The presentation ceremony for the NHK Disability Welfare Award, which is given to outstanding experiences written by people with disabilities and their families, was held at the NHK Broadcasting Center in Shibuya, Tokyo.
The NHK Welfare Award for Persons with Disabilities is established by the NHK Welfare and Culture Foundation to raise awareness of the experiences and activities of people with disabilities, their families, and those who support them.
In the 58th edition of the festival, nine works were selected from among 506 works, and the grand prize was awarded to Natsu Nogami (9) of Tokyo, "The Choice to Live."
In the work, Mr. Nogami, who is battling three intractable diseases such as muscular dystrophy, which causes muscles to atrophy throughout the body, describes his experience of being confused when his doctor asked him about his intention to prolong his life and have a tracheotomy.
In such a situation, the story of how he decided to try a ventilator after being infected with the new coronavirus and facing a life-threatening situation, is described as facing the choice to live.
Ms. Nogami said, "I started writing at the recommendation of my husband's mother, and being selected as an honorable mention in this award 61 years ago was a turning point in my life.
In addition, the Excellence Award went to
Ritsuko Miura (43) from Gifu Prefecture for "Living the Time I Lived," Shiori Kimura (24) from Ibaraki Prefecture's "Me in the Middle,"
and Yuria Kanaya (14) from Kanagawa Prefecture for "Symbiosis."
The winning works will be compiled into a collection and distributed to libraries nationwide, and the grand prize will be introduced on the NHK Welfare and Culture Foundation website.