Soprano Singer Qin Qianyi Awarded the Higashikunimiya Memorial Prize

　～Contributing to Society Through Culture, Art, and Invention

 

Qianyi Qin, a soprano singer who has long been dedicated to cultural and artistic exchange activities and has contributed to society with her unique inventions, has recently been awarded the prestigious Higashikunimiya Memorial Prize in Japan.

 

The Higashikunimiya Memorial Prize aims to carry on the will of Prince Higashikunimiya Naruhiko, the first member of the imperial family to become Prime Minister after World War II, by recognizing the creativity and social contributions of the Japanese people. It is a highly acclaimed award, ranked alongside the Takamatsu Memorial Prize and the Chichibu Memorial Prize as one of the "Three Imperial Prizes," making it one of Japan's most authoritative awards, often referred to as the "People's Nobel Prize." Notable past recipients include former Prime Ministers Takeo Miki, Noboru Takeshita, and Yasuhiro Nakasone, as well as Yukio Aoshima, Kiichiro Toyoda (President of Toyota Motor Corporation), Kenichi Mabuchi (President of Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.), rakugo storyteller Komeimaru Katsura, and author Shusaku Endo.

 

For many years, Qianyi Qin has actively engaged in cultural and artistic exchange activities, organizing a wide variety of events and exhibitions to deepen mutual understanding between Japan and her native country. Her activities have promoted cultural exchange between the two nations and made significant contributions to building friendly relations.

 

Furthermore, Qianyi Qin draws inspiration from daily life to create numerous unique inventions. These inventions not only enhance the convenience of daily life but also hold the potential to solve environmental and social issues.

 

In her acceptance speech, Qianyi Qin stated, "I am deeply honored to receive such a distinguished award. I have always been passionate about deepening mutual understanding and building friendly relations through cultural exchange between Japan and my native country. At the same time, I hope to enrich people's lives and contribute to society through my inventions. I will take this award as motivation to continue dedicating myself to cultural exchange and invention activities in the future."

 

The Higashikunimiya Memorial Association highly praised Qianyi Qin's outstanding contributions in cultural exchange and invention, bestowing upon her this esteemed honor. The association anticipates even greater achievements from Qin Qianyi in the future and hopes that her activities will further promote cultural exchange and social development.

 

Qianyi Qin Biography:

A coloratura soprano singer, Qianyi Qin graduated at the top of her class from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music and subsequently taught at the same university. She later pursued further studies in Japan, graduating from the graduate school of Musashino Academia Musicae. She has performed the role of Violetta Valéry in the opera La traviata, among others, and has won awards in multiple international vocal competitions. In addition, she has served as a judge for various Chinese talent competitions, such as the "Culture China - Water Cube Cup" Chinese Song Contest, the "Voice of China" Japan Auditions, and the "Asia International Chorus Festival." She has also served as a music director for numerous television programs and large-scale musical events. As a representative of Japan, she was invited to participate in the "Global Chinese Pop Music Awards Ceremony" held in Hong Kong. In 2025, after undergoing rigorous selection as a foreign national, she was awarded the Japanese "Higashikunimiya Memorial Prize."