ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ðə fɹˈɛntʃ ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ɐwˈɔːɹdᵻd kjˌʊɹɹɐmˈɑːɾə ðə dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃt ˈɔːɹdɚ dˈɛs ˈɑːɹts ˈɛt dˈɛs lˈɛɾɚz ɪn ɹˌɛkəɡnˈɪʃən ʌv hɪz aʊtstˈændɪŋ kˌɑːntɹɪbjˈuːʃən tʊ ˈɑːɹt ænd dɪzˈaɪn.
In 1990 the French government awarded Kuramata the distinguished Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in recognition of his outstanding contribution to art and design.