FUKUOKA (Kyodo) Leading Japanologist and cultural geographer Augustin Berque of France has become the first non-Asian to be win the Grand Prize of the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prizes contest Thursday for developing a new scientific approach to the study of Japanese culture.

At an award ceremony attended by Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko in Fukuoka, Berque, 67, said late philosopher Tetsuro Watsuji was the first person who led him to the field.