棋士・渡辺明氏に紫綬　五輪・パラ金メダリスト５４人も―秋の褒章

　政府は２日付で、２０２４年秋の褒章受章者７８６人（うち女性１５７人）と２６団体を発表した。学術やスポーツなどで優れた業績を挙げた人が対象の紫綬褒章には、将棋棋士の渡辺明氏（４０）や、パリ五輪・パラリンピック金メダリスト５４人らが選ばれた。発令は３日。
　渡辺氏は２０００年、加藤一二三九段、谷川浩司十七世名人、羽生善治九段に続く４人目の中学生棋士としてデビュー。八大タイトルの竜王戦、棋王戦でそれぞれ５連覇し、超一流の証明とされる「永世称号」の資格を獲得した。タイトル獲得３１期は羽生九段、故大山康晴十五世名人、中原誠十六世名人に次いで歴代４位。
　金メダリストからは、柔道の阿部一二三さん（２７）、やり投げの北口榛花さん（２６）、体操の橋本大輝さん（２３）らが受章。声楽家の妻屋秀和さん（６０）、グラフィックデザイナーの原研哉さん（６６）らも決まった。
　農工業などで高い技術を持つ人が対象の黄綬褒章には、騎手の武豊さん（５５）らを選出。１９８７年から活躍し、競馬の認知度向上やイメージアップへの貢献を理由に挙げた。（2024/11/02-05:00）

The Japanese government said Saturday it will give the Medal of Honor for autumn 2024 to 786 people and 26 organizations, including shogi player Akira Watanabe and 54 gold medalists at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.
   The Medal with Purple Ribbon, which is awarded to people with great achievements in academic and sports fields, will be given to 73 people, including Watanabe, 40.
   In 2000, Watanabe became the fourth junior-high-school-student shogi player to debut, following Hifumi Kato, Koji Tanigawa and Yoshiharu Habu. He has won Ryuo and Kio title matches, which are parts of the eight major titles, five times in succession and obtained "eisei" permanent status for the titles. He ranks fourth in the number of tournament titles, winning in 31 terms, after Habu, the late Yasuharu Oyama and Makoto Nakahara.
   Vocalist Hidekazu Tsumaya, 60, graphic designer Kenya Hara, 66, gold medalists at the Paris Games including judoka Hifumi Abe, 27, javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi, 26, and gymnast Daiki Hashimoto, 23, will also be given the medal.
   The Medal with Yellow Ribbon, awarded to people with high skills in agriculture and industry, will be given to 258 people including jockey Yutaka Take, 55. The government explained that Take has achievements dating back to 1987 and contributed to popularizing horse racing.