Fukuoka Prize is an Honorary award presented to the people who try their best to save the traditions alive in Asia and have also safeguard them. This prize is given to make people aware of the Asian cultures that are being forgotten and to let other Asians also learn so that they can be taken forward.
- Prize (medal and certificate) was first given in the year 1990.
- It is Presented by – Fukuoka City International Foundation ( earlier known as Yokatopia Foundation) and Fukuoka City, Japan.
This prize is given in 3 categories, namely :-
- Grand Prize
- Academic Prize
- Art and Culture Prize
- Grand Prize – It is for an Individual or an Organization for their contributions in the either field of Art and Culture or Academics to the conservation and modelling of Asian Culture and presenting its importance to the world. Prize money is 5,000,000 yen.
- Academic Prize – It is for an Individual or an Organization for their contributions in the field of Asain Studies which proved to be a benefaction for understanding Asia. The academic fields it covers are such as History, Economics, Anthropology and Political Science. Prize money is 3,000,000 yen.
- Art and Culture Prize – It is for an Individual or an Organization for their contributions in presenting the unique and diverse Art and Culture that of Asia. The academic fields it covers are Music, Drama, Dance, Film, Fine Arts, Literature, Architectural, Traditional and Ethenic Culture. Prize money is 3,000,000 yen.
It is presented to an Individual or an Organization of geographical areas of East, South and South-east Asia.
- East Asia (8) – Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Korea, Japan, People’s Republic of China.
- South East Asia (11) – Brunei Darussalam, Kingdom of Thailand, Kingdom of Cambodia, The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Republic of Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic republic, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Republic of Singapore, Republic of the Philippines, Union of Myanmar, Malaysia.
- South Asia (7) – Islamic Republic of Pakistan, India, Kingdom of Bhutan, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Republic of Maldives, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Winners of 2021 –
- Grand Prize – Indian Journalist Palagummi Sainath, for his committed journalism and research for the last four years on impoverished farming in villages of India and for also putting forth the reality of the lifestyle of the inhabitants of those villages in India.
- Academic Prize – Japanese Scholar Mio Kishimoto, she is a historian who specializes in the History of China (mostly of Ming-Qing period) and Japan. She has written many books which is a major contribution towards the academics of all.
- Art and Culture Prize – Thai Filmmaker and Writer Prabda Yoon, his work revolves around the development of Thailand’s Literature and also the understanding of Thailand people for Japan. He has deeper philosophical thoughts and insight into the future of Humanity.
Earlier Indian recipients of the prize :-
- Ravi Shankar (Grand Prize) – 1991, he was a maestro Sitar player and has influenced the Beatles by his sensitive and expensive style.
- Padma Subhramanyam (Art and culture) – 1994, she was a Bharatnatyam dancer and choreographer.
- Romila Thapar (Academic Prize) – 1997, she was awarded the prize for her view points on World history and in particular Indian history of before Independence that is about the chronicle history of India and also the regional history in context of human history.
- Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Art and Culture) – 2004, he is maestro of the stringed instrument Sarod which is a musical tradition and he has exceptional techniques handed down through 300 years. He has preserved and also developed the traditional classical Indian music. He has spread it not only in Asia but also in the whole World.
- Ashis Nandy (Grand Prize) – 2007, he is an Activist and an Intellect who has done criticism of the penetrating social or cultural issues in a unique way of integrating Sociology and Clinical Psychology.
- Partha Chaterjee (Academic Prize) – 2009, he is one of the leading Asian Academic who has highlighted the “Politics of the Masses” by raising the issues related to Asia and developing countries.
- Vandana Shiva (Grand Prize) – 2012, she is an Environmental Philosopher and Activist who has exposed the contradictions in the modern Globalization and Development and has also enlightened many by the new and original ideas about loving nature and protecting the dignity of life.
- Nalini Malani (Art and Culture Prize) – 2013, she is an Artist who has large scale spatial art, combining images and painting which are focused on contemporary and universal themes related to religious conflicts, environment destruction, war and oppression of women in all spheres.
- Ramachandra Guha (Academic Prize) – 2015, he is an Sociologist and Historian who has been leading the Indian Historians in the field of Environmental History viewed from the general public’s viewpoints. He has a book which presents the complex history of India, great diversity which India has and vividly illustrates the actual state of Indian Democratic System.
- A.R. Rahman (Grand Prize) – 2016, he has done a bold fusion of South Asian Traditional music with that of Classical Western and Contemporary American Hip-Hop music. He is recognized nationally and internationally for his works in the Music Industry and has widened the horizons of music WorldWide.
- Teejan Bai (Art and Culture Prize) – 2018, she is a lead performer of Pandavani (a singing recital based on Indian Epic Mahabharata). She is from an indigenous tribe and a woman which makes her face many issues, but she still performs and she has been an inspiration for all giving them courage to perform for those suffering from oppression.
Asia is an adobe of diverse language and culture, they coexist and also exchange the data with each other. They are Guardians and protectors of the long history and traditions of that place and also a source of innovation. With the Urbanization and Globalization these are threatened and might face an Extinction if not saved. This prize has served as a gateway for Japan to exchange it’s traditional data with the rest of Asia. The Fukuoka Prize has acted as a field which helps us to spread the unique values and cultures of Asia to the other Asian countries and to the World.
Sources :-
- Scroll
- theWire
- Fukuoka Prize official website