Purpose
The purpose of the Higashikawa Awards is to encourage and cultivate photographic culture and develop and stimulate the cultural awareness of the residents of Higashikawa. Every year since 1985, the town of Higashikawa has granted awards and prize money to photographers for excellent work that is capable of shaping the future. The first important feature of the Higashikawa Awards is that they are the first photography awards ever established by a Japanese municipality. The second is that the judging is directed toward photographs made during a three-year period prior to the exhibition rather than just the previous year, as is the case for most awards given for domestic or new photography in Japan. This implies an effort to properly reevaluate the work after the passage of time. The third feature is the ongoing appreciation of overseas photography, which results in providing information on exceptional but relatively unknown overseas photographers in Japan. The celebration of photography from other countries leads to encounters and communication with people from around the world while praying for peace and expanding our dreams for the future.
Awards
The Overseas Photographer Award
1,000,000 yen
Presented to a photographer in a country or region chosen each year. He or she must have been born or be a current resident in that country or region.
The Domestic Photographer Award
1,000,000 yen
Presented to a photographer whose work during the last three years has significance in the history of photography or as a unique expression of photographic art.
The New Photographer Award
500,000 yen
Presented to a photographer whose work during the last three years has significance in the history of photography or as a unique expression of photographic art.
The Special Photographer Award
500,000 yen
Presented to a photographer who was born or lives in Hokkaido or whose theme or subject matter is related to Hokkaido.
The Hidano Kazuemon Award
500,000 yen
Presented to a photographer who has contributed to society through photography, acknowledging a long-term achievement in taking photographs of local people, culture, or nature. This award is open to both professional and amateur photographers.
Selection
The works selected by nominators appointed by the executive committee are judged by the Higashikawa Awards Jury. An award ceremony is held each year during the Higashikawa Photo Festival and accompanied by a commemorative symposium and other events.
Other Conditions
The monetary gifts presented with the Higashikawa Awards are intended as compensation for the purchase of original prints of the prize-winning photographs. In exchange, each award winner is asked to voluntarily submit an original print or prints of his or her choice from among the award-winning works to the residents of Higashikawa.
The residents of Higashikawa shall be responsible for safely storing the photographs and exhibiting them to visitors who come to Photo Town Higashikawa. The award-winning photographs will be exhibited at the Higashikawa Bunka Gallery, promoting friendship and cultural development.
Other awards may be presented to recognize outstanding works, contributing to the development of photographic culture and the success of the Higashikawa Awards, and other committees and sponsors may negotiate for permission to present awards.