Tokyo: Filmmaker Ang Lee was honored as the first Taiwanese laureate of the 2024 Praemium Imperiale, a prestigious global arts prize awarded annually by the Japan Art Association. The accolade recognizes Lee's contributions to promoting "the cultures and arts of the world." The award ceremony took place in Tokyo, where Lee, along with four other honorees, received a medal from Princess Hitachi. According to Focus Taiwan, during a news conference in Tokyo on Monday, Lee expressed his gratitude and admiration for Japanese cinema, acknowledging its significant cultural influence on Asian filmmakers. "As the first person from Taiwan to receive this award, I'm proud and deeply grateful," Lee stated. He further described theater as a temple and movies as rituals that allow individuals to reflect on life and seek the truth. Lee emphasized his passion for continual learning in cinema, describing his career as a "never-ending school." Lee's recognition in the theater/film category marks the 35th edition of the award , which is often regarded as Japan's arts equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Lee's illustrious career includes winning an Oscar for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" as best foreign film in 2000, and best director accolades for "Brokeback Mountain" in 2005 and "Life of Pi" in 2012. The 2024 laureates also featured French conceptual artist Sophie Galle in painting, Colombian artist Doris Salcedo in sculpture, Japanese architect Shigeru Ban in architecture, and Portugal-born pianist Maria João Pires in music. Princess Hitachi, during the ceremony, emphasized the arts' role in uniting people, enriching lives, and providing solace during conflicts. Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida highlighted the Japan Art Association's mission to promote world peace through the arts, aligning with the late Prince Takamatsu's vision, who was the honorary patron until early 1987. On the sidelines of the event, Lee remarked on the significance of Asian voices in cinema, particularly as fewer people attend theaters, as repo rted by news website Japan Forward. The Praemium Imperiale was established in 1988 to commemorate the Japan Art Association's centennial and in memory of Prince Takamatsu. The inaugural prize in 1989 honored six artists for their "exceptional achievements," transcending national and ethnic boundaries, including renowned figures like Chinese American architect Ieoh Ming Pei, French film director Marcel Carné, and painters Willem de Kooning and David Hockney.