Five given $131,000 arts award

American composer Steve Reich and Russian ballet star Maya Plisetskaya were among the five winners of the 2006 Praemium Imperiale arts awards for lifetime achievements, announced Thursday.

French sculptor Christian Boltanski, German architect Frei Otto and Japanese painter Yayoi Kusama were also named as laureates.

Given annually by the Japan Art Assn. in fields not covered by the Nobel Prizes, the awards carry cash prizes of $131,000. Candidates are nominated by a panel of international advisors. Japan’s Prince Hitachi will bestow the gold medals on Oct. 18 at a formal ceremony in Tokyo.