I would like to send my greetings to the citizens of Fukuoka City.

My name is SATO Makoto. I am a playwright and a stage director, and was　honored to join the ranks of the other esteemed laureates of the Fukuoka Prize last year. 
Time flies, and it has already been a year since the Prize. Now, we are currently right in the middle of the unexpected storm of social hardship called COVID-19.  

Unfortunately, the Fukuoka Prize has been postponed until next year. However, I feel that the importance of the Fukuoka Prize stands out even more in such times. 
This is because these days, our opportunities to gather naturally in groups, to spend time and chat with each other, and eventually to build our next future by our own hands, have been completely taken away. 
We are now spending our days realizing how precious those opportunities were.

Furthermore, in this current situation, we are starting to understand how important the areas where we live in and can walk around in are, especially during the change towards a new social environment with various online activities such as remote working. 

Municipalities will have much a stronger meaning in this regard. The Fukuoka Prize is the very embodiment of this; it is an award established by the Fukuoka City Government to go beyond national borders and connect people. 

With the great honor of being a laureate of the Prize, and while feeling its heavy responsibility, I would like to continue with my work from now on. 

In closing my supporting message, I would like to pray for the further development of the Fukuoka Prize from my heart, express my gratitude for the citizens of Fukuoka, and wish for a new and strong step towards a world after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.