'Akira' Director Katsuhiro Otomo and Hatsune Miku's 'Father' Hirayuki Itou to be Awarded Medals of Honor

by Dunois
Nov 2, 2013 6:34 PM | 44 Comments

According to a press conference held by the Japanese government in Tokyo, "Akira" director Katsuhiro Otomo will be awarded the Medal of Honor with a purple ribbon for his contribution to the field of anime and manga. The purple ribbon is awarded to individuals who have made significant achievements in the fields of academia and art. This is the first time since 1998 (when Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata received it) that a member of the anime industry is conferred with this award.

Crypton Future Media President Hiroyuki Itou, the figurative father of Hatsune Miku, will also be awarded a Medal of Honor. His will carry a blue ribbon to commemorate the virtual idol's immense achievements in the areas of public welfare and public service. The software created a worldwide boom by allowing anyone with a computer to create songs with the vocaloid.

Source: Natalie, NHK

20 of 44 Comments Recent Comments

Adair said:
So many Vocaloid haters here lol

I suspect many of the people here who claim to dislike Vocaloid songs have only heard the stereotypical "annoying" sounding ones. Vocaloid isn't a genre, it's a medium in which to create music. Ironically, that's the exact same misconception people tend to have about anime.

Anyways, both awards are well-deserved, so congrats to the recipients.

This one is pretty trippy. A fat blunt and this go more perfect then bread and butter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CN2qKr7HWg

Nov 5, 2013 1:45 AM by MajinSaga

DraconisMarch said:

MagicFlier said:
Miku was the beginning of vocaloid as a whole, that 'father' completely deserves that award. Especially for the contributions for the music industry. Vocaloid remains strong! :3

Miku was most definitely not the first.

He said beginning not first. I believe he's saying that she's the one who got vocaloids so popular not that she was the first.

Nov 4, 2013 3:00 PM by IntroverTurtle

MagicFlier said:
Miku was the beginning of vocaloid as a whole, that 'father' completely deserves that award. Especially for the contributions for the music industry. Vocaloid remains strong! :3

Miku was most definitely not the first.

Nov 4, 2013 2:55 PM by DraconisMarch

Glad to see Hiroyuki Itou getting award.

Nov 4, 2013 1:01 PM by Han-yuu

Congrats

Nov 4, 2013 5:23 AM by Mr_Gutts

Congratulations to both! I certainly don't hate their achievements.

Nov 4, 2013 2:19 AM by Aloxamax

Gratz, Miku no otou-samaaaaaaaaaa!! :)

Nov 4, 2013 1:05 AM by Rayl1ght

Grats to both of them, but I think Katsuhiro definitely deserved it more, considering how long hes been making manga and anime. I highly suggest checking out the Akira manga, it's much more well-rounded and gives the characters move development as well as his other manga (I just started Legend of Mother Sarah recently, great stuff).

Nov 3, 2013 10:27 PM by LoneWolf

Mogami-kun said:
I always found Akira to be vastly overrated, but it's nice to see Hiroyuki Itou getting an award. Congratulations to both of them.

You may find Akira vastly overrated, but nobody can deny the vast influence it had, both domestically and overseas, and this is what can't be overrated.

Anyway, the count of "ribbons" awarded this year:

Red Ribbon: 2 (saving life)
Green Ribbon: 30 (volunteerism)
Yellow Ribbon: 262 (dedication to cause)
Purple Ribbon: 16 (contribution from the fields of arts, culture, sports or academic studies)
Blue Ribbon: 485 (achievements in work of public interest)

Nov 3, 2013 6:15 PM by symbv

congratulations. you two really deserve it

Nov 3, 2013 5:23 PM by forholywar

So many Vocaloid haters here lol

I suspect many of the people here who claim to dislike Vocaloid songs have only heard the stereotypical "annoying" sounding ones. Vocaloid isn't a genre, it's a medium in which to create music. Ironically, that's the exact same misconception people tend to have about anime.

Anyways, both awards are well-deserved, so congrats to the recipients.

Nov 3, 2013 12:30 PM by _mahoushoujos_

Amazing, its important to see anime and manga so well regarded and appreciated.

Nice

Nov 3, 2013 11:36 AM by minatojs

I never expected Miku to get her creator an award. But anyways, congratulations to both of them.

Nov 3, 2013 10:45 AM by AgentWashingtub

Well deserved! Congrats to both of em!

IntroverTurtle said:

I think Oda should get this next or go ahead and make him a living national treasure.

Nov 3, 2013 8:51 AM by Aozure

Xinception said:
Gratz to them,but I think that the title of the award is kinda... misleading.

Usually, when I hear Medal of Honor, I'd reckon that it is given to those who give their life in combat... like sacrifice their life in combat. If I go by that logic, these dudes would be dead?

They get it for surviving the onslaught of haters.

Hirayuki Itou > Katsuhiro Otomo

Nov 3, 2013 6:10 AM by Momoirooooo

I very happy Katsuhiro Otomo gets this award. Akira is a timeless classic, the movie and especially the manga.

Nov 3, 2013 4:50 AM by Hatul

This is a good news, I think both award are well deserved.

Nov 3, 2013 4:38 AM by azzuRe

Congratulations !

Nov 3, 2013 3:58 AM by Haine

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medals_of_Honor_(Japan)

The URL kind of fails, don't click on it but copy it into your address bar but basically, this is what they're called. : )

Nov 3, 2013 3:57 AM by Dunois

Haven't watched Akira due to the awfully detailed, gory content, but it probably deserves the prize as it did awake recognizion of anime to some of the older inhabitants here in the west.

Miku deserves it 100% though.

Nov 3, 2013 3:31 AM by Keitaro004

See All Comments