TOKYO — The Art & Culture Foundation of Taito here has bestowed a special achievement award on the late comedian Ken Shimura who passed away in March of COVID-19.

The award was given as part of the Asakusa Geino Taisho (Asakusa entertainment awards). The grand prize went to actress Yuki Amami, the incentive award to the comedy duo “Bakusho Mondai,” and the rookie award to Daifuku Tamagawa, who is a performer of “rokyoku,” or traditional Japanese narrative singing.

The Asakusa entertainment awards were established in 1984 with the aim of encouraging and promoting popular entertainment. Prizewinners are selected by a special screening committee led by Waseda University professor emeritus Mikio Takemoto, based on judges selected from Taito Ward residents.

Shimura died on March 29 from pneumonia caused by the coronavirus. As there were many requests for the late comedian to be awarded, a special achievement award was established just for this fiscal year. It was decided that a commemorative shield and a prize will be presented to Shimura’s agency after the award ceremony.

(Mainichi)