Medal with Yellow Ribbon

The certificate reads that the Emperor of Japan, in recognition of many years of diligent service as a bedding craftsman, confers upon Takuya Niwa the Medal with Yellow Ribbon — one of Japan's national honors, awarded to individuals whose long dedication to their trade has made them a role model for others.

This year marks 21 years since I left salaried work to join the family business. Whether that is "already 21 years" or "still 21 years," I cannot quite say. Looking back, it feels like 21 years spent simply doing the work of a craftsman, with barely a moment to pause and reflect.

Because my parents ran the shop and it was part of my everyday life growing up, I underestimated it at first. The world of craftsmanship turned out to be far more demanding than I imagined — day after day was a repetition of fundamentals. Through that repetition, I came to understand the importance of building the basics again and again, and I think of my career as a search for my own way within that discipline.

Alongside this recognition at home, I have also had the chance to bring the techniques passed down at Niwa Futon Shop to audiences abroad — demonstrating the process of hand-fluffing and shaping cotton for those who had never seen a futon made this way before, and finding that the same care for materials and form speaks across languages.

This morning, while sweeping in front of the shop, a neighbor called out, "I saw it in the paper — congratulations!" It made me feel, all over again, how much I have to be grateful for. Many others have reached out too, and it means a great deal to me. I have only been able to continue this far as a craftsman because of the people around me. Being the youngest recipient in the bedding category is a joy for me and for my family, and I am truly thankful to them for their support. I intend to keep working hard so as not to be unworthy of this honor.

As I have written before, I carry with me words my karate teacher once gave me: "Having come this far, still only at the foot of the mountain." With that in mind, I will keep walking this path as a craftsman — treating this honor as a milestone rather than a destination, and remaining rooted in the techniques passed down through five generations.