Cate Blanchett Takes $100,000 Japan Award, Cites Power of Doubt

Cate Blanchett collected 15 million yen, or just under $100,000, on Wednesday in Tokyo. The sum accompanies Japan's Praemium Imperiale, a lifetime achievement award given by the Japan Art Association. Blanchett joined a roster of previous theater and film honorees that includes Martin Scorsese, Judi Dench, and Ang Lee. The actor's receipt of the prize marks the first time a Hollywood figure has taken the honor since Lee in 2024.

Princess Hitachi presented the medal at the Meiji Kinenkan in Tokyo's Moto-Akasaka district. Along with Blanchett, the association honored American artist Jenny Holzer, British sculptor Andy Goldsworthy, American architect Daniel Libeskind, and Swedish conductor Herbert Blomstedt. Each recipient received a testimonial letter and the cash prize.

Before the ceremony, Blanchett told reporters that doubt is a necessary tool for artists. She warned against unthinking certainty in a world full of unknowns. She argued that the willingness to question assumptions allows for better conversation and change. At the black-tie event, she expanded on this theme, noting that acting can become overly literal but can also create wordless experiences for audiences.

Blanchett said that uncertainty about fully communicating a character's thoughts remains a central part of her work. She noted that as a woman, this professional doubt is often mistaken for a lack of confidence. She views it instead as the starting point of her artistic process. She also praised her fellow laureates for the rigor required to sustain risk-taking over long careers.

Hillary Clinton attended the news conference as the prize's U.S. international adviser. She belongs to an advisory network that nominates candidates for the Japan Art Association's final selection. Clinton stated that the award affirms the essential place of culture in society. She argued that support for the arts has become more urgent amid threats to democratic values and concerns about artificial intelligence.

Clinton called for restraining the risks of new technology while protecting human imagination. She emphasized the need to maintain the ability to connect with others. Blanchett's visit to Japan continues through the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, which runs through November 4.

On Friday, Blanchett is scheduled to join Mohammad Rasoulof and Shahrbanoo Sadat for a question-and-answer session. The event will follow the Japanese premieres of five shorts backed by the Displacement Film Fund, an initiative Blanchett co-founded to support displaced filmmakers. Later that day, she will discuss her alien comedy Alpha Gang with directors David and Nathan Zellner.