FUKUOKA PRIZE 2009 Award Ceremony

Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino attended the award ceremony, joining an audience of about 1,000 citizens, foreign students and people in cultural fields in celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Prize.
The laureates were ushered in by students from Chikushi Jogakuen University, dressed in Kimono. After citations and medals were presented by Mayor Hiroshi Yoshida of the Fukuoka City and Michisada Katama, Chairman of the Yokatopia Foundation, each recipient gave a speech expressing his joy, with messages to Fukuoka citizens. Students from Fukuoka International School then handed them bouquets.

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In the second part of the event, MC Eriko Kusuta talked with the laureates, filling the hall with laughter as they talked of episodes from childhood, the fascination of Japanese culture and thoughts on Asian culture. After the talk, students at Seinan Gakuin University delivered a congratulatory message on behalf of the citizens. In closing, opera singer Ruri Usami performed Wakahime, one of Minoru Miki's best-known works.

Speech by Prince Akishino

Asia has given birth to a diverse range of fudo, and over long centuries each region has developed its own unique culture. When I travel through other lands in Asia I am constantly amazed at the depth and richness they offer, and feel once again how important it is to preserve and pass on this cultural heritage. The Fukuoka Prize is highly significant for its contribution to the preservation and creation of Asian cultures. The achivements of the laureates recognized here today are treasures not only for the people alive today, but indeed for all of humanity, including future generations.

Grand Prize / Augustin BERQUE

I am particularly honored to receive the Fukuoka Prize, since I am not Asian, but a Western geographer practicing orientalism. I cannot content myself with culturalism, since as a geographer, while fully acknowledging the singularity of any milieu (fudo), I have always tried to find universal human roots in the relationship of any culture with nature. I was led on this way by a Japanese philosopher, Watsuji Tetsuro. He called this way mesology (fudogaku). In my turn, I have tried to go further on this way, by using both Western and Eastern (Chinese) references which, in his time or from his stance, were not available. Far from both cultural imperialism and from the closure of each culture on itself, this is how I understand cultural exchange, especially between the East and the West. Beyond my own limits, I hope this movement will go on forever.
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Academic Prize / Partha CHATTERJEE

The history of a nation is comprised of diverse facts overlying one another, and a critical examination is especially important for a nation like India. The study of history may not be a terribly productive field of study, but when a new discovery is made I feel the same excitement as if I have unearthed a new lode of gold.
There is one similarity in the recent histories of Fukuoka and my City, Kolkata. Because of their geographical and historical locations, they have been open to many outside influences that have shaped the lives, institutions and characters of thier peoples. I have been a fortunate inheritor of this tradition of encounters between the local and the foreign. It is often said in recent times that no scholarly reserch of international standards is possible in Kolkata. By honouring me, you have also proved this saying to be untrue.
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Arts and Culture Prize / MIKI Minoru

Nobody else had thought of composing an operatic cycle covering diverse historical periods of Japan, while talking international aspects into consideration, or creating symphonies combing Western orchestras with large ensembles of traditional Asian instruments. And nobody was deeply involved in creating new works to modernize and internationalize ethnic instruments from Japan or else-where in Asia, or producing them. I have always been excited by this dangerous task, as walking the interface between East and West, old and new, is akin to walking a ridgeline in the Himalayas.
I have been striving to achieve universal music for over fifty years, working toward an international musical culture that equally treasures the identities of Japanese, Asian and Western music while surpassing them all in a unified whole. I had hoped to earn this Arts and Culture Prize, as there are no international music awards, and I am deeply honored to be the first Japanese to win this recognition.
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Arts and Culture Prize / CAI Guo-Qiang

I began to think of Asia because of the message that Fukuoka sent to the rest of Asia, and the concepts it entails. I tried to position Asian culture as an artist, and that's why I say that I have returned to Asia by coming to Fukuoka. As an Asian, I personally thought that Japan had become too Westernized in the process of modernization, and decided to attempt a grand work from the cosmic perspective. By coming to Japan, I have approached the cosmos.
As I perform around the world I am perceived by many as an "Asian", but this has both good and bad aspects. One good aspect is that I can create works on a huge scale through a uniquely Asian concept of dialogue with nature. Another is the Asian philosophy that respects other cultures encompassed within the cultures of Asia, which allows me to create well even through interaction with people from other Iands. And I think these aspects have made it possible for me to recieve this splendid prize today.
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FUKUOKA PRIZE 2009 Public Forum

Grand Prize / Augustin BERQUE "Fudo and Japan: towards a Global perspective"

• Sept. 19 at IMS Hall
• Perticipants / 250
• Panelist / Hideki Nozawa, Professor Emeritus, Kyushu University
• Cordinator / Yoshiaki Ishizawa, President, Sophia University

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After his keynote speech, Professor Berque presented a number of thought-provoking observations dealing with fudo, based in part on his life in Japan for fifteen years, in a discussion session with Hideki Nozawa, Professor Emeritus of Kyushu University, coordinated by Yoshiaki Ishizawa, President of Sophia University.

See more details, visit Lecture Archives.

Academic Prize / Partha CHATTERJEE "Voicing the History of the Voiceless"

• Sept. 20 at IMS Hall
• Perticipants / 150
• Panelist / Chiharu Takenaka, Professor, Rikkyo University

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Professor Chatterjee talked with Professor Chiharu Takenaka of Rikkyo University, who reserches international and Indian politics and has translated work by Professor Chatterjee. Their discussion touched on methods of uncovering the history of the ordinary people, and how to utilize that knowledge in the future.

See more details, visit Lecture Archives.

Arts and Culture Prize / MIKI Minoru "The Musical World of Minoru Miki"

• Sept. 20 at Fukuoka Bank Hall
• Perticipants / 500
• Panelist / Tomoaki Fujii, President, International Institute for Cultural Studies and Professor Emeritus, National Museum of Ethnology

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The World of Minoru Miki brought together the koto club of Chikushi Jogakuen High School, RKB Female Choir, traditional Japanese musical instrument performers and opera singers. Mr. Miki, a leader in modern Japanese music, served as the moderator for two-and-a-half hours of diverse, new and fascinating Japanese music.

See more details, visit Lecture Archives.

Arts and Culture Prize / CAI Guo-Qiang "Art: What can it do?"

• Sept. 16 at ACROS Fukuoka Event Hall
• Perticipants / 250
• Moderator / Masahiro Ushiroshoji, Professor, Graduate School of Humanities, Kyushu University
• Guest Speaker / Yoichi Maki, Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Saitama University
• Guest Speaker / Raiji Kuroda, Director, Curatorial Section, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

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Cai Guo-Qiang discussed the diverse potentials of art while introducing some of his works and projects that have drawn much acclaim around the world. As with his artwork, his talk also captivated the audience.

See more details, visit Lecture Archives.

Fukuoka Prize 2009 / Download Annual report in PDF

More details about Fukuoka Prize 2009 Award Ceremony and Public Forum, as well as School Visit and Culture Salon can be downloaded in PDF.

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