Nobel laureate Hideki Shirakawa and five others were awarded this year's Order of Culture by the Emperor at the Imperial Palace on Culture Day on Friday.

The five other recipients of the award were sinologist Tadao Ishikawa, 78, leather craftswoman Fukuko Okubo, 81, calligrapher Kason Sugioka, 87, organic chemist Ryoji Noyori, 62, and actress Isuzu Yamada, 83.

It is the first time that two women have received the award in one year.

At the ceremony, which started at 10:30 a.m., the Emperor decorated each of the recipients, who then received a certificate from Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.

All the decorated recipients paid their respects to the Emperor and were photographed at the palace. Shirakawa, 64, professor emeritus of the University of Tsukuba, won the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with two Americans for their discovery and subsequent development of conductive polymers.

Ishikawa, a professor emeritus of Keio University, has contributed to the study of contemporary China in Japan, focusing on the history of the Chinese Communist Party. He is also known for his achievements in university reform and in promoting scientific research.

Okubo, whose real name is Fuku Okubo, has produced various artworks showcasing the unique character of leather, including its warmth.

Veteran calligrapher Sugioka was chosen for his achievements in producing lofty and profound tones in his works. Sugioka, whose real name is Masami Sugioka, is known for expressing human nature in his writings. Noyori, a professor of Nagoya University, has made important contributions in the field of fine organic compound chemistry.

Yamada, whose real name is Mitsu Yamada, is known for her acting, mainly in dramas. Yamada has been a leading actress for 70 years.

Now he's honored

Nine former Cabinet ministers, including one who was forced to resign for controversial remarks early this year, will receive the nation's top decoration this autumn for their contributions to government and society, the government announced Friday.

Among the recipients of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun is Michio Ochi, 71, who lost his House of Representatives seat in the June general election. He resigned in February as chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission over remarks suggesting his intention to let banks be audited more leniently.

Other recipients of the award include House of Councilors President Yutaka Inoue, 72, who previously served as education minister.

Among the eight recipients of the second-highest order, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, is Hiroshi Nakajima, 72, who served for 10 years as director general of the World Health Organization until being replaced in 1998 by former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland.

The seven other recipients of the second-highest award are former IBM Japan Ltd. President Takeo Shiina, 71, Upper House member and Tokai University President Tatsuro Matsumae, 73, former Waseda University President Tsukasa Shimizu, 75, two former Cabinet ministers, a former Supreme Court justice and a former prefectural governor.

The majority of the 4,632 domestic recipients of this autumn's orders are incumbent and former lawmakers and bureaucrats, with people from the private sector accounting only for 32 percent. Only 321 of the total are women.

As well as Japanese recipients, government decorations will be granted to 31 foreign nationals in 12 countries for their contributions to Japan's relations with other countries.

The top award this fall for foreigners, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, will go to the former managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Michel Camdessus, 67, of France, and Hans-Olaf Henkel, 60, president of the Federation of German Industry.

The top and second-highest awards will be presented Tuesday by the Emperor at the Imperial Palace. Lower awards will be given by Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori or other Cabinet ministers between Tuesday and Friday.