Anime Mogul Hayao Miyazaki Selected for 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Awards

Hayao Miyazaki, the Japanese anime mogul, has been named a 2024 winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award. The award, Presented by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, focuses on exceptional work by distinguished Asians. It is sometimes referred to as the Nobel Prize of Asia. It announced five 2024 laureates on August 31, including the eighty-three-year-old Miyazaki.

The foundation is named after the homonymous Filipino leader of the same name. Based in Manila, it handed out its first award in 1958. It is dedicated to recognizing people who "turned their convictions into concrete actions, working tirelessly to create more just, compassionate, and inclusive societies," according to the press release.   

Recognizing the Merits of Miyazaki's Work

Miyazaki recently directed the blockbuster anime film The Boy and the Heron (Studio Ghibli, 2023). The long feature focuses on the complexities of a child growing up during World War II and his inner demons. 

He received the accolade for "his lifelong commitment to the use of art, specifically animation." The statement recognizes his efforts "to illuminate the human condition." In particular, it highlighted Miyazaki's "devotion to children as the torchbearers of the imagination." 

"I am delighted to receive the very prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award," Miyazaki shared in a statement to the foundation.

In addition, "It would be a great honor if it were the result of my films being accepted by many Asian people and giving the strength to live, especially to the children born there," continued Miyazaki. 

Ultimately, he concluded, looking at past laureates from Japan: 

"I have heard that the Award has been given in the past to respected film director Akira Kurosawa and the poet Michiko Ishimure. I am deeply honored and humbled to join the ranks of those who have received this."

Winners from All over Asia

Four other recipients from across Asia were also selected for making a mark in their respective fields. Bhutanese thought leader and former Buddhist monk Karma Phuntsho received recognition for "his invaluable and enduring contributions towards harmonizing the richness of his country’s past." 

Secondly, the foundation recognized Vietnamese doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong . She was lauded as a dedicated advocate for patients affected by the herbicide "Agent Orange" used in the Vietnam War. 

Furthermore, the Rural Doctors Movement from Thailand was named a new 2024 laureate. This organization also fights for universal healthcare coverage in the countryside for the poorest members of society. 

Finally, Indonesia's Farwiza Farhan was named a 2024 award winner. She was recognized for her emergent leadership. A self-defined forest conservationist, the Magsaysay Awards cited "her promotion of greater awareness of the need to protect the beating heart and lungs of her country’s and Asia’s rich but endangered natural resources."

Recognizing those Daring 'To Envision a Better World'

Reflecting on the motivations for the selection, "This year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awardees have reminded us that the future is shaped by those who dare to envision a better world," said Cheche L Lazaro, Chairperson of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation in a statement. 

She continued, pointing to these individuals as possible inspirations for us all. "Their extraordinary stories compel us to reflect on our roles in shaping the world and inspire us to take small steps that can contribute to the betterment of society." 

Each Ramon Magsaysay Awardee will receive a medallion bearing the likeness of the late Philippine president, a certificate inscribed with their citation, and a cash prize . The award will be formally bestowed at a ceremony on November 16, at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila, Philippines. 

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Author: Arielle Busetto