Asahi Shimbun "Heisei Stomachache Awards" Held
The Asahi Shimbun Media Business Bureau has launched the "Asahi Shimbun Heisei Stomachache Awards" (sponsored by Meiji's Stomach Weakness Lab), honoring individuals and organizations who overcame gut-wrenching situations and thrived during the Heisei era. Public voting and submissions for the general category opened on February 28 (until March 18).
The award, organized by the company that has observed the Heisei era through its reporting, looks back on the 30 years of Heisei and has selected nominated episodes (40 total) across four categories: "Sports," "Culture & Entertainment," "Business," and "Local." It will determine the winners in each category based on public votes, selecting individuals and organizations who overcame stomach-churning experiences like failure, criticism, and pressure to achieve remarkable success throughout the Heisei era.
Additionally, a "Public Submission" category allows individuals to share their own stories of overcoming gut-wrenching experiences. A jury will select the category winner from these submissions.
The Heisei Stomachache Grand Prize winner will be determined through judging that considers the number of votes cast for the nominated episodes across these five categories.
The Sports category features nominees like former Japan national soccer team coach Takeshi Okada (The Loneliness of the Coach) and former MLB player Hideo Nomo (Tornado in Japan and the US). The Culture & Entertainment category features singer Sachiko Kobayashi ("Final Boss" Arrival) and comedian Hiroshi (Life-Size Comeback). The Business category includes Skymark Airlines (Rebuilding After Bankruptcy) and Hoppy (Health-Conscious Revival). The Local category features racehorse Haru Urara ("Star of the Underdogs") and Spa Resort Hawaiians, which quickly regained popularity after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Haru Urara (Star of the Underdogs) and Spa Resort Hawaiians, which quickly regained customers after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The judges include Shiro Okuyama, Editor-in-Chief of the interactive news site "withnews" operated by the company; Professor Hiroto Miwa, Head Professor at Hyogo Medical University; comedian Akira Ishida of the comedy duo NON STYLE; and model/actress Hinako Sano.
Winners of the Stomachache Grand Prize and the four category awards will receive trophies and yogurt gift certificates, while the winner of the General Submission Category Award (one person) will receive a cash prize of 120,000 yen (a play on "stomachache").
Official website: https://www.asahi.com/ads/itsu-award/
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