The award was started in 1976; it is named in honor of Nobuo Ina , a photography critic who headed the Nikon Salon from 1968 until his death in 1978.
Cena vznikla v roce 1976 a je pojmenována na počest Nobua Iny, kritika fotografie, který stál v čele festivalu Salon Nikon od roku 1968 až do své smrti v roce 1978.