首塚の上のアドバルーン is a work by 後藤明生. This entry summarizes the work itself, focusing on its subject, form, and the qualities for which it was recognized.

The work is introduced through its central motif and the reading experience it offers.

This historical novel follows the life of Arai Hakuseki, the scholar who advised the sixth Tokugawa shogun Ienobu and worked for political reform. With Shuhei Fujisawa's restrained prose, it traces Hakuseki's resolve and disappointments as he tries to bring learning into practical government while living in poverty and poor health.

A historical novel about the ideals and solitude of a scholar who rose from ordinary life to the center of shogunal politics.

Makoto Ooka reads Sugawara no Michizane's Chinese poetry and life through the lens of utsushi, a Japanese aesthetic of copying, reflection, and transformation. The book reconsiders Michizane not only as a figure of vengeful spirit and Tenjin worship, but as one of the major poets of the Heian court.

A critical study that uses Michizane's poetry to explore how ancient Japan received and transformed foreign culture.

This dialogue between linguist Susumu Ono and novelist Saiichi Maruya explores The Tale of Genji through plot, relationships, love, and language. Their exchange brings the classic closer to modern readers while preserving the richness of the original text.

A linguist and a novelist open up the pleasures of The Tale of Genji through a lively reading of the classic.

光る源氏の物語 is a work by 大野晋. This entry summarizes the work itself, focusing on its subject, form, and the qualities for which it was recognized.

The work is introduced through its central motif and the reading experience it offers.

Hiroshi Teshigawara's film Rikyu is a historical drama centered on the tense relationship between Sen no Rikyu and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, depicting a clash between aesthetic conviction and political power. Its images place tea rooms, flowers, utensils, and gesture at the center, foregrounding Rikyu as an artist.

A film that portrays Rikyu's solitude where the aesthetics of tea collide with the ruler's power.

This recognition covers Ichikawa Ennosuke III's work on Ryuoh and Kurozuka. The former reflects his ambition in planning and direction, while the latter shows his ability to make the physical language of classical kabuki speak to contemporary audiences.

A stage achievement that moves between classical form and new theatrical planning, showing the innovative force of Ennosuke's kabuki.

This recognition covers Koichi Kimura's stage direction, including Yume: Tochuken Gyuuemon no, Kono Ko-tachi no Natsu, and Suna no Ue no Dance. His work brought modern theater dealing with social and personal memory to life through the presence of actors and the tension of theatrical space.

A body of direction that inscribed social memory and individual voices into the space of modern theater.

This recognition concerns Kisaku Katada's work as a hayashi musician in pieces such as Shugen Shiki Sanbaso and Kyo Kanoko Musume Dojoji. His percussion supported both the festive force and emotional intensity of kabuki dance, shaping the dignity and vitality of the stage.

Hayashi music supporting kabuki dance makes festivity and passion resonate vividly.

This recognition concerns Tetsuo Miyata's nagauta recital. His performance gave dramatic depth to nagauta narration and melody, linking its tradition as kabuki music with the musical focus of a concert setting.

A recital that presented nagauta not merely as stage accompaniment but as music with dramatic force.

This recognition concerns Sueyuki Hanayagi's nihon buyo performances Odama: Koi no Kamisugi and Tabi Yukeba. The works stage classical emotion in love and scenes of travel through dignified movement and structure.

A dance achievement presenting romantic feeling and travel scenes through the refined body of the Hanayagi school.

Kakuzo Tatehata's Waving Figure belongs to a series of sculptural works by a leading postwar Japanese abstract sculptor. As the viewer's angle changes, the relations among forms shift, creating a sense of waves and motion within hard material.

An abstract sculpture that holds a wavering sense of waves and bodily presence inside a still solid form.

Yu Fujiwara's exhibitions such as Bizen: One Thousand Years and Now presented the Bizen ware tradition internationally as contemporary ceramics. Centered on the powerful expression produced by clay, fire, and kiln effects, they connected Bizen's history with Fujiwara's own forms.

An exhibition achievement that presented a millennium of Bizen ware as a contemporary ceramic language.

This recognition concerns Setsuko Yamabiko's performances in Noh and Kyogen dance contexts and Kato-bushi Dojoji. Through the narration of Kato-bushi, a lineage of Edo joruri, she brought the passion of Dojoji stories and the dignity of classical music to the stage.

A stage achievement in which the Kato-bushi voice brings out the obsessive love of Dojoji and the elegance of old musical forms.

The NHK Special Tiananmen: Forty Turbulent Years, Salisbury's China is a television documentary that examines post-revolutionary China and the outcome of the democracy movement through the perspective of journalist Harrison Salisbury, who witnessed the Tiananmen crackdown. Tetsuya Kawamoto was involved as a producer.

A documentary that reconsiders the Tiananmen crackdown within the longer political history of post-revolutionary China.

夢のまた夢、夾竹桃同窓会 is a work by 斎明寺以玖子. This entry summarizes the work itself, focusing on its subject, form, and the qualities for which it was recognized.

The work is introduced through its central motif and the reading experience it offers.

This dialogue between linguist Susumu Ono and novelist Saiichi Maruya explores The Tale of Genji through plot, relationships, love, and language. Their exchange brings the classic closer to modern readers while preserving the richness of the original text.

A linguist and a novelist open up the pleasures of The Tale of Genji through a lively reading of the classic.

Hiroshi Teshigawara's film Rikyu is a historical drama centered on the tense relationship between Sen no Rikyu and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, depicting a clash between aesthetic conviction and political power. Its images place tea rooms, flowers, utensils, and gesture at the center, foregrounding Rikyu as an artist.

A film that portrays Rikyu's solitude where the aesthetics of tea collide with the ruler's power.

This recognition concerns Tetsuo Miyata's nagauta recital. His performance gave dramatic depth to nagauta narration and melody, linking its tradition as kabuki music with the musical focus of a concert setting.

A recital that presented nagauta not merely as stage accompaniment but as music with dramatic force.