Home > News > The Prime Minister in Action > December 2011 > Presentation Ceremony of the Prime Minister's Award to the Winner of the Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize
Presentation Ceremony of the Prime Minister's Award to the Winner of the Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Photograph of the Prime Minister enjoying conversation with Coach Norio Sasaki and others
Photograph of the Prime Minister presenting the award
Photograph of the Prime Minister receiving the commemorative gifts from player Karina Maruyama
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held the presentation ceremony of the Prime Minister's Award to the winner of the 44th Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize at the Prime Minister's Office.
The Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize is awarded each year to the individual or group that is deemed to have made the largest total contribution to overall professional sports throughout the country. The Grand Prize for the year 2011 was awarded to the Japan Women's National Football Team (known as "Nadeshiko Japan"), who won the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011, to whom the Prime Minister himself presented the award.
Upon receiving the award, a member of the team, Ms. Karina Maruyama, presented the Prime Minister with a commemorative photo taken upon winning the championship and a soccer ball autographed by all team members as commemorative gifts.
