Nineteen-year-old figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, who won a gold medal in the Sochi Olympics, is among the 684 people and 23 groups receiving this year's spring decorations, including a record 206 women, the government said Monday.
Joining Hanyu to receive the Medal with Purple Ribbon, given for contributions to the arts, academia and sports, are actress Nobuko Miyamoto, 69, whose real surname is Ikeuchi, and national treasure Bando Tamasaburo, 64, a kabuki performer whose real name is Shinichi Morita.
Sochi alpine skiing gold medalists Akira Kano, 28, and Takeshi Suzuki, 25, will be the first Paralympians to receive the award.
The Medal with Yellow Ribbon for dedication to one's profession will be awarded to 177 people, including 90-year-old Tokie Nishimura, hotelier for some 40 years at renowned Kyoto inn Hiiragiya.
Masahiko Takamura, 66, who rescued a man by pulling him off a railroad crossing last September, is among four people and two groups to receive the Medal with Red Ribbon recognizing contributions to saving lives.
Miyoshi Seki, 75, who cleaned up roadsides for more than 20 years, is among those awarded the Medal with Green Ribbon for social service activities, while the Medal with Blue Ribbon for efforts to advance the public good will go to volunteer probation officer Katsuko Yasumoto, 75, and 466 others.
