皇居で大綬章親授式　新型コロナで春・秋一緒に

　今年の叙勲の大綬章親授式が９日、皇居・宮殿「松の間」であり、天皇陛下が受章者計８人に勲章を手渡された。新型コロナウイルス感染症の影響で、春と秋の親授式が一緒に行われた。
　出席者は旭日大綬章の横倉義武元日本医師会長（７７）や高橋宏明元東北電力社長（８０）ら、春の受章者５人と秋の受章者３人。キャロライン・ケネディ元駐日米大使（６３）ら外国人受章者はいずれも欠席した。
　受章者を代表して高橋氏があいさつ。陛下は「長年それぞれの務めに励まれ、国や社会のために、また人々のために尽くしてこられたことに深く感謝いたします」と述べた。その後、受章者に歩み寄って一人一人と言葉を交わした。（2021/11/09-11:47）

The award ceremony for the Grand Cordon honors for spring and autumn this year was held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday, with Emperor Naruhito conferring the medals to eight attending recipients.
   The ceremony normally takes place separately for spring and autumn honors. This year, however, the two events were held together due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
   Five of the eight attendees at the ceremony, held in the palace's "Matsu-no-Ma" state room, are recipients of spring honors and three are awardees of autumn honors.
   Among them were Yoshitake Yokokura, former president of the Japan Medical Association, 77, and former Tohoku Electric Power Co. President Hiroaki Takahashi, 80. Both were given the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. Takahashi gave a speech, representing the awardees.
   "I am very grateful for your many years of hard work in your respective areas and your contributions to the country, society and people," Emperor Naruhito said. The Emperor then walked to the attendees and spoke with each of them.