This award is presented by the Parks and Recreation Foundation of Japan in memory of the late Tokutaro Kitamura, a pioneer in park and green space administration. It is awarded to individuals who have achieved outstanding accomplishments from a nationwide perspective in the fields of administration, research, planning, design, management theory, and other areas related to parks, green spaces, and related fields.

Reason for the Award

After studying a field outside his area of specialization at university, he studied under his father, Kinsaku, after graduation and continued to make dedicated efforts, including acquiring professional qualifications through self-study. For more than 40 years, he has been engaged in research, planning, and design related to parks, green spaces, and urban landscapes both in Japan and overseas, as well as the design of traditional Japanese gardens and surveys of cultural properties.

In particular, at the Kyoto Imperial Palace, Omiya Palace, Sento Imperial Palace, and Shugakuin Imperial Villa, he conducted surveys of trees and stone arrangements as a technical manager and carried out preservation and restoration planning. Based on the results of these investigations, he proposed the restoration of planting arrangements to reflect the original garden design at the time of the creation of Shugakuin Imperial Villa.

In Japan, he has served as an instructor at training programs for professionals and has frequently been invited to give lectures in Europe, the United States, and China. His achievements have been highly recognized, including receiving the Sato International Exchange Award in 2012.

He has served as a council member of the Japan Landscape and Scenic Design Association and as a director and council member of the Japanese Garden Society, making significant contributions to the operation of these organizations. In addition, as an International Committee member of the Landscape Consultants Association of Japan, he has worked to enhance the recognition of landscape organizations both in Japan and abroad and to promote exchanges among landscape architects.