Oscar Peterson's Praemium Imperiale Medallion. © Oscar Peterson

The Japan Art Association presents artists from around the world with the Praemium Imperiale Award as a kind of Nobel Prize for the Arts. Individuals from five fields of art (painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and theatre/film) are awarded annually. Each award consists of a testimonial letter and medal, and an honorarium of 15 million yen. In 1999 Oscar Peterson received the Praemium Imperiale Award for music.