What is the PREMIUM JAPAN AWARD 2026? — A new Japanese story to share with the world.

PREMIUM JAPAN will interview the winners and organizations of the PREMIUM JAPAN AWARD 2026 and publish feature articles about them both domestically and internationally.

The "PREMIUM JAPAN AWARD" is an award established in 2026 by the Japan Cultural Promotion Organization (JCCO), a general incorporated association, which recognizes individuals, groups, and projects that embody "Japaneseness" in a wide range of fields, including traditional performing arts, contemporary culture, and food culture.

In this series, "PREMIUM JAPAN" will use its unique perspective to delve into not only the "Japaneseness" of the award recipients and organizations, but also the innovativeness, internationality, and sustainability of their activities, and make them known to a wide audience. By exploring the worldview that the award recipients and organizations aim for, the philosophy and aesthetics behind their challenges, and their vision for the future, we will convey how Japanese culture is inherited, evolves, and spreads to the world as new value.

The "PREMIUM JAPAN AWARD 2026" is a platform to honor talent and challenges that illuminate the times, and at the same time, a cultural archive to pass on their value to the future. We want to continue to record their journey and be witnesses to the stories that open up a new era.

The "PREMIUM JAPAN AWARD 2026" awards ceremony will be held at the Kanze Noh Theater on September 29th.

The awards ceremony will be held on September 29, 2026, at the Kanze Noh Theater, dedicated to the 25th generation Kanze Sakon, located on the third basement floor of GINZA SIX. This special space, featuring a Noh stage constructed entirely of cypress wood and embodying the spirit of Japanese culture, will celebrate the achievements of individuals and organizations who are pioneering a new era. From this stage where tradition and innovation intersect, we will transmit new Japanese values ​​both domestically and internationally.

Furthermore, at this awards ceremony, the Grand Prize winner will be selected from among the award recipients and organizations that will be introduced in the future.

The "PREMIUM JAPAN AWARD 2026" is a project that witnesses the moment when new value is born and connects that story to the next era. From Japan to the world. And from the world to the future. Please look forward to the stories that will be born here.

For more information about the "PREMIUM JAPAN AWARD 2026," please click here.

The "PREMIUM JAPAN AWARD 2026" awards ceremony will be held at the Kanze Noh Theater on September 29th. Following the Japan Tourism Agency and Kyoto Prefecture, the Agency for Cultural Affairs has also been confirmed as a sponsor, and companies that support the overseas dissemination of Japanese culture have joined as sponsors.