I see where the Abe government took time out from devaluing the yen and attempting to create inflation to announce that baseball legends Shigeo Nagashima and Hideki Matsui will receive the People's Honor Award for their service to baseball.
Nagashima, 77, the honorary lifetime manager for the Yomiuri Giants, will be cited for his contributions to the development of Japanese professional baseball, while Matsui, 38, a former slugger for the Giants and the New York Yankees, will be recognized for raising the reputation of the Japanese game during his banner years in Major League Baseball, which included his winning the 2009 World Series MVP.
The People's Honor Award, in case you are unfamiliar with it, is chosen by the Prime Minister's office, on suggestions from so-called experts in Japanese society. It is given to people or groups in recognition of their wide popularity among the public and the inspiration they have given it. The award was created in 1977 and 20 people, including world home-run record holder Sadaharu Oh, have thus far won it.