“HEROs AWARD 2021” was held in Tokyo on December 20th to commend athletes engaged in social contribution activities. There were commendations in three categories, and in the men’s category, former professional baseball player Choji Murata, who was instrumental in holding the “Remote Island Koshien,” where junior high school students working on baseball on remote islands nationwide gather, received the award.
“HEROs AWARD” started in 2017
Since 2017, the Nippon Foundation has been implementing the “HEROs ~ Sportsmanship for the future ~” project, which expands the circle of solving social issues by promoting social contribution activities by athletes.
The “HEROs AWARD” is held every December in order to disseminate the activities of sports and athletes to society and accelerate the resolution of social issues.
Mr. Murata “Thrown for children”
There are three divisions: men, women, and team league. For the men’s category, Choji Murata, a former professional baseball player who holds the “Remote Island Koshien,” a junior high school baseball tournament where children from remote islands all over the country gather together, was selected.
Mr. Murata fascinated baseball fans with his powerful pitching form “Masakari pitching method” when he was active. Armed with fastballs and forkballs, he played an active role as the ace of Lotte Orions (now Chiba Lotte Marines).
After retiring, he visited remote islands more than 100 times, which is his life work. As part of the promotion of remote islands, the concept of “remote island Koshien” was set up and realized in 2008.
Mr. Murata said, “I threw it for the children as long as I could move, because I wanted to contribute to society. I wanted the children to grow as human beings, so I pushed my back with love. We received the award with the support of many people and local people we met through our activities. “
The presenter was Daiki Kikuchi (born in Sado Island, Niigata, who was nominated for the 6th place in the 22nd year training draft Yomiuri Giants), who was the first to participate in the remote island Koshien. Mr. Kikuchi has decided to join the giant.
Winners of the Tokyo Olympics
In the women’s category, Asuka Terada, the representative of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Athletics Women’s 100m, won the award. As an “A-START” project. We carry out an online program to learn about training methods and meals with student athletes whose practice environment cannot be maintained due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection. We also created a place for Mr. Terada and students to practice together.
Mr. Terada said, “The students who participated gave me their best and worked with high motivation. I was able to do it because it was an important time to aim for the Olympics, and the time I spent with the students had a big impact. I want to continue the competition while thinking about how to approach students and the generations below them. “
In the team league category, “Chiba Jets Funabashi”, who won the basketball B league 20-21 season for the first time, was selected. Developing “JETS ASSIST” activities under the slogan “Social contribution starting from” supporting “”. In collaboration with local governments, we carried out “food drive” to deliver donable food at home to people in need and joint development of meat buns that contribute to food loss.
In addition, AI, a singer / singer-songwriter, received a special award. With the theme of disseminating SDGs, he created a charity song for the establishment of media and a facility to support children and their families who are fighting illness.
Hidetoshi Nakata “I feel the spread”
Hidetoshi Nakata, the founder and ambassador of HEROs, attended the award ceremony. In the interview after the ceremony, he said, “There are a wide range of activities that are difficult to know, and I feel that they are expanding,” and realized the expansion of “HEROs” activities.
Furthermore, “What we can do with the power of sports is not a difficult theme such as helping, but letting people know the joy of sports and improving society by gathering people there. It is difficult to actually gather in Corona, but The connection between the hearts is important. “
In addition, athletes who participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics were also invited, and Keiichi Kimura, a 100-meter butterfly gold medalist for the Paralympic Swimming Men, attended.
(Takeshi Okada)
mimi-yori.com
mimi-yori.com
