Hillary Clinton Meets Kusama's Pumpkins Ahead of Tokyo's Praemium Imperiale

Hillary Clinton posed with Yayoi Kusama's famous pumpkin sculptures on Naoshima island on Monday, two days before the 37th Praemium Imperiale awards ceremony at Meiji Kinenkan in Tokyo on Wednesday.

The former First Lady posted photos of the visit on Instagram from Naoshima, one of Japan's best-known art islands. She offered a striking verdict on what art does in troubled times: "in a sometimes dark and chaotic world, art is an antidote to numbness and incuriosity that reminds us the work of creation is an act of resistance."

The timing is hard to miss. With the US midterm elections approaching, Clinton has framed art as a counterweight to the political moment rather than an escape from it. Her trip pairs a cultural pilgrimage with official duties at one of the world's most lucrative arts prizes.

What is Clinton's role at the prize?

Clinton joined the Praemium Imperiale in 2022 as international advisor and chair of the US nomination committee. She took over from Caroline Kennedy, the former US ambassador to Japan, who served as international advisor from 2018 and stepped down in 2021 before her nomination as US ambassador to Australia. Clinton is the fifth person to hold the US international advisor post, and in that role she recommends candidates for the prize.

What does this change for the awards? Her presence adds American political weight to a Japanese institution that positions itself as a global prize — and her active public advocacy, including the Naoshima posts, keeps the prize visible beyond arts circles.

Who won this year's Praemium Imperiale?

The 2025 laureates were announced on September 8. The prize recognizes artists for outstanding achievements and contributions to the arts across five categories. This year's list:

• Painting: Jenny Holzer (United States)
• Sculpture: Andy Goldsworthy (United Kingdom)
• Architecture: Daniel Libeskind (United States)
• Music: Herbert Blomstedt (Sweden)
• Theatre/Film: Cate Blanchett (Australia)

Each laureate receives 15 million yen (roughly $95,160), a testimonial letter, and a medal. Prince Hitachi, honorary patron of the Japan Art Association, will present the awards at Wednesday's ceremony.

Why Naoshima matters here

Clinton's choice of destination was not incidental. Naoshima has become a global model for placing major contemporary art in a rural island setting, with Kusama's pumpkins among its most photographed works. Her Instagram post doubles as an endorsement of art-tourism destinations at a moment when Japan is leaning on cultural travel for its international profile.

The ceremony on Wednesday closes the loop: a US political figure, a Japanese royal patron, and laureates from five countries gathering at Meiji Kinenkan — with 15 million yen riding on each name.