Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs announced the winners of the 67th Annual Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) Art Encouragement Prizes on Wednesday. Directors Hideaki Anno and Sunao Katabuchi won Daijin (Minister) Prizes in the film category for their respective work on Shin Godzilla and In This Corner of the World.

The awards mark the first time in three years that someone related to the anime industry is receiving a Minister Prize. Studio Ghibli's Toshio Suzuki received the award in 2014 for his work as producer on The Wind Rises and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.

Additionally, manga creator Osamu Akimoto (Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo, Mr. Clice) won a Minister Prize in the media arts category. Akimoto ended his " Kochikame " police comedy manga after 40 years in September.

Anno and Shinji Higuchi won Director of the Year for Shin Godzilla at the 40th annual Japan Academy Prizes on Friday. The film also won six other awards including Picture of the Year. The live-action film opened in Japan on July 29.

Katabuchi's In This Corner of the World won Animation of the Year at this year's Japan Academy Prizes. The anime film premiered in Japan on November 12.

The MEXT Art Encouragement Prizes honor the achievements of people in the fields of theater, film, music, dance, literature, visual art, broadcasts, public entertainment, art promotion, critique, and media arts. Winners receive a certificate and monetary award. This year's awards ceremony will be held at a hotel in Tokyo on March 14.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs awarded Naruto manga creator Masashi Kishimoto with the MEXT Art Encouragement Shinjin (Rookie) Prize in the media arts category in 2015. Other recent recipients include voice actor and singer Nana Mizuki and A Letter to Momo director Hiroyuki Okiura.

Source: Animation Business Journal (Tadashi Sudo)