Tokyo - Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is again providing all-out support this year for the Hans Christian Andersen Awards for children's literature. Mr. Takeshi Isayama, vice chairman of Nissan Motor will be attending the awards ceremony to be held in Basel, Switzerland and delivering a speech on behalf of the main sponsor.
The Hans Christian Andersen Awards, established in 1956, are presented every two years by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY with its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland), a worldwide network of people engaged in international activities related to children's books. IBBY presents the awards to a living author and an illustrator whose works have contributed significantly to children's literature. The awards, named after Denmark's world famous creator of fairy tales, enjoy the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Margretha II of Denmark. As the utmost international accolades given in the realm of children's books, the awards are often dubbed the "Little Noble Prizes" of children's literature.
Winner of this year's Author Award is Mr. Aidan Chambers of the United Kingdom while Mr. Quentin Blake also of the United Kingdom is the recipient of the Award for Illustration.
Nissan has been carrying out philanthropic activities with the focus on efforts to "nurturing the creativity of children and young people." Nissan's priority objective has coincided with the aims of the Han Christian Andersen Awards to help enhance the quality of children's literature worldwide and to contribute to the healthy and rich development of children throughout the world. Besides endorsing the cause of IBBY's activities, Nissan began to extend support for the awards in 1992 when continuation of the program seemed at risk owing to the deterioration of economic conditions in Eastern European countries that had traditionally been its backers. Since 1994, Nissan has been in support of the award as the main sponsor, and this year marks the sixth time the company has sponsored the program.
The awards ceremony will take place as part of the opening ceremony of IBBY's Jubilee Congress to be held in Basel, Switzerland, from September 29 to October 3.
IBBY, which presides over the awards, is an international organization with its branch offices in more than 60 countries and has been involved in activities to promote international understanding through children's books, spread good books for children, and promote campaigns against illiteracy for children in developing countries. z
Her Majesty Empress Michiko of Japan, who has long supported these IBBY activities, is scheduled to attend IBBY's Jubilee Congress as its patron.
Besides the awards ceremony for the Han Christian Andersen Awards, the program of the forthcoming Congress will include keynote speeches, panel discussions, seminars, exhibitions and other events under the theme of "Children and Books - a Worldwide Challenge."
The Congress will be attended by approximately 400 people from 50 countries around the world who are engaged in introducing and disseminating children's literature and in various activities to promote reading.
[Outline of the Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2002]
1) Title The Hans Christian Andersen Awards
2) Organizer International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)
Established in 1953, IBBY is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, with over 60 member countries, including Japan. IBBY has an international network of people involved with children and children's books and works to promote international understanding through the medium of children's literature, the diffusion of good children's books and literacy campaigns, among other activities.
3) Sponsor Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (since 1992)
4) Description of Awards
IBBY presents the Hans Christian Andersen Awards biennially to a living author and an illustrator whose overall works have made outstanding contributions to children's literature. Winners receive a certificate and a medal on recognition of their distinguished achievements. (The Author's Award has been given since 1956 and the Illustrator's Award since 1966.)
5) 2002 Winners
Author Award: Mr. Aidan Chambers (U.K.)
Illustrator Award: Mr. Quentin Blake (U.K.)
6) Awards Ceremony
Date: Sunday, September 29
Venue: Congress Centre Basel, Switzerland
* It will take place during the opening ceremony of IBBY's Jubilee Congress to be held from September 29 to October 3.
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