Nakao, an 85-year-old visiting professor at Kyoto University of the Arts, became the first Japanese to receive the biannual award of the Korea Foundation since it was established in 2008, with ties between South Korea and Japan currently soured over a host of bilateral issues.
The award is given to individuals and organizations who promote awareness and a better understanding of South Korea in the global community, according to the foundation. "Through 40 years of research on the history of Korea-Japan exchange, Professor Nakao has contributed significantly to the enhanced understanding of Korea by Japanese citizens and the broadening of civic exchanges between Korea and Japan," the foundation said in a statement.