People's Honor Award Day

What Is People's Honor Award Day?

Every September 5th is "People's Honor Award Day" (国民栄誉賞の日, Kokumin Eiyo-shō no Hi) in Japan. On September 5, 1977, Sadaharu Oh (王貞治) — the legendary Yomiuri Giants baseball player who had set the world professional baseball home run record (756 career home runs) on September 3, 1977 — became the first recipient of the newly established "People's Honor Award" (国民栄誉賞, Kokumin Eiyo-shō). The award was created in August 1977 under Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda to honor Oh's achievement, and is presented by the Prime Minister to people who are widely loved and have given society bright hope.

The People's Honor Award

The People's Honor Award was created in 1977 specifically to recognize Sadaharu Oh's unprecedented achievement. The award criteria are deliberately flexible — intended for individuals whose "deeds have greatly honored society and given people hope and courage." Since its establishment, the award has been given sparingly, with recipients including singers (Misora Hibari), athletes (Naoko Takahashi, Yuzuru Hanyu), composers, actors, manga artists, and shogi and go players. In 2011, the Japan women's national soccer team became the first group to receive it.

Oh Sadaharu's Achievement

Sadaharu Oh (王貞治) finished his playing career with 868 home runs — more than any professional baseball player in history. Born to a Chinese father and Japanese mother, Oh became one of the most beloved athletes in Japanese history — his combination of technical excellence (the distinctive one-legged "flamingo stance" that gave him power and timing), consistent performance over 22 seasons, and personal humility made him a model of sporting achievement and character. See also September 3rd (Home Run Record Day) for details of his record-breaking career.

Fun Facts

• Declined offers: Some people have declined the award when it was offered — well-known examples are Major League stars Ichiro Suzuki and Shohei Ohtani (大谷翔平).
• Misora Hibari: Singer Misora Hibari (美空ひばり), who received the award posthumously in 1989 shortly after her death, is considered Japan's greatest popular singer — her receipt of the award posthumously demonstrated the government's willingness to give the honor to cultural figures as well as athletes.