JD Cuban

By Joel Beall
The Japanese government announced Tuesday that Hideki Matsuyama will receive the Prime Minister’s Award for his victory at the 2021 Masters.

Matsuyama, 29, became the first Japanese male to win a major championship. Following Matsuyama’s Augusta National triumph, Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said “Amid the prolonged coronavirus crisis, he gave courage to and touched the hearts of everyone across Japan.”

However, in a press conference Tuesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato noted it’s not just Matsuyama’s green jacket that has made him a national icon. Kato pointed to the inspiration Matsuyama provided when grabbing Low Am honours a decade ago at Augusta National amid the fallout from Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Matsuyama will be the 34th individual to receive this award, but not the first golfer. That designation belongs to Ayako Okamoto, who was honoured in 1987 for winning four LPGA titles and finishing in the top five in every major that season.

Matsuyama is set to receive the award this Friday.