The Japan Art Association has appointed former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as International Advisor to the Praemium Imperiale. Starting in September 2021, he will preside over the Asian Nomination Committee, recommending candidates for the Praemium Imperiale Awards.

Mr. Abe will succeed the late former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who served as International Advisor from 1994 until the end of 2018, when he became Honorary Advisor, and passed away in November 2019.

Brief Biography of Mr. Shinzo Abe:
Born 21 September 1954. A graduate of Seikei University, he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1993 and has been elected nine times. He became the 90th Prime Minister of Japan in 2006. In 2012, he was re-elected as the 96th Prime Minister and served for the longest tenure in Japan's history, until his resignation in September 2020.

Mr. Hisashi Hieda, Chairman of the Japan Art Association, said:
“In the past, when Mr. Abe was unable to attend the Awards Ceremony of the Praemium Imperiale, he always sent a video message to the ceremony. The other International Advisors are looking forward to working with him.”