At a ceremony in Tokyo on Wednesday, German architect Frei Otto was awarded the Praemium Imperiale, which is given to artists of global influence.

Otto is one of this year's five laureates, who each receive prize money of 15 million yen (100,000 euros, $126,000).

The 81-year-old German architect is best known for developing lightweight tensile and membrane structures.

His most famous constructions include the West German Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal and the roof of the Olympic Stadium in Munich.

Nature and technology

Otto likes to see himself as an artist, technician and nature explorer working towards the architectural ideal of a "holistic harmony" between nature and technology.

In 2005, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects for his life achievement.

The Praemium Imperiale -- which is often referred to as the "Nobel Prize" for art -- was established in 1989 by the Japan Art Association, which is governed by the Japanese royal family.

This year's award also went to Japanese avant-garde pioneer Yayoi Kusama -- who is the first Japanese woman to win the prize, French sculptor Christian Boltanski, American musician Steve Reich and acclaimed Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya, who remains admired in Japan for her interpretation of "The Dying Swan."

Past laureates include painters Jasper Johns and Willem de Kooning, architect I.M. Pei, filmmakers Federico Fellini and Akira Kurosawa and playwright Arthur Miller.