21st Century Necromancer

The Cultural Medal was established by the Japanese Government during the Showa Era to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the fields of science, technology, and cultural arts.

It is personally awarded by the Emperor each year and is considered the highest honor in the fields of science and culture in Japan.

Many people have received the Cultural Medal, including Kawabata Yasunari, Ryotaro Shiba, Seiji Ozawa, Yamada Isuzu, and Miyake Issei.

According to the longstanding tradition in Japan, awarding the Cultural Medal to Nobel Prize winners who have not yet received it has always been the custom.

Since 1973, when Reona Esaki received the Nobel Prize in Physics, all subsequent Japanese Nobel laureates have been awarded the Cultural Medal.

Logically speaking, it is entirely normal for the Japanese Government to award the Cultural Medal to the couple, Yu Chen and Hiromi Jounouchi.noveldrama

However, since the establishment of the Cultural Medal, it has never been awarded to foreigners other than Japanese.

The only exception was when the three astronauts of Apollo 11 visited Japan; according to the international custom at the time, they were to be awarded the highest level of medals.

But Japan's highest level medals are only awarded to statesmen, and lower-level medals seemed disrespectful, so the Japanese government came up with the idea of awarding the Cultural Medal, which has no rank difference, to the three astronauts.

And because it was awarded as an exception, the Japanese government did not hold an award ceremony.

Thus, for Chen Yu to receive the Cultural Medal as a foreigner in Japan, it can also be seen as pioneering in a sense.

But Chen Yu does not wish to accept this medal.

"Husband, do you not want to accept the Cultural Medal?" Hiromi Jounouchi found it a bit strange upon learning of Chen Yu's thoughts.

"Having the Emperor award me a medal, and it's this kind of medal that recognizes contributions to Japan's development, don't you find it ironic, Hiromi?" Chen Yu laughed upon hearing Hiromi Jounouchi's question, but his smile carried sarcasm: "I am a Chinese; recognizing my contribution to Japan? Haha, is this an insult?"

Chen Yu's response left Hiromi Jounouchi speechless, although Chen Yu now lives in Japan and works there, he has never considered himself anything other than Chinese.

And no Chinese would see being recognized by the Japanese government for contributing to Japan's development as an honor.

The historical enmity between China and Japan has become deeply ingrained. Although Chen Yu can live and work in Japan, and even loves Japanese culture and has married a Japanese wife, it does not mean he can forget these resentments.

Especially since the Cultural Medal is awarded by the Emperor of Japan, symbolizing the authority of the Emperor. For any Chinese, accepting the Cultural Medal would be seen as an insult to their ancestors, history, and themselves.

"I don't think it's that serious; I think it's just a formality. Besides, husband, your research does deserve any honor!" Hiromi Jounouchi tried to persuade Chen Yu, as she, being Japanese, saw it as an honor.

However, Chen Yu shook his head, disagreeing: "My research does qualify for any honor, but that's not the reason for me to accept an honor from the Japanese government."

If it were China awarding Chen Yu a prize, he would accept any kind of award, even if it were just a commemorative medal, but he has no intention of accepting honors from the Japanese government.

Seeing Chen Yu's resolute attitude, Hiromi Jounouchi stopped trying to persuade him further. Since Chen Yu had made his decision, she would not insist on him changing it.

Although she is Japanese, having decided to marry Chen Yu, a Chinese, she has also prepared herself for this. She knows everything that happened between China and Japan, so she can understand Chen Yu's feelings and thoughts.

"Since you've made up your mind, let's leave it at that," Hiromi Jounouchi said, and then asked Chen Yu, "Do you want to issue a statement that you're declining the Cultural Medal? I think it's better to make one to at least express your stance."

Chen Yu thought about it, nodded, and agreed with Hiromi Jounouchi's suggestion.

Seeing Chen Yu agree, Hiromi Jounouchi thought for a moment and then had the idea of also declining the Cultural Medal, so she said to Chen Yu, "Husband, how about we issue a joint statement, and I'll decline the Cultural Medal as well?"

Chen Yu was visibly surprised upon hearing this from Hiromi Jounouchi.

He looked at Hiromi Jounouchi and raised his eyebrows, asking, "Hiromi, why would you think of doing that? I'm declining because I'm Chinese, but you're Japanese, it's not necessary for you, is it?"

"No, I'm your wife, aren't I?" Hiromi Jounouchi laughed and sat on Chen Yu's lap: "As a couple, we should act in unison. Besides, if you decline and I accept, wouldn't that be strange?"

"It seems so, but is it necessary? Would anyone dare to criticize us for this?" Chen Yu thought there was no need for Hiromi Jounouchi to decline the honor from the Japanese government as well.

"It's not a big deal; besides, others have also declined the Cultural Medal, so it's no big deal," Hiromi Jounouchi said nonchalantly.

Indeed, as she said, there have been people who declined the Cultural Medal.

In the many years since the institution of the Cultural Medal, four people have declined this honor, the most famous being Kenzaburo Oe, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature.

After becoming the second Japanese author, following Kawabata Yasunari, to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, it wasn't long before the Japanese government decided to award him the Cultural Medal, but Kenzaburo Oe declined it.

In Kenzaburo Oe's view, this Cultural Medal, symbolizing the highest honor of the Imperial Government, was incompatible with Japan's postwar democracy. He also asserted there is no authority or value higher than democracy, and he refused to accept any national medals during his lifetime or posthumously.

Notably, during his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Kenzaburo Oe listed the Nanjing Massacre as one of the three great humanitarian disasters of the twentieth century and urged the Japanese government to abandon its ambiguous stance and courageously admit its historical crimes.

With such a predecessor, it's not unusual or incomprehensible for Chen Yu and Hiromi Jounouchi to decline the Cultural Medal.

"Since you've said so, Hiromi, let's issue a joint statement together," Chen Yu agreed with Hiromi Jounouchi's indifferent attitude and accepted her idea.