In 1989 the Japan Art Association established the Praemium Imperiale to reward major contributions to the arts in the fields of architecture, music, painting, sculpture and theater/film. It was the last wish of Prince Takamatsu, who had served as governor of the Japan Art Association from 1929 to 1987, that such an award be established. The younger brother of Emperor Hirohito, Prince Takamatsu promoted art as a means of achieving peaceful understanding between nationsafter the hostilities of World War II. While the Japan Art Association, and it's precursor, the Ryuchikai, were created in the late 1800s to protect and promote Japanese arts, the Praemium Imperiale awards are more international in their scope.

Six nominating committees, headed by former prime ministers and presidents of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, and a former U.S. Ambassador, submit candidates. Past selections have included an eclectic collection of well-respected, late career artists that only occasionally were from Japan, such as architects I.M. Pei and Norman Foster; musicians Ravi Shankar and Ornette Coleman; painters Jasper Johns and Sigmar Polke; sculptors Christo + Jeanne-Claude; George Segal and directors Ingmar Bergman and Jean-Luc Godard. This year's recipients are: Taniguchi Yoshio, who redesigned the new Museum of Modern Art in New York City, for architecture; pianist Martha Argerich for music; Robert Ryman for painting; fashion designer Issey Miyake for sculpture; and dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham, who started his career with the Martha Graham Dance Company, for theater/film. Each will receive 15 million, yen a gold medal, and a diploma presented by Prince Hitachi, the current governor of the Japan Art Association.

The Japan Times attended press conferences for Argerich, Miyake and Ryman to hear about their art and careers in their own words.