Японский орден Культуры

the Japanese order

The Order of Culture (文化勲章) is a Japanese order, established on February 11, 1937. The order has one class only, and may be awarded to men and women for contributions to Japan's art, literature, science, technology, or anything related to culture in general; recipients of the order also receive an annuity for life. The order is conferred by the Emperor of Japan in person on Culture Day (November 3) each year. It is considered equivalent to the highest rank (Grand Cordon) of the Order of the Rising Sun, the Order of the Sacred Treasure, and the Order of the Precious Crown. The only orders that Japanese emperors bestow on recipients by their own hands are the Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, the Grand Cordon of each order, and the Order of Culture. The badge of the order, which is in gold with white enamel, is in the form of a Tachibana orange blossom; the central disc bears three crescent shaped jades (magatama). The badge is suspended on a gold and enamel wreath of mandarin orange leaves and fruit, which is in turn suspended on a purple ribbon worn around the neck.

The Order of Culture and Persons of Cultural Merit function together in honoring contributions to the advancement and development of Japanese culture in a variety of fields such as academia, arts and others.

The Emperor himself presents the honor at the award ceremony, which takes place at the Imperial Palace on the Day of Culture (November 3). Candidates for the Order of Culture are selected from the Persons of Cultural Merit by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, upon hearing views of all the members of the selection committee for the Persons of Cultural Merit. The Minister then recommends the candidates to the Prime Minister so that they can be decided by the Cabinet. Since 1955, the new honorees have been announced on the Day of Culture, the same day as the award ceremony for the Order of Culture. Akira Ifukube (1914–2006). A composer of classical music and film scores. Ryukichi Inada (1874–1950). A physician, a prominent academic, and bacteriologist researcher. Hideo Kobayashi (1902–1983). An author, who established literary criticism as an independent art form in Japan. Akira Kurosawa (1910 1998). A world famous film director and painter. Hantaro Nagaoka (1865–1950). A physicist and a pioneer of Japanese physics in the early Meiji period. Nakamura Kichiemon I (1896–1954). 1st kabuki actor to receive this honor. Nakamura Utaemon VI (1917–2001). A famous kabuki actor, known for his oyama roles. Kaii Higashiyama (1908–1999). A famous artist and writer, renowned for his Nihonga style paintings. Kinjiro Okabe (1896–1984). An electrical engineering researcher and professor who developed the split anode magnetron. Jirō Osaragi (1897–1973). A popular writer in Shōwa period. Junjiro Takakusu (1866–1945). An academic, an advocate for expanding higher education opportunities, and an internationally known Buddhist scholar. Kenjiro Takayanagi (1899–1990). A pioneer in the development of television. Morohashi Tetsuji (1883–1982). An important figure in the world of Japanese studies and Sinology. Susumu Tonegawa (born 1939). A scientist who won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1987. Eiji Yoshikawa (1892–1962). A historical novelist. Yasunari Kawabata (1899–1972). A novelist who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1968.

Masaru Ibuka (1908–1997). Co founder, President and Chairman of Sony Corporation.

Takashi Asahina (1908–2001). Orchestral conductor. Tadao Umesao (1920–2010). Ethnologist. Hideo Shima (1901–1998). Railway engineer.

Shigemitsu Dandō (1913–2012). Criminologist. Shūsaku Endō (1923–1996). Writer. Rizō Takeuchi (1907–1997). Historian of Japan.

Masatoshi Koshiba (1926–2020). Nobel Prize winning physicist. Hirofumi Uzawa (1928–2014). Economist. Tadamitsu Kishimoto (born 1939). Immunologist. Fuku Akino (1908–2001). Nihonga artist. Takeshi Umehara (born 1925). Scholar of Japanese cultural studies. Hideki Shirakawa. Nobel Prize winning chemist. Toshio Yodoi (1911–2005). Sculptor. Kaneto Shindō. Film director. Sadako Ogata. Political scientist and diplomat. Nakamura Jakuemon, Kabuki actor. Toan Kobayashi, Seal carver. Shizuka Shirakawa, Scholar of Chinese language literature. Horin Fukuoji, Nihonga painter.

Mitsuko Mori. Actress. Makoto Saitō (1921–2008). Political scientist, specializing in American diplomatic and political history. Jakuchō Setouchi. Writer/Buddhist nun. Hidekazu Yoshida. Music critic. Shinya Nakamura. Sculptor. Kōji Nakanishi. Organic chemist. Kiyoshi Itō. A mathematician whose work is now called Itō calculus. Donald Keene. A Japanologist, scholar, teacher, writer, translator and interpreter of Japanese literature and culture. Tōjūrō Sakata IV. Kabuki actor. Akito Arima. Nuclear physicist. Haruko Sugimura, actress.