The comments about Rolf Harris remind me that Bill Cosby was considered a National Treasure in the US until his sex scandals came to light.
Living National Treasures 人間国宝 Ningen Kokuhō are people who designated as having a high mastery of particular traditional Japanese arts or crafts such as kabuki, noh, and lacquerware.
I’m not really into these traditional arts and crafts, so I haven’t really had any discussions with people about it. I asked a couple of friends about it, and while they believe the people are really good at their arts and crafts, it’s not something they really think about.
I presume people who are really into those particular fields would know a lot more about the individuals.
They announce new people on Culture Day, a national holiday.
I recall that a Japanese professor at a university I once worked for was given what I remembered as a “National Treasure” title, but Wikipedia says it was the Order of Culture (文化勲章, Bunka-kunshō). I don’t know where that stands in the hierarchy of official honours.
I forgot another international treasure:
Hayao Miyazaki
Obviously!
If the door’s open to legendary figures from the past, I’d say the American lineup wouldn’t be complete without Carl Sagan, whose cosmic curiosity made the universe feel a little closer, or George Carlin, with his fearless wit, Benjamin Franklin deserves a spot for his founding brilliance and ingenuity. And while Walt Disney’s legacy isn’t without its controversies, there’s no denying the sheer impact of his imagination on global culture.
Hopping over to Britain, Winston Churchill stands tall for his wartime resolve, and Dame Vera Lynn for keeping spirits high through her music during WWII. Rowan Atkinson—Mr. Bean to many—brought comedic genius to the table, while the Beatles, … they changed music forever. Rounding things out, you can’t forget William Shakespeare, who remains as relevant as ever, and Stephen Hawking, whose mind expanded our understanding of the cosmos.
Neil de Grasse Tyson has replace Sagan as America’s most prominent astronomer but he does NOT seem to get the same level of respect Sagan did.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is undoubtedly a skilled science and astronomy communicator, much like Carl Sagan. However, with the rise of countless science communicators online, his impact feels somewhat diluted amid the ever-growing chorus of voices.
If we’re not limited to the living, I would add Fred Rogers and Jim Henson.
For Generation Y, Levar Burton comes to mind, due to what he did for reading on Reading Rainbow. Which then makes me think of Bill Nye.
Speaking of science (fiction), I’ll nominate George Takei and Mark Hamill.
Danny DeVito?
Yeah, if we go back:
George Carlin - the real answer to the best comedian of all time, partly because he lived into his 70’s(still too young!) and evolved his act to higher levels throughout his 40’s and 50’s. “We need him now” is something I hear all the time and that shows how treasured he was.
Fred Rogers - the real deal. He was the real deal. That’s how I want to be described. What we saw is what he was. Great man.