The award has been given every year since 1975 (except 1983) by the Asahi Shimbun Company, publisher of Asahi Shimbun and the magazine Asahi Camera, in honor of the photographer Ihei Kimura.
Cena je udělována od roku 1975 (s výjimkou roku 1983) vydavatelem novin Asahi Šimbun a Asahi Camera na počest fotografa Iheie Kimury.