal point of much cultural policy worldwide; tensions among international ideals, nation-state nationalisms, regionalism, ethnicity, and indigeneity in creating intangible cultural heritage policies in different settings; U.S. equivalents to intangible cultural heritage policies and practices in other countries; roles of private individuals, community initiative, and professional organizations in cultural preservation schemes; and related concept of sustainability