Miyoshi Town, Saitama Prefecture, Honored with Special Award at National Deaf Sports 2025
2026/2/11
On 29th January, Miyoshi Town in Saitama Prefecture was recognized with a Special Award at the National Deaf Sports Awards 2025, in recognition of its outstanding contributions as a Host Town for Malaysia at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics. The award ceremony was held at the Majlis Sukan Negara in Bukit Jalil, where Mayor Isao Hayashi of Miyoshi Town attended and received the award from YB Dr. Mohammed Taufiq bin Johari, Minister of Youth and Sports.
Miyoshi Town’s initiatives as a Host Town included hosting the Malaysian deaf athletes’ pre-competition training camp, providing support and facilities for their preparation across four sports: badminton, athletics, bowling, and karate. The athletes achieved remarkable results, winning a gold medal in men’s doubles bowling, a silver medal in women’s doubles bowling, a silver medal in men’s -84kg karate, and a bronze medal in mixed doubles badminton.
The town has a long history of engagement with Malaysia, beginning with youth chamber exchanges in 1989 and establishing a sister-city partnership with Petaling Jaya in 2017. Miyoshi Town also served as a Host Town for Malaysia during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Drawing on this experience, it successfully fulfilled its role as a Deaflympics Host Town, promoting inclusive sports and fostering connections between local communities and international athletes.
The Special Award recognizes Miyoshi Town’s dedication to supporting Malaysian athletes, promoting accessibility, and strengthening international sports exchanges. These efforts have also contributed to the growing friendship between Miyoshi Town and Petaling Jaya, and it is hoped that their exchanges and cooperation will continue to flourish, further deepening ties between Japan and Malaysia.
Miyoshi Town’s initiatives as a Host Town included hosting the Malaysian deaf athletes’ pre-competition training camp, providing support and facilities for their preparation across four sports: badminton, athletics, bowling, and karate. The athletes achieved remarkable results, winning a gold medal in men’s doubles bowling, a silver medal in women’s doubles bowling, a silver medal in men’s -84kg karate, and a bronze medal in mixed doubles badminton.
The town has a long history of engagement with Malaysia, beginning with youth chamber exchanges in 1989 and establishing a sister-city partnership with Petaling Jaya in 2017. Miyoshi Town also served as a Host Town for Malaysia during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Drawing on this experience, it successfully fulfilled its role as a Deaflympics Host Town, promoting inclusive sports and fostering connections between local communities and international athletes.
The Special Award recognizes Miyoshi Town’s dedication to supporting Malaysian athletes, promoting accessibility, and strengthening international sports exchanges. These efforts have also contributed to the growing friendship between Miyoshi Town and Petaling Jaya, and it is hoped that their exchanges and cooperation will continue to flourish, further deepening ties between Japan and Malaysia.