Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs announced on Friday that Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino , manga creator Rumiko Takahashi , and anime studio Eiken founder Hidenori Murata will receive its Commissioner for Cultural Affairs award for the year Reiwa 1, which began on May 1. The award honors "individuals who have made distinguished accomplishment in artistic and cultural activities."

The announcement said, "Over many years, as [Tomino] released a multitude of great works as an animation director, he has endeavored for the growth of the next generation and made a great contribution to the promotion of Japan's arts and culture." The announcement included a similar remark about Murata. The award staff said of Takahashi, "As she released a multitude of great works as a manga creator over many years, she has been endowed with remarkable achievements inside and outside Japan, and she has made a great contribution to the promotion of [Japan's] arts and culture."

Tomino (seen above right) created and directed the Mobile Suit Gundam anime in 1979, and he has since directed anime including Zeta Gundam , Gundam ZZ , Char's Counterattack , Aura Battler Dunbine , and Gundam: Reconguista in G . Takahashi is known for creating manga such as Inuyasha , Ranma ½ , Urusei Yatsura , MAO , RIN-NE , and Maison Ikkoku . Murata has served as executive producer on anime such as Cooking Papa , Captain, Ninpu Kamui Gaiden , Kobo-chan , and Seton Dōbutsuki .

A total of 74 people will receive the award for Reiwa 1. An awards ceremony will be held at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Auditorium 2 on December 6.

The award is rarely awarded to individuals involved in the anime and manga industry. Studio Pierrot founder Yūji Nunokawa and manga creator Kazuo Umezu ( Makoto-chan , Watashi no Shingo ) received the award this past March.

Sources: Gundam.info, Comic Natalie