Skateboarder Momiji Nishiya of Japan smiles after successfully performing a trick during the Tokyo Olympics women's skateboard final at Ariake Urban Sports Park, on July 26, 2021. (Mainichi/Toshiki Miyama)

       OSAKA -- Osaka Prefecture is giving honorary grand awards to 23 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic medalists who have connections to the western Japan prefecture, the prefectural government announced on Sept. 15.

       The award will be presented to medalists who are either from the prefecture or represent an Osaka Prefecture local company. They include 13-year-old skateboarder and Japan's youngest-ever Olympic gold medalist Momiji Nishiya -- a second-year student at Matsubara Junior High School in the prefectural city of Matsubara -- table tennis mixed doubles gold medalist Mima Ito -- a graduate of Shoyo Senior High School in Osaka's Konohana Ward who also won two other medals at the Tokyo Games -- and Paralympian Tomoki Sato who won two gold medals at the wheelchair track and field events and represents digital font developer Morisawa Inc. headquartered in Osaka's Naniwa Ward.

       Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura told a regular news conference, "The (Olympic and Paralympic) athletes encouraged us amid the coronavirus crisis." He also said it was "good" that the Games were held because "if they weren't we wouldn't have been able to see the athletes do great things." The prefectural government plans to hold a presentation ceremony by the end of the year.

       The prefecture also announced on Sept. 15 that it would award 54 athletes who finished their Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic events between fourth and eighth place honorary prizes as well.

       (Japanese original by Masaki Ishikawa, Osaka City News Department)

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