Celebration of Mr. Nobuo Murai's Spring Conferment of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in 2020

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Mr. Nobuo Murai received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in recognition of his long years of distinguished service to local government and regional development in the spring of 2020.

To celebrate this honor, a celebration was held on Sunday, October 25 at 1:00 p.m. in the main hall of the Hokuryu Community Center.

Congratulatory party for Mr. Nobuo Murai for receiving the "Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon".

Medals and decorations

Nobuo Murai, Celebration Ceremony

Nobuo Murai, History

Nobuo Murai, Retrospective 88 years

Held in a reduced form, limited to town residents in the midst of the Corona disaster.

In the midst of the coronary disaster, and in light of the fact that there are still no cases of infection in Hokuryu Town, after several rounds of discussions by the promoters, the celebration was held on a reduced scale, with attendance limited to those in Hokuryu Town, in compliance with social distance and the reduced size of the celebration. About 70 people attended the celebration.

Moderator: Jun Takahashi, Secretary General, Hokuryu Town Council Secretariat

Venue

Entrance of Mr. and Mrs. Nobuo and Mrs. Reiko Murai

Greeting by Representative of Founder: Yasuhiro Sasaki, Chairman, Hokuryu Town Council

Thank you very much for your attendance at the "Celebration of Mr. Nobuo Murai for receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette".

As we approach this day, we have had many thoughts and feelings. We have eliminated various risks in the context of the Corona disaster. We also took various precautions to ensure that the venue at the community center was well ventilated with the space open and well ventilated.

Let me tell you about the progress: On April 11, we discussed the possibility of holding a celebration for Mr. Nobuo Murai, who was awarded the Spring Order of Merit, and we decided to hold the event on June 21. However, we decided to postpone the event since it is quite difficult to hold it amid the declared state of emergency in Corona. After several discussions, we decided to hold the celebration on October 25 at the promoters' meeting on August 5. We all agreed that we would definitely hold the meeting together.

Mr. Nobuo Murai has served two terms of eight years as a member of the Hokkaido Assembly and has received this prestigious "Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star". The applicant for this award is Hokkaido, and although the Hokkaido and Hokkaido Assembly would normally sponsor this meeting together, since this is the situation, we have decided to accept the sponsorship of the Hokuryu Town Assembly with the volunteers from the town council.

I was quite unsure about holding today's event, but I am happy that it was held here in Hokuryu Town, a safe and secure place.

We had originally received a list of about 200 people from Mr. Murai, but due to the severe conditions of the Corona disaster, we are very sorry to say that we have had to limit the number of participants. We are also very sorry that people from the Sapporo and Tokyo areas were not able to attend. This is how today's celebration came to be.

We hope you will understand that this is why we are holding this meeting to congratulate everyone for Nobuo Murai's many years of achievement and hard work.

Mr. Murai's three daughters also wanted to attend the celebration and express their gratitude to everyone, but as of yesterday, they have decided not to do so. We would like to ask for your understanding that the family and relatives will also not be attending.

Congratulations on your success today," said Yasuhiro Sasaki, Chairperson of the Council.

bouquet presentation

Ms. Ayano Hayashi presented a bouquet of flowers.

Presentation of commemorative gifts

Ms. Akiko Tabata, Secretary of the Hokuryu Town Council Secretariat, presented a commemorative gift.

congratulatory address

Hokuryu Town, Mayor Yutaka Sano

I am pleased to address you on the occasion of the celebration of Dr. Nobuo Murai receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.

I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations on being awarded the Spring Conferment of Decoration of Honor in March of this year for your longstanding and significant contributions to the advancement of local government.

I would also like to express my respect for the hard work of his family and his wife, who have devoted themselves to protecting his family and supporting him so that he can devote himself to his duties without worry.

He has made a great contribution to the development and prosperity of our town and Hokkaido in a wide range of fields, including the promotion of industry, improvement of welfare, and promotion of education and culture. He has contributed to the development and prosperity of our town and Hokkaido through his efforts in a wide range of areas, including the promotion of industry, welfare, education, and culture.

It is no exaggeration to say that he is the driving force behind the development of local government in our town.

In the local community, as chairman of the Hokuryu Farmers' Council and chairman of the Sorachi Farmers' Union, he worked to raise the social and economic status of agricultural producers to expand their wisdom.

He is also the chairman and director of the Kuro Sengoku Soybean Cooperative Association, which produces Kuro Sengoku soybeans, a specialty of Hokuryu Town, and was awarded the "Hokkaido Women and Senior Citizens Challenge Activity Award, Senior Citizens Category, Grand Prize" by Hokkaido in 2015 for his sincere activities.

Several years ago, I was asked to be an instructor for an internal training program for town hall employees. The subject was "Health Tendeko". As you all know, "Tendeko" is derived from words such as "Tsunami Tendeko" and "Seimei Tendeko," which have become widely known as disaster prevention lessons. The interpretation of the phrase is that "the most important thing is to protect yourself.

The true meaning of "Kenko Tendeko" is "The Importance of Food. As food becomes more readily available at convenience stores, unbalanced nutritional intake is becoming an issue. Under such circumstances, it is important to understand the local community through food, to pass on food culture, and to understand the blessings of nature and the preciousness of agricultural activities.

Only by eating real food without additives can you get well,'' Dr. Murai has been appealing straight and sincerely as a farmer, a member of the Farmers' Union, and a member of the Diet.

Mr. and Mrs. Murai, we hope you will always be in good health, and we look forward to your continued support and guidance for the development of the community and the creation of a safe and secure community.

In conclusion, I would like to extend my sincere wishes for the prosperity of the Murai family and the health and happiness of all those present today. Dr. Murai, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to you today," said Mayor Yutaka Sano.

Hisashi Inazu, Member of the House of Representatives (Substitute reading: Yasuo Ichido, Secretary)

Inazu should have attended today's meeting, but he will not be able to attend due to the regular session of the Diet that will begin tomorrow. We sincerely apologize. Therefore, I have received a message from Mr. Inazu, which I will read on your behalf.

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Nobuo Murai on receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star today.

We would like to express our sincere respect to Dr. Murai for his great contribution to the development of local agriculture and the town through farmers' movements and administrative activities over the years.

After serving as a member of the Hokuryu Town Council, he was elected as a member of the Hokkaido Assembly in 1995, and has contributed greatly to the development of Hokkaido. He also served as the chairman of the Hokuryu Farmers' Council and the chairman of the Sorachi Farmers' Union, and was active in making proposals to the national government on agricultural policies.

With the foresight and insight he had cultivated, he established the Hokuryu Town Soybean Shipping Association in 2005, and as head of the association, he pioneered the promotion of Kuro Sengoku planting, contributing to the development of Hokuryu Town and Hokkaido agriculture as we know it today.

Although I was a young man, I was able to work with Dr. Murai as a member of the Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly at the same time. Since that time, I have been inspired by Dr. Murai's strong conviction and energy, which has encouraged me in my own activities as a member of the Hokkaido Assembly.

As Vice Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, I have been working for the past year mainly on corona countermeasures. In the midst of this coronary disaster, we must continue to discuss various issues and take measures to end the disease.

I am strongly determined to overcome the difficulties by inheriting the wisdom and spirit of my predecessors who, like Dr. Murai, lived through the severe postwar period and made various reforms. I would like to ask for your continued support and guidance.

I would also like to offer words of gratitude to his wife, who has been supporting him from behind the scenes.

I would like to extend my sincere wishes to Mr. Murai for his continued good health and continued success in his future endeavors, and to conclude my message of congratulations.

Read on behalf of Hisashi Inazu, a member of the House of Representatives, on October 25, 2020. I would like to express my congratulations on this occasion.

Mr. Ryoji Kikura, Chairman, Former Nobuo Murai Supporters' Association

Mr. Nobuo Murai, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to your wife on being awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Mrs. Murai. I would like to extend my congratulations to Mrs. Murai, especially for the hard work she must have gone through.

In Hokuryu Town, we have Mr. Masakiyo Kita as a national politician, Mr. Mitsuo Goto as a member of the provincial assembly, and a third person who has been active in the town.

Here is the background of how Mr. Murai would very much like you to be a member of the provincial assembly.

In the Sorachi district, Mr. Naokazu Tsugawa of Numata Town and Mr. Shinsei Ohno of Urausu Town have worked very hard as members of the Hokkaido Assembly and have made great efforts to promote the agricultural industry not only in Sorachi but also in Hokkaido.

When Mr. Shinsei Ohno retired, discussions were held among the various organizations, and in April 1991, led by then Hokkaido Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives Vice President Soji Nao, he came to Hokuryu Town. In the meeting room of Hokuryu Town, led by Mayor Koji Yamamoto, Mr. Nao said to Mr. Murai, "After this, Mr. Murai is the only one who can help us. He requested us to raise Mr. Murai with all our strength, including the farmers' movement, at any cost.

After he returned home, we had a discussion with the people concerned, and many of them expressed their concern, "Can Mr. Murai really hold an election in such a small village as he is expected to do?" Many people expressed concern about whether Mr. Murai would be able to conduct the election as expected in such a small village. Mayor Yamamoto was also concerned about whether Hokuryu Town was really the right choice.

When Nao-san came for the second time, he told me, "If you don't leave now, Hokkaido's agriculture will be in trouble. Please do whatever you can. The Hokkaido Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, Hokuren, Shinren, Koseiren, and the Hokkaido Citizens' Movement will do everything we can to support you.

Most of the townspeople gathered here today are those who have been under Mr. Murai's care when he was a member of the Youth League, the Agricultural Cooperative Youth Club, the Farmers' Council, and the Lawyers' Group Initiative.

I am sure you can understand why Mr. Murai is sought after. Although it was a small village, we received the support of more than 60% of the valid votes cast in the first election, and in the second election, in the midst of a very difficult crisis, 79.8% (about 80%) of the valid votes cast in Hokuryu Town wrote Mr. Nobuo Murai. This was the first time that the town had received that much support for Mr. Murai in an election up to that time.

I think it was Mr. Murai's constant fire and advocacy in this village, not just his efforts, but the way he said that he would lead the way, that he would put his life into this, that won him the support of the townspeople.

Mr. Murai is now 88 years old and has time to reach 100 years old. In order to live a peaceful, secure, and prosperous life in this society today, agriculture and farming villages must be healthy. Please continue to encourage us with your passionate heart.

I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to your wife for her hard work, Mr. Murai. I congratulate you very much," said Mr. Kikura.

unveiling of a congratulatory telegram

Ms. Akiko Tabata, Secretary of the Hokuryu Town Council Secretariat, presented a congratulatory telegram.

Mr. Naomichi Suzuki, Governor of Hokkaido

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Nobuo Murai, former member of the Hokkaido Assembly, on receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Distinction today with the people of the community.

Even after his retirement from the Hokkaido Assembly, I have heard that he continues to do his best for agriculture, the community, and his family. I would like to offer my congratulations and ask that you continue to maintain your good health and continue to support the government of Hokkaido and the town of Hokuryu.

Former Governor of Hokkaido and Member of the House of Councillors Mr. Harumi Takahashi

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Murai on receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in the town of Hokuryu, the town of sunflowers. I would like to express my appreciation and respect for his great achievement in discussing Hokkaido's agricultural policy from the viewpoint of his own farmers and creating it as a policy.

I wish you continued good health and success in your future endeavors. Finally, I would like to thank the people of Hokuryu Town for their support. Congratulations, Dr. Murai!

Mr. Shoji Shirakawa, Member of the Hokkaido Assembly

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Nobuo Murai, my senior in all of politics, for being honored with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. I would normally attend and offer my congratulations, but I have heard that today's event will also be held under the current situation of corona infection, using the new Hokkaido style as a model. Please forgive me for not being able to attend.

My business card was written by Mr. Murai. As a member of the Hokkaido Assembly who is a farmer, I have inherited his stance of speaking up for agricultural policy from the frontlines and rallying the political power of farmers. I look forward to your continued support and guidance.

To the people of Hokuryu-cho, the Sunflower Festival has been canceled this year, but I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Murai by expressing my hope that today's celebration will bring back the brightness of the festival and my thanks and appreciation to the local residents and families who have supported him to this day.

Ms. Ruriko Kurose, Ms. Mieko Fujise, Ms. Naoko Sugawara

Congratulations on your decoration. During our long association, I have enjoyed and respected you whether you are serious or mad, but when you wear the decoration, I am unable to greet you and your madness. Please continue to smile and cheer us up.

Although we cannot see you in your haori hakama, all of the Murai Sisters from as far away as Sapporo are moved to congratulate you with three cheers from the bottom of our hearts."

Acknowledgement: Mr. Nobuo Murai

I would like to include my thanks to all of you who are present here today. I would like to thank you all for coming to my celebration of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.

I now have in my mind all of you gathered here, the many people of the town and Sorachi, who have given me guidance, support, and encouragement, and this is the first time in my life that I have had such an honor to be honored with this award today. I am so grateful and excited to receive this award. My body is shaking, but I will do my best to greet you.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for the great care you have given me on a daily basis. It is a great honor for me to be able to address you from a few moments ago. I am just very moved and upset.

The most important thing to me is my family. The next most important thing is my health. Even now, I have worked hard for 88 years in this way. Finally, my wife has worked hard for 63 years of marriage with patience, endurance, and perseverance. As a family member and wife, she has supported me, pushed me, and encouraged me, and I feel that it is this support and encouragement that has led me to today's award of the Medal of Honor.

I have seldom said this in words, but I would like to turn my greeting into one by saying thank you to my wife today. Thank you very much, everyone," said Murai.

feast

Toast: Hekisui Township, Chairman Takeshi Yamamoto

Congratulations to Mr. Nobuo Murai on receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. As a member of the community, I am very happy.

Mr. Murai and I have been farmers in the same area. When I started farming, it was the time when the modernization of agriculture was just beginning, and until then we were manual farmers. It was a time when the farmers were about to change to modern agriculture with the introduction of large paddy fields and large machinery.

Mr. Murai took the lead in the community, persuaded everyone to join him, and the project was accomplished. After that, the town of Hokuryu began to modernize its agriculture one after another. At that time, there were state-run projects, but it was Mr. Murai who was the first to establish Hekisui Farm.

Mr. Murai worked single-mindedly to free farmers from the hard work of farming and to promote the modernization of agriculture. In the end, he even served as a member of the Hokkaido Assembly. As a member of the same community, I am very pleased to hear from him and would like to express my deep appreciation for his efforts to promote local agriculture. Thank you very much.

Currently, Mr. Murai is living a comfortable life, enjoying his days with the members of the local senior citizens' club. We hope that he and his wife will take good care of their health and continue to show us their good health.

I would like to propose a toast to Mr. Murai and wish him continued good health and success in his endeavors, as well as the good health of all those gathered here today for the celebration. Cheers! Cheers!

Celebration meal (Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen)

Full of smiles

Hooray Three: Former Hokuryu Farmers' Council Chairman Seisuke Tanaka

Please understand that I have accepted the role of greeter because I consider myself to be the most indebted to Mr. Murai among all of you gathered here today.

My first encounter with Mr. Murai was in the Youth League. Mr. Murai is the leader of the Youth League and the chairman of the Youth League Committee in Hokuryu Town. After serving as the head of the Youth Division of the Sorachi Agricultural Cooperative, he went on to serve as the vice president of the Hokkaido Agricultural Cooperative Youth Division, the chairman of the Sorachi Farmers' Union, and later as the vice chairman of the Hokuryu Town Council.

Mr. Murai was always there as my senior, guiding me along the path I took, not as a senior but as my mentor. Therefore, when I dissect my body, I am sure that parts of Murai will come out from all directions. Thank you very much. After that, you worked very hard in the Hokkaido Assembly, and today you are receiving the award. Thank you very much for your hard work.

I would like to make one last point. At the time, the chairman of the Sorachi Farmers' Association and the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry were scheduled to visit our town, and I participated in the meeting attended by representatives from each town and village.

On behalf of Sorachi agriculture, Mr. Murai, the chairman of the Farmers' Association, said to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, 'The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry is a friend of us farmers. Right now, Hokkaido's agriculture is in great debt due to investment in expansion of scale, field maintenance, machinery, etc. I still recall that he made a very brief and punchy petition, saying, 'I strongly request you to take drastic measures at all costs for the commercial diffusion of the people and for the establishment of Hokkaido. He has made a wonderful transition and has been active in the Hokkaido Assembly. I believe that today's award is a well-deserved honor.

As you all mentioned in your words, the greater the husband's achievement, the greater the burden and responsibility on the wife. This time, Mr. and Mrs. Murai received the award together. Therefore, I would like to close with a Hail Mary to both of you.

Hurray for Nobuo and Reiko Murai, recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon! Hurray! Hurray!" Hurray!

Mr. and Mrs. Murai leave the hall

I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on receiving the prestigious Order of the Sacred Heart.
With infinite respect, gratitude, and prayers for Nobuo & Reiko Murai for their many years of distinguished service and efforts.

More Photos

interpoint (interword separation)Click here for 128 photos of the "Celebration Party for Mr. Nobuo Murai for receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette", Spring 2020 Decoration >>

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◇ Photography and Editing: Noboru Terauchi Reporting and Writing: Ikuko Terauchi