[2022.10.11] The 70th Kikuchi Kan Award

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine translation, inaccuracies exist. Please do not comment in this thread other than translations*

 

Source: https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20221011-2478327/

 

"Kikuchi Kan Award" goes to Yuzuru Hanyu, Koki Mitani, and "The Butterfly Effect"

 

The 70th Kikuchi Kan Award was announced on the 11th, with the winners being figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, screenwriter Koki Mitani, author Miyuki Miyabe, NHK's "Century of Visuals: The Butterfly Effect," and the reporting team for Shinano Mainichi Shimbun's "Five-Colored Moebius."

 

Spoiler

The reasons for the award are as follows:

■ Yuzuru Hanyu:
He has achieved brilliant records in men's singles figure skating, including winning two consecutive Olympic gold medals and dominating all major international competitions. This year, he announced his professional turn and will continue to challenge himself to reach even higher stages, including quadruple and a half jumps.

 

■ Koki Mitani:
While he was in college, he founded the theater company "Tokyo Sunshine Boys," and for the past 40 years has continued to produce excellent works across the stage, TV dramas, and films, from comedies to serious historical dramas such as "The 13 Lords of the Kamakura."

 

■ Miyabe Miyuki
35 years after her debut, she has published numerous excellent entertainment novels, ranging from socially relevant modern mysteries to historical novels, fantasy, science fiction, and horror. With the power of her stories, she invites many people, regardless of age or gender, to read.

 

■NHK's "The Butterfly Effect: A Century of Film" is
a popular series that traces modern history using valuable archive footage collected from all over the world. It introduces a new perspective that shows how the modest actions of one person can have a chain reaction and change the world, conveying the endless charm of history.

 

■ The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun "Five-Colored Moebius" reporting team
thoroughly interviewed foreign workers and residents in local communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing their harsh conditions as well as the problems with the country's technical intern training program and immigration system, and proposing a society that coexists with them and respects diversity.

 

The award was established in 1952 to commemorate the achievements of Bungeishunju founder Kan Kikuchi in various aspects of Japanese culture. It is awarded to the person or organization that has made the most innovative and accomplished achievements in the year and the most outstanding contributions over many years in the fields of literature, theater, film, newspapers, broadcasting, magazines and publishing, and in general cultural activities, all of which were closely related to Kan Kikuchi during his lifetime.

 

The selection committee members are Sawako Agawa, Akira Ikegami, Masayasu Hosaka, and Takeshi Yoro. The award ceremony will be held in Tokyo in early December.

 

 

Source: https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2252616/full/

 

Yuzuru Hanyu receives the 70th Kikuchi Kan Award, praised for his "continuous challenge" attitude

 

The winners of the 70th Kikuchi Kan Award, which is given to individuals and groups who have made creative achievements in cultural activities such as literature, film, theater, newspapers, and broadcasting, were announced on the 4th, with Miyabe Miyuki, Mitani Koki, and Hanyu Yuzuru among the recipients.

 

Spoiler

　The reason for Hanyu's award was given as "he has achieved brilliant records, including winning gold medals at two consecutive Olympic Games in the men's singles figure skating and winning all major international competitions.He announced his intention to turn professional this year and will continue to challenge himself to reach even higher stages, including the quadruple axel jump."

 

Miyabe was praised for "35 years after DePuy, he has published many excellent entertainment novels, from socially relevant modern mysteries to historical novels, fantasy, science fiction, and horror. His stories have inspired many people of all ages and genders to read."

 

　Mitani was also praised for "founding the theater company 'Tokyo Sunshine Boys' while he was in college, and for the past 40 years, he has continued to produce excellent works in all fields of stage, television, and film, from comedies to serious historical dramas such as 'The 13 Lords of the Kamakura'."

 

　The award was established in 1952 as a prize to commemorate the achievements of novelist and Bungeishunju founder Kikuchi Kan in various aspects of Japanese culture. It is awarded to individuals and groups who have made creative achievements in cultural activities such as literature, film, theater, newspapers, and broadcasting. Other recipients this time were the Shinano Mainichi Shimbun's 'Five-Colored Moebius' reporting team and NHK's 'The Century of Images: The Butterfly Effect.'

 

　The selection advisors were Sawako Agawa, Akira Ikegami, Masayasu Hosaka, and Takeshi Yoroi.

 

[yuzurujenn]

2022.11.09

 

Source: https://bunshun.jp/bungeishunju/articles/h4559 (paid article)

 

70th Kikuchi Kan Award Announcement

 

The advisory committee meeting for the 70th Kikuchi Kan Prize was held at 5 p.m. on October 4th at the Imperial Hotel, with four advisors: Sawako Agawa, Akira Ikegami, Masayasu Hosaka, and Takeshi Yoro. After careful deliberation, the awards were decided as follows. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone from various fields who submitted questionnaires and to all who cooperated.

 

Each winner will receive a clock as the main prize and 1 million yen as a bonus prize.

 

Japan Literature Promotion Foundation,
Bungeishunju, 3-23 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

 

Spoiler

▶ Miyuki Miyabe
For 35 years since her debut, she has published numerous excellent entertainment novels ranging from socially conscious contemporary mysteries to historical novels, fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. Through the power of storytelling, she invites many people of all ages and genders to read.

 

▶ Koki Mitani
While still in university, he founded the theater troupe “Tokyo Sunshine Boys,” and for 40 years since then, he has continued to create excellent works in all media—stage, TV dramas, and movies—from comedies to serious historical dramas like “The 13 Lords of the Shogun.”

 

▶ Shinano Mainichi Shimbun “Five-Colored Moebius” Reporting Team
During the COVID-19 pandemic in local communities, they carefully interviewed foreign workers and residents, revealing their harsh situations as well as problems with the national technical intern training program and immigration system, proposing a society that coexists with them and respects diversity.

 

▶ NHK “The Century of Images: Butterfly Effect”
This popular series tracing modern history through precious archival footage collected from around the world introduces a new perspective that a single modest action can trigger a chain reaction that moves the world, conveying the inexhaustible fascination of history.

 

▶ Yuzuru Hanyu
In men’s singles figure skating, he achieved brilliant records such as winning gold medals at two consecutive Olympic Games and sweeping all major international competitions. This year, he declared his turn to professional skating and continues to challenge himself aiming for even higher stages, including the quadruple Axel jump.

 

Celebrating receiving the Kikuchi Kan Award <in order of announcement>

 

Miyuki Miyabe’s Rising Power | By Masamitsu Miyagitani (Writer)

I once thought—and in fact still think—that Miyuki Miyabe’s roots lie in the downtown area. Needless to say, the sense of humanity in downtown is not weak. The deep connections among the people living there, which don’t exist in other regions, likely nurtured Miyabe’s unique observational eye. These human relationships can also be seen from another angle as unavoidable environments, and Miyabe has the sensibility to absorb the good and bad of the people placed in such conditions. Related to this is her outstanding storytelling skill. However, I cannot probe the spirit and culture underlying it, but the distant image I have of Miyabe is like that. It seems to me that the current Miyabe is trying to explore the potential of humans to overcome unavoidable environments.

The Kikuchi Kan Prize she received is surely a commendation for her past achievements, but I also believe it became a force encouraging her efforts toward the future. In any case, I offer my congratulations on this joyous occasion.

 

“The 13 Lords of the Shogun” - something I've wanted to write ever since | By Kyoka Suzuki (Actress)

Koki Mitani loves making audiences and viewers happy.

The first time I worked with him was in the drama “Ō-sama no Restaurant” (King’s Restaurant). The role I played, Barman (a bartender), was the mistress of the general manager of the restaurant. Until then, I often played the wife role, but thanks to the line “I guess I have a mistress face,” I started getting more mistress roles (laughs). It broadened my acting range, and I am grateful.

He’s not like a grand master but approachable, and you sometimes want to tease him. His acting direction is clear and polite. Meeting Mitani taught me the fun of approaching roles from various angles, and I am truly thankful.

When he directed a movie for the first time with “Radio no Jikan” (Radio Time), he appeared on set sharply dressed in a suit and tie. I was impressed by how he expressed respect for the filming staff and the movie in his own Mitani style.

The barman’s character name was Masako Sanjō—yes, a nod to Hōjō Masako. The fact that he realized the story he had wanted to write for so long about Yoritomo Hōjō and the colorful characters around him with “The 13 Lords of the Shogun” is very moving.

Congratulations on your award this time. Please continue creating wonderful stories. The show must go on forever!

 

Seeing Life Inside and Outside | By Shinobu Yoshioka (Non-fiction Writer)

In this island nation in the Far East, with declining birthrate and aging population, decreasing population, stagnant economy, and ignorant politics—no matter where you look, Japan is clearly weakening. Nearly two million foreigners have come here and are working in factories, fields, construction sites, and nursing care. It would be more accurate to say they are supporting society.

Reporters and cameramen from my hometown newspaper, the Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, walked these sites. Long hours of hard labor, low wages or unpaid wages, language and cultural barriers. Above all, they encountered the realities of the technical intern training program and immigration administration, which treat foreigners merely as cheap labor.

These issues themselves are among the causes of this country’s weakening, but these points have already been pointed out. The reporters, who met individual foreign workers and listened to the stories of local people who sincerely engaged with them, are looking beyond that.

The series title, “Five Colors of Mobius,” where people from five continents live together openly and behind the scenes, includes the question of what life means to both oneself and others. The newspaper company’s philosophy that society becomes rich only when each life is woven together without discrimination breathes here.

Congratulations!

 

A Program That Quietly Stirrs the Heart | By Hiroko Kuniya (Journalist)

In an era where overwhelming power and waves of great change toss people about, and individuals are made to feel powerless, this program tells us that an unwavering strong will is what opens the future, and it moves the heart.

There are chains of hatred and sorrowful chains, but what is most deeply engraved in the heart are stories of society changing through people connected by shared pain.

The speeches of the first Japanese American federal legislator who moved toward the abolition of racial discrimination and a Black federal legislator, who did not know each other but supported each other’s activities, are impressive. Also, the song that Chancellor Merkel, who led Germany for 16 years, held as her emotional support for half a century. At her retirement ceremony, her calm yet strong expression listening intently to that song draws you in.

The power of words from people who weave history and the power of music create a chain of courage.

Now in its 10th year since the start of “Close-up Gendai,” the Kikuchi Kan Prize I received with the production staff has become a strong encouragement supporting me for the past 13 years.

I hope the “Century of Images” series will continue to demonstrate the power of images and television media as a program that quietly stirs our hearts.

I offer heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in the production.

 

“Receiving the Power to Live” | By Shuzo Matsuoka (Sports Caster)

 "I will continue to challenge myself to reach even higher levels" -- this is one of the reasons why he received the Kikuchi Kan Award.

The first time I heard the voice of his heart was when he was sixteen. Hanyu's “will to live” began to pour into me. He’s a genius at putting his inner voice into words, which is why there are always moments in his interviews that give me goosebumps.

“I gave up all happiness for the gold medal.”

“To be truly overwhelming is to win without a single mistake, even when everyone else has delivered perfect performances.”

The words that Hanyu weaves offer profound insight. The one he has continued to challenge, more than anyone else, is Yuzuru Hanyu himself. In particular, his practice of the quadruple axel before the Beijing Olympics was like a monk in training, risking his life for it. No matter how many times he fell, believing it was his mission, he kept challenging himself, which made my heart ache.

Hanyu is an athlete who embodies both "brilliance" and "solitude". To live is to suffer, to struggle, to feel lonely. But it’s precisely by confronting that reality that something greater is born and transforms into true joy.

Hanyu’s new challenges may become even harder and steeper. But the more deeply he pursues it, the more powerfully that “will to live” will continue to reach us all.

 

[yuzurujenn]

2022.12.02

 

Video: 

 

 

Source: https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2022/12/02/kiji/20221202s00079000712000c.html

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20221202110817/https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2022/12/02/kiji/20221202s00079000712000c.html

 

Yuzuru Hanyu: "A series of two choices... I want to give meaning to each one of them" - Full text of Kikuchi Kan Award acceptance speech

 

The 70th Kikuchi Kan Award ceremony, which is given to individuals and groups who have made achievements in the field of general cultural activities, was held in Tokyo on the 2nd, and a video message was released in which Yuzuru Hanyu (27), a professional figure skater, accepted the award. He was absent due to an ice show appearance, but he delivered a five-minute message wearing a suit and red tie. The full text of Hanyu's speech is below.

 

Spoiler

I am deeply honored and humbled to have been chosen for such a prestigious award. At the same time, I feel a renewed sense of responsibility to live up to the name of this award by continuing to strive even harder.

 

My life so far spans just under 28 years, but almost all of it has been devoted to the pursuit of my dreams. It has been a continuous cycle of hope and despair.

 

Before I set my sights on mastering the quadruple Axel, my dream was to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals. I started skating when I was about four years old, and not long after, I began to dream of winning consecutive Olympic titles. In order to win at the Olympics, I had to succeed in landing the quadruple jump. Before the quadruple jump came the triple Axel and triple jumps. Before that, double jumps and single jumps. Each and every one of those was a goal. Each one, a dream.

 

These days, a single rotation jump might seem like something very easy, but back then, there were days in practice when I succeeded, and days when I could do nothing but fail. In fact, I think the days of failure were far more common. Just when I thought I had finally mastered it, ten seconds later I couldn’t land it anymore. Then there were times when I couldn’t succeed again for more than ten days.

 

With the quadruple jump, there were even stretches when I could land it only once a month. Even after a success, I would fail again. If you ask whether success lies at the end of repeated failures, the answer is not necessarily. In reality, it often felt like failure was all there was. And yet, I kept going back to fail again. I repeated that process, again and again, without giving up.

 

I was able to fulfill my dream of winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals. But I was not able to grasp the dream of landing a quadruple Axel at the Olympics. At that time, I felt for the first time that there really are efforts that go unrewarded. I even came to think that all those days of hard work were in vain. Dreams don’t necessarily come true. Effort doesn’t always pay off. No matter how hard you try, the number of people whose dreams come true is very, very small. I believe there are times when people are forced to give up because of the injustices of society. I believe there are times when people must give up simply to protect themselves. There are dreams that are expected of you, and dreams that aren’t. There are feelings that reach no one, days that pass without notice, and days filled with nothing but pain. Even those whose dreams seem to have come true have probably sacrificed and given up many things for them.

 

My life has been a continuous series of choices. I don’t know whether all of those choices were the right ones. No matter how much I worry or think about them, in the end, every decision comes down to just two options: to do it, or not to do it. Whether the present I arrived at through that accumulation of binary choices is the correct one or not, I don’t know.

 

But I want to give meaning to each and every one of those choices. Even if a choice led to failure, even if it caused injury. I’ve always tried to find meaning in the days where I gained something only to lose something else. Even if at the time it seemed meaningless, I want to live in a way where, looking back someday, I can say it all had meaning.

 

My challenges are not over yet. They will continue on. I know I will continue to struggle and hesitate over the choices ahead. But I will keep choosing the present, so that someday I can say, “Because I made that choice, I have the future I have now.”

 

Thank you very much for this honor. I will continue doing my very best, even more than before.