» 1. The Japan Foundation Awards
» 2. Profile (2012)
» 3. Commemorative Lectures (2012)
» 4. Ceremony and Reception (2012)

The Japan Foundation Awards

The Japan Foundation honors individuals and organizations that have significantly contributed to the promotion of international mutual understanding and friendship through their outstanding academic, artistic or cultural activities over the years and are expected to continue to do so by presenting the Japan Foundation Awards.
This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the awards’ establishment in 1973, and one organization and two individuals are being honored for their outstanding achievements. * We don’t select recipients by the categories this year.
From 123 individuals and organizations nominated by experts from various fields in Japan and overseas, as well as public nomination, the selection committee has decided to honor three recipients.
The recipients may be granted a special audience with Their Imperial Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
The formal award given to each of the recipients is accompanied by a supplementary award of three million yen.

This is a part of the commemorative project to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Japan Foundation's establishment.

Recipients List

Recipients for The Japan Foundation Awards (2012)

Department of Japanese Language and Civilization, National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) [France]

Haruki Murakami (Writer/Translator) [Japan]

Irene Hirano Inouye, President, U.S.-Japan Council [U.S.A.]

The selection committee

Members of the selection committee

• Masato Kitamura
• Ryosei Kokubun
• Kumiko Sakoda
• Hiroshi Takahagi
• Akihiko Tanaka
• Taeko Nagai
• Toru Haga
• Hiroaki Fujii
• Tsutomu Mizusawa
• Yoshihiko Miyauchi *

Members of the screening subcommittees

• Masayuki Ikeno
• Ken Endo
• Hisashi Okajima
• Kazuko Shimada
• Mitsuyoshi Numano
• Jacqueline Berndt
• Lee Jong Won
• Hideo Levy
• Yasushi Watanabe

Awards and Special Prizes:Recipients List