Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Parliamentary Vice-Minister Horii Iwao attended the 2026 Japan Foundation Awards ceremony in Tokyo on October 21, 2026. This year's recipients are Fukutake Soichiro, the architectural firm SANAA, and the German publisher Judicium Verlag.
Congratulating the recipients, the Vice-Minister said their accumulated efforts toward international mutual understanding through the arts and scholarship are more important than ever. The Ministry said it will continue to promote international cultural exchange in cooperation with overseas missions, the Japan Foundation and related organizations.
The Japan Foundation Awards are given to individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to mutual understanding and friendship through cultural activities such as scholarship and the arts. Established in 1973, the awards reached their 53rd year this time.
Key points
- An award honoring efforts for mutual understanding through culture, the arts and scholarship
- Established in 1973; this was the 53rd year
- The Ministry plans to promote cultural exchange with the Japan Foundation and others
Why this news deserves attention
International cooperation is often associated with development and humanitarian aid, but cultural exchange that helps people know one another is also an important foundation of trust between countries and people. A long-running award ceremony shows that society as a whole supports such efforts.
Editor's comment
Cultural exchange rarely produces quick, visible results, but over time it builds understanding. This year's recipients' work may offer inspiration for exchange across borders.
We hope you will also look for cultural exchange opportunities close to you.