On Air: Fukuoka City Information/2015.08.08(Sat)/09:00～

Fukuoka has been the doorway to Japan since long ago, And, in such a role, it offers the Fukuoka Prize. Started in 1990, it is an international award created to contribute internationally to Asia. It celebrates outstanding achievement in the preservation or advancement of Asian culture. By last year, the award had honored 99 people from 27 countries and regions. Over the years the award has honored many outstanding people such as Nobel Prize winners Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh, and Mo Yan of China.

The 2015 Grand Prize goes to the Myanmar historian Thant-Myint-U for his work detailing the path his native Myanmar has walked through the years, from a global perspective. He works for the preservation of historical buildings and sustainable city design. Inspired by the principles of his grandfather, the Secretary General of the United Nations, and based on his own experiences in United Nations peace-building operations, he looks to overcome the problems involved with unification of the people of Myanmar and to help advance Myanmar’s peace, growing together with the other countries of the world. This is the first time in 10 years someone from Myanmar has received an award from the Fukuoka Prize awards. He is the third person from Myanmar to be honored in the awards, and the first to receive the Grand Prize.

And, the renowned Indian historian, Ramachandra-Guha, holding comprehensive knowledge of Indian environmental, sports and democratic history, has been chosen to receive the Academic Prize. His book, India after Gandhi, has been chosen as the book of the year. He is known as the best non-fiction writer in India, and his work has been translated into over 20 languages.

The Arts and Culture Prize goes to fashion designer Minh Hanh of Vietnam. She has combined embroidery and weaving of minority people with the native Vietnamese ao dai dress, creating colorful and modern design. Aside from holding fashion shows around the world, Minh Hanh has designed the uniforms for Vietnam Airlines crews and outfitted leaders of nations at APEC in 2006. She is the second from Vietnam to receive an award and the first in 19 years, as well as being the first female recipient.

The Fukuoka Prize Award ceremony will take place from 6:20 PM on September 17th in the Fukuoka International Congress Center. In addition, there will be public lectures held by awardees. Thant-Myint-U, recipient of the Grand Prize, will offer a forum called "Where is Myanmar advancing toward in the 21st century? : Dialogue on the country’s past, present, and future ". The talk will be held from 1 o'clock to 3 o'clock on Saturday the 19th of September in the Main Hall of Elgala Hall.

Ramachandra-Guha, recipient of the Academic Award, will hold a forum entitled, "Gandhi, India and the World". It will also be held on Saturday the 19th in the Main Hall of Elgala Hall starting at 4:30 PM and going until 6:30 PM.

Then, on Sunday the 20th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the Event Hall of ACROS Fukuoka, located on the B2 level, the Arts and Culture Prize recipient, fashion designer Minh Hanh, will offer the forum "Creativity in Asia discovered through fashion: Attractive features of Vietnamese fashion and culture formed and expressed by Minh Hanh".

For more information about the Fukuoka Prize, please visit the event homepage at fukuoka-prize.org. Information is available in Korean, Chinese, English and Japanese.