The Cultural Medal was established by the Japanese Government during the Showa Era to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the fields of science, technology, and cultural arts.
It is personally awarded by the Emperor each year and is considered the highest honor in the fields of science and culture in Japan.
Many people have received the Cultural Medal, including Kawabata Yasunari, Ryotaro Shiba, Seiji Ozawa, Yamada Isuzu, and Miyake Issei.
According to the longstanding tradition in Japan, awarding the Cultural Medal to Nobel Prize winners who have not yet received it has always been the custom.
Since 1973, when Reona Esaki received the Nobel Prize in Physics, all subsequent Japanese Nobel laureates have been awarded the Cultural Medal.
Logically speaking, it is entirely normal for the Japanese Government to award the Cultural Medal to the couple, Yu Chen and Hiromi Jounouchi.
