KYOTO -- Simon Bartz, an employee of The Japan Times, was one of four people honored by Kyoto police and rescue officials Wednesday for his role in saving the lives of two 7-year-old boys on Sept. 20.
In a ceremony attended by the principal of the boys' school, Bartz received a certificate of appreciation for his role in the rescue.
Bartz, a writer and editor with the paper, and his friend, Takashi Baba, were near the Kamogawa River in northern Kyoto when they spotted the two boys. One was floating face down and the other was thrashing in the water.