Japan Culture Creation Organization Launches
Premium Japan Award
Spotlighting truly authentic Japanese culture
Unique award showcases the “Hidden Gems” of Japanese culture on a global stage
Tokyo, Japan – December 4th, 2025 – The Japan Culture Creation Organization (JCCO) today announced its establishment and the creation of the annual Premium Japan Award, a new international honor recognizing outstanding contributions to the preservation and promotion of truly authentic Japanese culture worldwide. The award is organized in partnership with Premium Japan, an online media platform featuring contents celebrating the finest in Japanese food, travel, traditional culture, and craftsmanship, with a mission to showcase the “premium quality of Japan” to the world. The website is currently available in five languages — Japanese, English, French, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese, and enjoys over 13 million page views per month.
The Premium Japan Award has been designed to spotlight individuals, organizations and special projects that demonstrate exceptional dedication to sharing Japan’s rich cultural traditions with global audiences while fostering cross-cultural understanding.
“As inbound tourism into Japan continues to heat up, it’s exciting to see Japanese culture gaining recognition around the world. But with so much information in traditional and emerging media, it’s increasingly difficult to distinguish what constitutes authentic Japanese culture,” said Mr. Mineaki Saito, Representative Director of the Japan Culture Creation Organization. “The Premium Japan Awards has been launched with a clear mission to spotlight the hidden gems of Japanese culture, people, services, and projects with true authenticity, which deserve greater recognition on the global stage. This is achieved through the evaluation of our board members who are experts in Japanese culture active in their respective fields—together with Premium Japan, which continues to promote the excellence of Japanese culture via its own media channel.” Mr. Saito added: “Ultimately I hope that this initiative will support those who shape and sustain Japanese culture and tradition now and into the future.”
The annual award will honor individuals, organizations, producers, and special projects (including those by government bodies, corporations, and temples or shrines) across a wide range of cultural fields – such as traditional arts, contemporary culture, and culinary arts – that are authentically Japanese and have made significant contributions to Japanese culture throughout 2025. Winners will be selected by a judging panel comprised of JCCO directors, the editorial team of Premium Japan, as well as non-Japanese individuals with a deep knowledge of Japanese culture, based on the following criteria — quality, global accessibility, innovation and originality, sustainability and long-term prospects, global novelty (“Hidden Gem” of Japanese culture), and most importantly, Japanese authenticity.
Winners will receive an extensive feature in Premium Japan, and will be further celebrated at the first in person awards ceremony scheduled for spring 2026 in Tokyo.
For more information about the Japan Culture Creation Organization and the Premium Japan Award, please visit https://jcco.jp/ (Japanese), https://jcco.jp/en/ (English), and https://www.premium-j.jp/ (Japanese), https://www.premium-j.jp/en/ (English)
About Japan Culture Creation Organization (JCOO)
Founded in December 2025 with the mission of “Bringing Japanese Culture to the World”, JCCO was established to share the richness of Japanese culture not only within Japan, but with audiences across the globe. With a focus on conveying Japan’s cultural essence—including the deeper background stories behind its traditions—JCCO aims to foster a greater global understanding of Japan. In addition, the organization plans to serve as a bridge for Japanese companies engaged in international outreach, supporting their efforts through a variety of cultural initiatives and collaborative activities.
Representative Director
- Mr. Mineaki Saito, President, Scenery International PTD. Ltd. (Former President, Hermès Japon Co.Ltd, Vice President, Hermès International S.A)
Administrative Director
- Ms. Mio Shimamura, Managing Director & Editor-in-Chief, Premium Japan Inc.
Directors
- Mr. Yoshihiro Murata, CEO / Head Chef, Kikunoi
- Mr. Ikuo Maeda, Executive Fellow Head of Design, Brand Style, Mazda Motor Corporation
- Mr. Atsushi Ichikawa, Corporate Advisor, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited
- Mr. Shigeo Usui, Executive Officer in charge of Design, Panasonic Holdings Corporation
- Ms. Kiyoko Niwasaki, President, Wako Co, Ltd.
- Mr. Kentaro Kata, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Exa Innovation Studio
- Mr. Hiroki Fukunaga, Founder & President, Ryokan Collection
- Mr. Kikunojo Onoe, Head of the Onoe School of Japanese Dance
About Premium Japan
Established in 2015, this online media platform has been dedicated to sharing the essence of Japan with the world. With the concept of “Bringing the finest of Japan to the world,” it features a rich array of content spanning gastronomy, travel, traditional culture, craftsmanship, and in-depth interviews—each capturing moments of refined distinction. Backed by a team of seasoned writers, the platform is committed to excellence in both visual and editorial quality, offering beautifully photographed and thoughtfully written stories. In addition to its editorial content, it also develops a wide range of projects—including cultural and culinary events and seminars—designed to engage affluent audiences through immersive Japanese experiences. https://www.premium-j.jp/ (Japanese), https://www.premium-j.jp/en/ (English)
Media Contact:
Yoichi Hayase (Mr.)
Representative Director, Japan
AVIAREPS Japan Ltd.
yhayase@aviareps.com
03-6261-5733
