A commemorative ceremony was held on March 3 ahead of the anniversary of the broadcast on March 22, and seven people, including culinary researcher Harumi Kurihara and screenwriter and director Koki Mitani, were presented with the Broadcasting Culture Award.

Broadcast Anniversary is a day to commemorate the beginning of radio broadcasting in the country 98 years ago on March 1925, 3.

This year's ceremony was held at NHK Hall in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo for the first time in four years, with limited visitors to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

At the outset, NHK Chairman Inaba said, "NHK intends to contribute to making people's lives richer and more cultural by providing fair and impartial and reliable information without interruption to help them make decisions on a daily basis, and by providing high-quality entertainment, even in the face of rapid changes in the environment surrounding the media." I greeted him.

Next, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Kunimitsu, Chairman Ukishima of the House of Representatives Committee on General Affairs, and Chairman Endo of the Japan Commercial Broadcasters Association delivered congratulatory speeches.

After this, the Broadcasting Culture Award was presented to seven people who have made achievements in the development of the broadcasting business and the improvement of broadcasting culture.

This year's winners were:
▽culinary researcher Harumi Kurihara (22), voice actor and actor Norio Tsukui (4), ▽Shinichi Teranishi (7),

a specially appointed professor at the Institute of Electronic Engineering, Shizuoka University.
▽ Shamisen player and composer Shutaro Honjo (76) ▽ Screenwriter and director Koki Mitani (61) ▽ Weather forecaster and weather anchor Akiaki Yoshitake (69)


▽ Actor Kazuko Yoshiyuki (77).

Each of these individuals received a certificate and a commemorative bronze statue.

Mr. Kurihara, who received the award, said, "I want to tell everyone that cooking is fun, and I want to be more particular about accurately expressing the taste of the food that I think is delicious. I want to keep running for the rest of my life with no regrets."

Ms. Mitani, who received the award, said, "In the three Taiga dramas I have been involved in, my role is just one cog in the wheel. I think this is not an award that I personally get, but an award that I get from the program itself."

Yoshiyuki said, "I was surprised when I heard that I would receive the award. I think it was a happy life to receive such an award."