Shimpo President Hanashiro renews dedication to cultural preservation with Mécénat Award

Shimpo President Hanashiro renews dedication to cultural preservation with Mécénat Award

Ryukyu Shimpo President Yasutaka Hanashiro receives the Mécénat Award for Excellence at the 2020 Japan Mécénat Awards Ceremony in Tokyo on November 20.


November 20, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

The Tokyo-based Association for Corporate Support for the Arts (Kigyo Mécénat Kyogikai “KMK”), led by President Motoki Ozaki, held its 2020 Japan Mécénat Awards Ceremony in Tokyo on November 20. The Mécénat Awards honors corporate activities that promote the arts and culture, contributing to a richly creative society (Mécénat). This year, the Ryukyu Shimpo-sponsored Ryukyu Classical Performing Arts Competition (Ryukyu Koten Geino Konkuru) and the Ryukyu Classical Performing Arts Festival (Ryukyu Koten Geinō Sai) were awarded the Mécénat Award for Excellence (Heart of Ryukyu Ichimadin Award [ichimadin: Okinawan for ‘always’]).

One recipient of the Grand Mécénat Award, five recipients of the Awards for Excellence, and one recipient of the Award Granted by the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs were selected out of the 93 companies and organizations conducting 165-mécénat activities nationwide. Ryukyu Shimpo was recognized for its long-standing efforts to preserve Okinawa’s traditional performing arts and expand its support by promoting local arts and training the younger generation.

Ryukyu Shimpo President Yasutaka Hanashiro commented, “[We are] glad we continued [this endeavor] for over half a century. The performers and the numerous staff that supported those artists made this [achievement] possible, and we are elated. This recognition encourages us to elevate the performing arts further and to serve as a bridge within Asia through the power of culture and performing arts.”

Ritsuko Ashimine, a performer and representative of the Ryukyu Classical Performing Arts Competition Office, performing the kagiyade-fuu at the 2020 Japan Mécénat Awards Ceremony in Tokyo, on November 20.


At the awards ceremony, Ritsuko Ashimine, a Ryukyu dance performer and representative of the Ryukyu Classical Performing Arts Competition Office, detailed the various mécénat activities and elegantly performed the kagiyade-fuu.

Natsuko Hagiwara, professor at Rikkyo University and an Mécénat Awards judge, said, “All the [mécénat] activities recognized today encourage the children of the future generation. Corporate mécénat activities offset cultural poverty; I believe the awardees will continue to do spectacular work.”

The Grand Mécénat Award was awarded to the Kajima Foundation for the Arts. The Awards for Excellence was awarded to Ryukyu Shimpo, Andersen Institute of Bread & Life, Onizuka Denki Koji, and the Sony Music Foundation. The Award Granted by the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs was awarded to Shiseido.

(English translation by T&CT and Monica Shingaki)

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