In 1990, Konishi received the International Prize for Biology, which was established to honour Hirohito, the Shōwa Emperor of Japan (1901–1989). When receiving the award, he met Akihito, son of Hirohito, and his wife Empress Michiko. Several years later, the imperial couple invited Konishi to dine at their palace. The couple did not say a word about the Japanese food he had chosen during the meal; nevertheless, Konishi found the Empress particularly "charming" and, later, sent her a reel of tape containing the song of European nightingales. She thanked him in a handwritten letter.
