The Japanese government will confer the People's Honor Award on Shingo Kunieda, one of the greatest wheelchair tennis players of all time, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Friday.
The presentation ceremony is scheduled to be held on March 17 at the office of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the top government spokesman said at a regular news conference.
The government appreciates Kunieda's "unprecedented achievements" that "gave dreams and thrills to the people and bright hope and courage to society."
In January, Kunieda, a winner of 28 Grand Slam titles and three Paralympic gold medals in men's singles, retired while at the top of the world rankings.
The 39-year-old completed his career Grand Slam by winning at Wimbledon last year. He also won 22 Grand Slam doubles titles.
"I feel honored and humbled," Kunieda said in a statement. "I hope this will lead to the development of not only wheelchair tennis but also para sports as a whole."
Kunieda, who began using a wheelchair at the age of 9 as the result of a spinal tumor, took up tennis in his final year of elementary school on the advice of his mother and turned professional in 2009.
Established in 1977, the People's Honor Award has been given to 26 individuals and one group for achievements in sports, entertainment and culture.