The
Praemium Imperiale (lit. "World Culture Prize in Memory of His Imperial Highness Prince Takamatsu", ,
Takamatsu no miya denka kinen sekai bunka-sho) is an international art prize awarded since 1989 by the
imperial family of Japan on behalf of the Japan Art Association in the fields of
painting,
sculpture,
architecture,
music, and
theatre/film. These are areas of achievement not covered by the
Nobel Prize. The prize awarded for outstanding contributions to the development, promotion and progress of the arts is often considered one of the most prestigious art prize in the world.