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Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attended the Ceremony to Present the Award of Japan for Crafting held at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Award of Japan for Crafting was established with the purpose of steadily passing on manufacturing and crafting skills -- and thereby ensuring their further development -- which have supported the development of Japan's industry and culture and greatly contributed to the realization of prosperity in people's lives. The awards are presented to outstanding people from all generations involved in manufacturing and crafting, including mid-level leaders with key roles in manufacturing processes, master artisans who have maintained traditional and cultural craftsmanship, and promising young artisans or technicians.

This is the fourth occasion to hold the award ceremony since its establishment in 2005, in which 23 items (84 persons), including the development of a recycling process to produce steel from waste steel dust, received the Prime Minister's awards.

The Prime Minister said in his address, "Unfortunately, Japan's manufacturing is currently facing difficult situations such as the record appreciation of the yen. Nevertheless, I am confident that through constant efforts to develop new technologies to create unique, No. 1 products, we can open the way to the future of the Japanese economy. For this, I would like to do my utmost to create a foundation for industry and employment.
I would like all those who have received the award to pass on to the next generation the technology and manufacturing spirit you have developed over years, and spread them to the rest of the world"