Premium Japan Award Debuts in Tokyo, Honoring 16 Champions of Japanese Culture

Japanese Culinary Academy's Japanese Cuisine Complete Named Grand Prix Winner at Inaugural Ceremony; Honorees Include Kabuki Star Hayato Nakamura, Fresh From Carnegie Hall, and A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE

TOKYO, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Japan Culture Creation Organization (JCCO) today announced the winners of the inaugural Premium Japan Award, a new honor recognizing the people, organizations and projects that preserve, advance and share Japanese culture with audiences in Japan and around the world. Sixteen recipients were honored at a ceremony at the Kanze Noh Theater in Tokyo's Ginza district, including the Grand Prix winner and six recipients of awards presented by supporting sponsors.

The first Premium Japan Award Grand Prix went to Japanese Cuisine Complete, a comprehensive collection created by the Japanese Culinary Academy to document and pass on the knowledge, techniques and cultural heritage of Japanese cuisine to future generations.

The award was established in partnership with Premium Japan, an online media platform, to spotlight the "hidden gems" of Japanese culture: individuals, organizations and projects making significant contributions to its development and preservation. Spanning craftsmanship, traditional performing arts, food and regional culture, the award aims to introduce the people and initiatives carrying Japanese culture into the future to audiences in Japan and worldwide.

"We are deeply honored to receive this award," said Hiroya Kawasaki, director of the Japanese Culinary Academy. "Rather than viewing it as a personal achievement, we are especially pleased that it recognizes the efforts made over the years by our directors, chefs and the many others who have supported the Academy. We would be delighted if this award helps fulfill the Academy's long-held wish to share Japanese cuisine with people around the world."

Premium Japan Award 2026 Winners

Detailed profiles of all winners, additional photography and the official press kit are available at: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/toxa96zgo2468clcw9r4v/AAkh4_3OjOq6Fl-tQxrm4LM?rlkey=mjww9jwh16qv1v211i5i5ykhg&st=24zxn47a&e=1&dl=0 

Grand Prix

• Japanese Cuisine Complete (Japanese Culinary Academy) — A first-of-its-kind project that systematically documents Japanese culinary techniques, history and culture and passes that knowledge on to future generations and audiences around the world.

Individual & Organization Awards

• Okurayama Studio — A stone, architecture, design and art company in Marumori, Miyagi Prefecture, that has transformed itself from a gravestone maker into a creative studio by developing new uses in art, design and architecture for Datekan-seki, a stone found only in the region.
• Otani Sanso — A historic ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) that has helped revitalize the hot-spring town of Nagato Yumoto Onsen in partnership with other local businesses.
• SUZUSAN — A fashion and apparel brand that has taken the traditional Arimatsu shibori tie-dyeing technique to the world while helping attract younger artisans to Arimatsu, revitalizing the region's craft industry.
• Hayato Nakamura — A kabuki actor who staged international performances throughout 2025 at venues including Carnegie Hall in New York, Cappadocia in Turkey and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• Masaomi Raku — A sculptor born into the Raku family, a lineage of Raku ware potters, who continues to explore his own artistic expression and open new possibilities in contemporary sculpture.

Special Project Awards

• A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE — A fashion brand led by a team of engineers under designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae that explores new possibilities in clothing while carrying forward the philosophy of A-POC (A Piece of Cloth).
• Sea Vegetable — A Japanese food and agri-tech startup that works with fishermen and coastal communities across Japan on offshore seaweed cultivation, aiming to restore marine ecosystems through seaweed production.
• Tamasaburo Bando Costume Exhibition — An exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, from 2023 through 2025 that introduced Japan's traditional techniques and aesthetic sensibility to global audiences through the stage costumes of kabuki legend Tamasaburo Bando V.
• Saburomaru Distillery — A whisky distillery in Toyama Prefecture known for unique initiatives including a cooperage dedicated to barrel restoration and artisan training, and a bottling business that enables collaboration among distilleries.

Producer & Curator Award

• A Light House Called Kanata — A contemporary art gallery in Tokyo's Omotesando district recognized internationally for discovering exceptional talent, bringing Japanese works to the global art market and building artists' international reputations.

Special Sponsor Awards

• Okui Kaiseido — A long-established kombu (kelp) merchant in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. Fourth-generation owner Takashi Okui promotes the depth of kombu and dashi (broth) culture through collaborations with chefs and lectures in Japan and abroad.
• Shiraiwa Co., Ltd. — The sake company behind IWA 5, a premium Japanese sake created by Richard Geoffroy, former chef de cave of Dom Pérignon.
• Kijoka Bashofu Cooperative — An organization in Ogimi Village, Okinawa Prefecture, that supports the production and preservation of Kijoka bashofu, one of Okinawa's signature traditional textiles.
• Sugihara Shoten — A washi paper wholesaler with more than 100 years of history in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, that has developed new applications for contemporary living, including Habutae Paper for inkjet printers and washi for architecture and interior design.
• Fushikino — The first restaurant in Japan to specialize in pairing kaiseki (multi-course) cuisine with Japanese sake, located in Tokyo's Kagurazaka district.

Inaugural Ceremony at Tokyo's Kanze Noh Theater

The ceremony brought together the award recipients, representatives of sponsoring companies, cultural figures and guests from Japan and abroad. Each recipient received an original trophy created for the Premium Japan Award and a commemorative scarf, and each honoree's work and commitment to Japanese culture was introduced to the audience.

The evening opened with "Sanbaso," a traditional dance performed by a kyogen (classical comic theater) actor as part of the ritual performance "Okina," expressing wishes for a bountiful harvest. The dance has two sections: "Momi no Dan," in which the performer depicts cultivating and firming the earth, and "Suzu no Dan," which represents the sowing of seeds. It was performed by Kikunojo Onoe, head of the Onoe School of Japanese dance, and kyogen performer Ippei Shigeyama.

Editor's note: The official press kit, including high-resolution photography from the ceremony and winner profiles, is available at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/toxa96zgo2468clcw9r4v/AAkh4_3OjOq6Fl-tQxrm4LM?rlkey=mjww9jwh16qv1v211i5i5ykhg&st=24zxn47a&e=1&dl=0 Interview requests can be made through the media contacts below.

About the Premium Japan Award

The Premium Japan Award spotlights individuals, organizations and special projects that demonstrate exceptional dedication to sharing Japan's cultural traditions with global audiences while fostering cross-cultural understanding. Recipients' stories are featured on Premium Japan, the online media platform, in five languages: Japanese, English, French, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. JCCO and Premium Japan also share the recipients' stories through their international media networks. The award will be presented annually as a long-term initiative to communicate the value of Japanese culture in Japan and internationally.

Official Sponsors

• Hoshino Resorts — hoshinoresorts.com
• Hiramatsu, Inc. — hiramatsu.co.jp
• Wako Co., Ltd. — wako.co.jp
• LUMINE Co., Ltd. — lumine.co.jp
• SAKE HUNDRED — jp.sake100.com

Official Supporters

• Japan Tourism Agency
• Agency for Cultural Affairs
• Kyoto Prefecture

About the Japan Culture Creation Organization (JCCO)

Founded in November 2024 with the mission of "Bringing Japanese Culture to the World," JCCO shares the richness of Japanese culture with audiences in Japan and across the globe. Focusing on the deeper stories behind Japan's traditions, JCCO aims to foster greater global understanding of Japan and to serve as a bridge for Japanese companies engaged in international outreach through cultural initiatives and collaborations.

Representative Director

• Mineaki Saito, President, Scenery International Pte. Ltd. (former President, Hermès Japon Co., Ltd., and Vice President, Hermès International S.A.)

Administrative Director

• Mio Shimamura, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Premium Japan Inc.

Directors

• Yoshihiro Murata, CEO and Head Chef, Kikunoi
• Ikuo Maeda, Executive Fellow, Head of Design and Brand Style, Mazda Motor Corporation
• Atsushi Ichikawa, Corporate Advisor, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited
• Shigeo Usui, Executive Officer in charge of Design, Panasonic Holdings Corporation
• Kiyoko Niwasaki, President, Wako Co., Ltd.
• Hiroki Fukunaga, Founder and CEO, The Ryokan Collection
• Kikunojo Onoe, Head of the Onoe School of Japanese Dance
• Kentaro Kata, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Exa Innovation Studio

About Premium Japan

Established in 2015, Premium Japan is an online media platform dedicated to sharing the essence of Japan with the world. Under the concept "Bringing the finest of Japan to the world," it publishes stories on gastronomy, travel, traditional culture, craftsmanship and in-depth interviews, produced by a team of seasoned writers and photographers. Premium Japan also develops cultural and culinary events and seminars that engage affluent audiences through immersive Japanese experiences. premium-j.jp (Japanese) | premium-j.jp/en (English)

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SOURCE Japan Culture Creation Organization