Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the banquet for the 25th Praemium Imperiale Awards Ceremony held in Tokyo, in the presence of Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Hitachi.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"I want to express my heartfelt pleasure at the holding of this 25th Praemium Imperiale Awards Ceremony in the presence of Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Hitachi.
I offer my sincere congratulations to all of the Laureates on winning this glorious award. In addition, I want to express my heartfelt welcome to everyone who has travelled to Japan from abroad, including all of the overseas advisors.

It's not quite the line from The Godfather, but I want to first talk about something that isn't business, it's personal. If it pleases everyone, I would like to share that when I was younger I thought that I wanted to become a film director.
That was how much Director Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather captured my young heart when I was 17. If I had not stuck to the 'family business,' I may have even filmed  The Godfather IV. Although Abenomics may have never been implemented as a result.

Over forty years have now passed since that timeless masterpiece, and no matter how many times I watch it again, it never grows old.
I believe that David Chipperfield's Neues Museum as well is a work that carries on the traditions of wonderful works of architecture from the 19th to the 21st century.
Wonderful works of art 'transcend time' and move our hearts.

'In the first place, art is something that soothes the hearts of the people, making both the ruling and lower classes feel emotion.'
These are the words of the world-renowned founder of traditional theater in Japan, Zeami. He said those words 600 years ago. Art soothes the hearts of all people and makes everyone feel emotion, regardless of such matters as class. I believe that even today, Zeami's words are still greatly persuasive.

Wonderful works of art also transcend national borders.
Michelangelo Pistoletto's mirror paintings and the statues of Antony Gormley transcend national borders and cause previously unknown curiosity and emotions to well up within us.

Hearing Plácido Domingo sing Furusato left a deep impression on the hearts of many Japanese people.
On March 11, two years ago, the Great East Japan Earthquake and a massive tsunami hit the Tohoku region. Mr. Domingo did not hesitate in coming to Japan in the very next month of April, even in the midst of rumors that Japan was dangerous.
What's more, he sang Furusato in order to raise the spirits of the Japanese people. I have heard that the entire venue was in tears. That is not just because Japanese people have a special feeling about that song. I believe it is also because Mr. Domingo's feelings about Japan were communicated across national borders.

I want to again express my heartfelt gratitude for the friendship of Mr. Domingo. In addition, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all of the foreign artists who have worked so hard to support reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Transcending time and national borders to stir people's hearts - this is the extraordinary 'power of art.'
I hope that many people all across the country, including children, can experience wonderful culture and art.

Furthermore, I want to spread the 'power of art' not just in Japan, but to all corners of the world. The world is always grappling with a variety of issues, and I believe that the 'power of art' can contribute to creating a better world.
In that sense, I believe that the role of the Praemium Imperiale, which is being followed globally and now praised as the 'Nobel Prize for art,' will become ever larger. I have high expectations for the further activities of all of the Laureates.

Within The Godfather, Michael visits Sicily and, 'like he got hit by a thunder bolt' falls in love at first site with Apollonia and marries her.
I believe that this is what coming in contact with a wonderful work of art ought to be like. It is truly a 'meeting' like 'getting hit by a thunder bolt.' It is a wonderful 'meeting' that can even change one's life.

What is the value of a life? I believe it is the number of emotional experiences we have.
I would like to end my congratulatory remarks by expressing my heartfelt gratitude to all of the Laureates for providing us with such 'meetings.' Thank you."