Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs was set up in 1968 as a special body of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Its founding purpose was to promote Japanese arts and culture.
Living national treasures, known in Japanese as ningen kokuho, are individual masters of traditional arts and crafts designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. About seventy people hold this title at any given time; each receives a lifetime annual pension of two million yen and financial support to train disciples.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs was responsible for 1,805 historic sites, including the ancient capitals of Asuka, Heijokyo, and Fujiwara, along with 410 scenic places and 1,027 national monuments. Over ten thousand items held the designation of Important Cultural Properties.
The agency is based in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. Main parts of the agency moved to Kyoto in 2023, while other parts remained in Tokyo.
The Order of Culture is Japan's highest artistic accolade, personally bestowed by the Emperor. The Agency for Cultural Affairs administers the Japan Art Academy, which nominates honorees and awards 3.5 million yen in prize money to members.
The agency funds the national museums of modern art in Kyoto and Tokyo, The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, and national museums of Japanese and Asian art in Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Fukuoka. These institutions exhibit both Japanese and international shows.