Japan Minister of Education
Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists

"...This is to endorse that Mr. Shoufukutei Kakushow, a traditional comic storyteller (Rakugo performer), was awarded the Japanese Minster of Education's Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists in the field of popular entertainment in the year of 2002 for cultivating an original form of comedy ‘puppet rakugo’. His performance has been notably played abroad and highly regarded especially for his recent performance “Alice in Wonderplanet” which is about saving the planet from environmental destruction. He is a highly promising artist and worldwide entertainer.

The Minister of Education’s Art Encouragement Prize and the Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists are presented to selected persons whose outstanding achievements have opened up new vistas in a given year. The Art Encouragement Prizes for New Artists are awarded to only one person in each of the 10 fields: drama, film, music, dance, literature, fine arts, classical arts, broadcasting, poplar entertainment, and criticism.”

KAWAMURA Junko
Director
Arts and Culture Division
Cultural Affairs Department