On September 30, the presentation took place at the Goethe-Institut Tokyo. The ceremony was presented by the Ambassador-designate of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Clemens von Goetze. The prize winner and guests were also welcomed online by Prof. Dr. Carola Lentz, President of the Goethe-Institut, and Prof. Reinhart Meyer-Kalkus delivered the laudatory speech in recognition of the honoree. A concert for sho, flute, and saxophone with works by Toshio Hosokawa concluded the event.
"With his compositions, Hosokawa opens spaces and connects people all over the world. The special sound of his music transcends and makes the concert hall a place of global encounter," the jury said. "In doing so, he succeeds in combining culturally specific ways of listening to music into an extraordinary work of sound art while preserving his own traditions."
The Medal of Honor of the Federal Republic of Germany for services to the promotion of international cultural cooperation is awarded annually on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's birthday by the Goethe-Institut as part of the Weimar Art Festival. As the award winners could not come to Germany together this year due to pandemic-related restrictions, the award ceremony was broadcast live as a digital ceremony on 28 August on the Goethe-Institut channels. There, among other things, three film portraits created in collaboration with Deutsche Welle paid tribute to the work and achievements of this year's award winners.
In addition to Toshio Hosokawa, the Cameroonian social economist and president of the cultural organization doual'art Princess Marilyn Douala Manga Bell and the dancer and choreographer Wen Hui from China were honored this year. They join a line-up of famous personalities from the world of art and culture: the winners of the order, which has been awarded since 1955, include Daniel Barenboim, György Ligeti, Isang Yun, Pierre Bourdieu, John le Carré, Jorge Semprún, Robert Wilson, Shirin Neshat, Ariane Mnouchkine and Sofia Gubaidulina.
