The honors achievement and outstanding talent in any of the myriad fields in which its namesake Juzo Itami worked, including essay writing, non-fiction literature, translation, film editing and directing, cooking, television, TV commercials, acting, illustration, and graphic design. The prize, worth million, is presented annually by the ITM Itami Memorial Foundation in collaboration with Itami Productions.
As of 2026, the selection committee comprises film director Masayuki Suo, essayist , and illustrator . Former committee members include architect and essayist .
History and details
The Juzo Itami Award was established in March 2009, twelve years after Itami's death, with the help of his wife, Nobuko Miyamoto. Originally focusing on excellence in literary expression in odd-numbered years and visual expression in even-numbered years, its two categories were unified and its cadence changed to yearly in 2011.
In 2013, journalist Akira Ikegami donated his entire monetary award to the World Food Programme.
Winners 2026 (18th annual award) – 2025 (17th annual award) – 2024 (16th annual award) – Non 2023 (15th annual award) – Kōki Mitani 2022 (14th annual award) – Kazuko Koike 2021 (13th annual award) – Michiko Shimizu 2020 (12th annual award) – Kankurō Kudō 2019 (11th annual award) – 2018 (10th annual award) – 2017 (9th annual award) – Gen Hoshino 2016 (8th annual award) – Hirokazu Kore-eda 2015 (7th annual award) – 2014 (6th annual award) – Lily Franky 2013 (5th annual award) – Akira Ikegami 2012 (4th annual award) – 2011 (3rd annual award) – 2010 (2nd annual award) – Tamori 2009 (1st annual award) – Shigesato Itoi
References
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