On this auspicious occasion of the Fukuoka Prize 2018 Award Ceremony today, I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Jia Zhangke, laureate of the Grand Prize, Prof. Akira Suehiro, laureate of the Academic Prize, and Dr. Teejan Bai, laureate of the Arts and Culture Prize on receiving their awards.

The advancement of globalization in recent years has brought the benefits of convenience to our lives in many ways. However, it has come to our attention that uniform and standardized lifestyles and ways of thinking have spread in pursuit of convenience. As a result there is a growing perception of the importance of the uniqueness and diversity of indigenous cultures of individual countries and regions. This has led to the increasingly active creation of new culture.

Having frequently visited various parts of Asia, mainly in Southeast Asia, I have been intrigued by the depth and wealth of culture including the distinct history, languages, folklore, and arts of Asia that have been formed by its diverse climate and natural environment, and developed over a long period. I strongly feel that it is important to preserve and continue to hand on the depth and wealth of such cultural heritage.

The “Fukuoka Prize”, which marks its 29th anniversary this year, can be regarded as a particularly meaningful prize that honors those with distinguished achievements in causes that respect the distinctive and diverse cultures of Asia that have been handed down for generations, and contribute to the preservation and continuation of Asian cultures, as well as to creating new cultures and promoting academic research on Asia.

In this context, this Prize acknowledges the significance of the outstanding achievements of the three laureates, not just within Asia but also throughout the rest of the world. I believe these achievements will be also shared with society as a whole and handed on to future generations as a valuable asset of mankind.

In closing my address, I would like to congratulate the distinguished laureates once again. I hope that the Fukuoka Prize will continue to enhance the understanding of the respective regions of Asia, and further promote peace and friendship throughout the international community.

Distinguished guests, it is indeed an honor for me to receive the Grand Prize here today. 2018 is exactly twenty years since I shot my first feature-length film, Xiao Wu 〔Pickpocket〕. This Prize is not only recognition for my film-making efforts of the last two decades, but also encouragement for my continuing work in the future.

Since my childhood, I have lived through the most tumultuous and farreching changes in Chinese society.

Through my involvement in film I have been fortunate enough to be able to portray the destinies of individuals caught up in this social upheaval, and the difficulties we have all faced. I believe that directors are emissaries, conveying the reality of humanity.

Culture helps us to better understand each other, and the arts help us retain our essential humanity. Here today I have received not only an honor, but also accepted your eager expectations for new works. I will continue to produce films, and hope that you will enjoy them.

Thank you.

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to your Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino, Mayor Takashima, members of the Fukuoka Prize Committee, and the citizens of Fukuoka. I am most honored to be awarded the distinction of the Fukuoka Prize.

Many exceptional artists and researchers have received this Prize in past years, and it is an honor for me to join their ranks. It is a special joy for me to be selected for an international Prize hosted by Fukuoka and not by the government of Japan. I was born in Tottori Prefecture, living there through high school, then living in Tokyo, Osaka, and other cities. In the afterword to one of my books, Catch-up Industrialization: The Trajectory and Prospects of Asian Economies, I wrote that the basis to my research into Asia had three key elements: Japan from its outlying regions, the nations of Asia from the outlying regions of Japan, and national economies from production sites. From these elements the new perspective of “catch-up industrialization” was born.

Japan was once the forerunner in Asia in industrialization and social modernization. In the coming years, other Asian nations will experience the problems of the aging society that Japan is experiencing now: in other words, we face common issues. Today, Japan is learning new technology and new lifestyles from China and other Asian nations, including electronic commerce and mobile transaction settlement.

I accept this Prize as a promise to myself to continue to probe, recognize, and clarify the changing realities and relationships of Japan and other Asian nations.

Thank you.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Jury, the people of Fukuoka City, and the elderly and the young among you for this honor. I have been so thrilled and excited every day since my arrival here in Fukuoka that I am almost unable to sleep at night.

My daily life at home is focused on looking after children faced with severe hardship, and teaching them Pandavani.

As a child I also lacked the opportunity to obtain an education, and so now I try to provide such children with assistance in education, and in living as much as I can. The children were so delighted to hear that I had received this Prize, and receiving the Arts and Culture Prize has unmistakably given me fresh confidence. I will use this experience in my work in the hope that the children I teach will one day stand here themselves.

Thank you.