Yomiuri Aoniyoshi Prize Winners Announced

The winners of the 10th Yomiuri Aoniyoshi Prize (sponsored by the Yomiuri Shimbun with special support from the Japan Society for the Conservation of Cultural Property), which publicly honors individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievements in the fields of conservation science and restoration, were announced. The Aoniyoshi Prize was given to HIROSE Kenji (Kyoto Prefecture), who had been engaged in the production of antient textiles used for hanging scrolls and folding screens and had contributed to the restoration of many national treasures and important cultural properties. The Encouragement Prize was given to NAKANISHI Yoshihisa (Nara Prefecture), who produces smoked plums (ubai), used as a mordant for the natural red dyeing. The Special Prize went to Kongō Gumi, a construction company specialising in temples and shrines, which had carried out conservation, restoration and reconstruction of cultural property buildings. (Japanese)