The, previously known as the, designed to promote Western music in Japan, has been given by the Suntory Music Foundation since their establishment in 1969. The award is presented annually to individuals or groups for the greatest achievement in the development of Western or contemporary music in Japan during the previous year.
The current prize is 7,000,000 yen (approximately US $70,000). A Suntory Music Award Commemorative Concert is held annually in Suntory Hall to introduce and popularize the work of the recipient.
| No. | Year | width= | Recipient | width= | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1969 | Michio Kobayashi (小林 道夫), pianist, harpsichordist and conductor | |||
| 2 | 1970 | Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, cellist | |||
| 3 | 1971 | Reiji Mitani (三谷 礼二), opera producer | |||
| 4 | 1972 | Takashi Ogawa (小川 昂), theorist and critic | |||
| 5 | 1973 | International Christian University Organ Committee | |||
| 6 | 1974 | Kazuyoshi Akiyama, conductor | |||
| align=center valign="top" | 7 | align=center valign="top" | 1975 | Yoshinobu Kuribayashi (栗林 義信), baritone Ginji Yamane (山根 銀二), critic | |
| align=center valign="top" | 8 | align=center valign="top" | 1976 | Yasushi Akutagawa, composer and conductor New Symphony Orchestra (新交響楽団) | |
| 9 | 1977 | Toshiko Tsunemori (常森 寿子), soprano | |||
| 10 | 1978 | Teizō Matsumura, composer | |||
| 11 | 1979 | Sumire Yoshihara (吉原 すみれ), percussionist | |||
| Special award: Mari Iwamoto String Quartet (巖本真理弦楽四重奏団) | |||||
| 12 | 1980 | Kappa Senoo (妹尾 河童), scenic designer | |||
| Special award: Hideo Edo (江戸 英雄), president of the 1st Japan International Music Competition | |||||
| 13 | 1981 | Minao Shibata, composer | |||
| 14 | 1982 | Yūzō Toyama, conductor | |||
| Special award: Kiyoshi Hara, Representative of The Symphony Hall Construction Group | |||||
| 15 | 1983 | Keisuke Suzuki (鈴木 敬介), opera producer | |||
| 16 | 1984 | Kiyomi Toyoda (豊田 喜代美), soprano | |||
| 17 | 1985 | Telemann Institute Japan Chamber Orchestra and Chorus | Telemann Institute Japan website | ||
| align=center valign="top" | 18 | align=center valign="top" | 1986 | Mitsuko Uchida, pianist Hiroshi Wakasugi, conductor | |
| 19 | 1987 | Hiroyuki Iwaki, conductor | |||
| 20 | 1988 | Yasuko Hayashi (林 康子), soprano | |||
| 21 | 1989 | Masahiro Arita (有田 正広), early music performer | |||
| 22 | 1990 | Tōru Takemitsu, composer | |||
| 23 | 1991 | Tadaaki Otaka, conductor | |||
| 24 | 1992 | Shigeo Neriki (練木 繁夫), pianist | |||
| 25 | 1993 | Midori Gotō, violinist | |||
| Special award: Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor | |||||
| 26 | 1994 | Takayoshi Wanami (和波 孝禧), violinist | |||
| 27 | 1995 | Nobuko Imai, violist | |||
| align=center valign="top" | 28 | align=center valign="top" | 1996 | Takahiro Sonoda (園田 高弘), pianist Jōji Yuasa, composer | |
| 29 | 1997 | ||||
| Special award: Toshiro Mayuzumi, composer | |||||
| 30 | 1998 | Hikaru Hayashi, composer | |||
| 31 | 1999 | Akira Miyoshi, composer | |||
| 32 | 2000 | Taijiro Iimori (飯守 泰次郎), conductor | Taijiro Iimori website | ||
| 33 | 2001 | Toshi Ichiyanagi, composer | |||
| align=center valign="top" | 34 | align=center valign="top" | 2002 | Seiji Ozawa, conductor Kaori Kimura (木村 かをり), pianist | |
| 35 | 2003 | Ichiro Nodaira (野平 一郎), composer | Ichiro Nodaira website | ||
| 36 | 2004 | Akira Nishimura, composer | |||
| 37 | 2005 | Hidemi Suzuki (鈴木 秀美), cellist and conductor | |||
| 38 | 2006 | Tokyo Philharmonic Chorus (東京混声合唱団) | Tokyo Philharmonic Chorus website | ||
| 39 | 2007 | Toshio Hosokawa, composer | |||
| 40 | 2008 | Yumi Koyama (小山 由美), mezzo-soprano | |||
| 41 | 2009 | Kazushi Ōno, conductor | |||
| 42 | 2010 | Yoshio Watanabe (渡邊順生), harpsichordist | |||
| 43 | 2011 | not awarded | |||
| 44 | 2012 | Mihoko Fujimura (藤村実穂子), mezzo-soprano | |||
| 45 | 2013 | ||||
| 46 | 2014 | ||||
| 47 | 2015 | ||||
| 48 | 2016 | Yu Kosuge, pianist | |||
| 49 | 2017 | ||||
| 50 | 2018 | Ken Takaseki (高関健), conductor | |||
| 51 | 2019 | Hisako Kawamura (河村尚子), pianist |