Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the presentation ceremony of the Healthy Society Award held at a hotel in Tokyo.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"I believe that the Healthy Society Award is a noble award, which honors the individuals who made contribution for others and worked for establishing a healthy society, beyond one's official responsibilities.
I believe that it is an award based on the beautiful traditions of Japan.
I would like to extend my respect to the winners of the award today.
Healthy life is what enriches people's lives.
As well, I believe there is no act so noble as making earnest effort for healthy life.
Here today, there are people who have made admirable achievements in each area. Advances in medicine cannot be expected without the presence of these people, and with them I believe the world will change into an even better one.
Also in our growth strategy, we consider where the areas of growth should be, in order to create the ideal image of the society. The ideal society should be one in which people can live a healthy long life. We are now carrying forward a policy including such measures as to concentrate the input of national resources in various areas of science and technology that are necessary for realizing such society, including medical, nursing care and elderly care technologies, state-of-the-art medical technology, and regenerative medicine, and to solve any administrative issues.
For example, it was decided to invest 100 billion yen in ten years in the area of iPS cells, and, as well, regenerative medicine will be implemented for the first time in the world. A part of the organ of an eye will be cultured and implanted.
This will open the possibility of saving about 1 million patients.
I am expecting that presenting this kind of award to many people who made contribution in society, in this ceremony here today, will encourage many others and motivate them to make further efforts.
In addition, the image of society that our growth strategy aims to achieve, as I mentioned now, presents areas that are not only effective in Japan but also can be extended to the world. I would like to have Japan contribute to the world, together with you who are here today."