On March 20, the Japan Art Academy, led by Director Ban Nomura, announced the selection of seven new members for the current fiscal year, with notable inclusion of writer Hiromi Kawakami. This selection will be officially announced by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on March 1. The Academy comprises 120 members, currently at 112, who are treated as part-time national public servants and receive an annual stipend of 2.5 million yen from the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

The Japan Art Academy has faced criticism regarding gender balance, genre bias, and its selection process's closed nature. Following a reform in 2021, external experts were included in the selection process, and four new artistic domains were introduced: 'Manga', 'Film', 'Architecture/Design', and 'Photography/Video'. However, in a notable setback this year, there were no selections from these newly established domains, marking the first instance of such a failure since their inception. Furthermore, while the representation of women among new members had increased to seven out of twelve in FY 2023, it decreased dramatically to only one this year.

The new members consist of various notable artists across different fields. They include 89-year-old painter Nori Oya, known for his nature depictions; 81-year-old Ikki Konada, whose works are themed around mythology; craftsman Arisumi Mitamura, who focuses on unique lacquer sculptures; and acclaimed novelist Hiromi Kawakami, celebrated for her fantastical narratives. Also included are influential critics, traditional performers, and musicians who have shaped Japanese culture, showcasing a mix of esteemed lifelong contributions and contemporary influences in the arts.