The commemorative medal and testimonial letter were presented to Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, the 2002 laureate in music, by Mr. Takashima Yushu, Japanese Ambassador to Germany, at his official residence in Berlin on January 22, 2003. Mr. Fischer-Dieskau was unable to attend the Awards Ceremony in Tokyo in 2002 for health reasons. The awards ceremony was attended by Mr. and Mrs. Fischer-Dieskau, International Advisor Richard von Weizsäcker and 50 guests.
In his speech at the ceremony, Mr. Fischer-Dieskau stressed the significance of the Praemium Imperiale, saying that because of the Praemium Imperiale, a beneficent light now shines on the arts, which are not represented by the Nobel Prizes.
He also said, “Just as the United Nations struggles to protect the world community, the Praemium Imperiale defends an artistic unity for life and the world. It is to Japan’s great credit that it aims to achieve such unity, and in its fashion attempts to quench the global thirst for the creation of art.