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On April 23, 2021, the Prime Minister attended the 15th Ceremony of Awarding the MIDORI Prize held at the Parliamentary Museum, in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
 
After delivering his address at the Ceremony, the Prime Minister presented the MIDORI Academic Prize and the Prime Minister's Commendations for Contributors to the National Greening Campaign.

The Prime Minister said in his address,
 
 “In the gracious presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, and on the occasion of the Ceremony of Awarding the MIDORI Prize here today, I would like to deliver an address on behalf of the Government.
 
Since the designation of this day as Greenery Day, a national holiday, on May 4, 2007, it has become firmly established among the public as a day for feeling closer to nature, for appreciating its bountiful blessings, and for enriching our spirits.
 
Forests, which cover approximately 70 percent of land in Japan, grow older year after year and become valuable resources for the country. Utilizing such resources under the cycle of cutting, using, and planting trees again is crucially important to prevent frequent disasters in recent years and to realize carbon neutrality by 2050. Forests account for around 90 percent of carbon dioxide absorption in Japan. Therefore, enriching forests is indispensable for the country’s environmental measures.
 
In addition, with the pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease, there have been changes in how the people interact with nature. They have a greater interest in the environment rich with forests, and a growing number of people are moving to rural areas.
 
In this era of Reiwa, we would like to continue to promote initiatives to effectively conserve and foster forests together with the citizens and pass them down to the next generations.
 
I hope that today’s Ceremony will encourage many people to renew and deepen their understanding of greenery. In closing, I wish everyone here continued success and good health.”