The government will issue Medals of Honor on Thursday to 827 people and 15 organizations for their contributions to society, including those who saved lives in the deadly train derailment in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, in April, government officials said Wednesday.

One of the two recipients of the Medal with Red Ribbon, given to people who have contributed to saving lives, is 47-year-old Setsumi Hamasaki, who pushed an emergency button at a crossing near the derailment site to stop oncoming trains from approaching and adding to the disaster.

The government will also honor machine manufacturer Nihon Spindle Ltd. for sending its employees to join in the rescue operation after the accident, which killed 107 people.

The Medal with Blue Ribbon will be given to 483 people for contributions to public welfare, including Hiroo Onoda, 83, for social education project.

Onoda has lived in Brazil for more than 20 years after spending a year in Japan upon returning from nearly 30 years hiding out in the Philippine jungle.

A former military intelligence officer, Onoda was stationed on Lubang Island during World War II and lived in the jungle there until March 1974, not knowing the war had ended.

Nineteen distinguished artists and athletes will also receive the Medal with Purple Ribbon, awarded for contributions to the arts, academics and sports. Honorees will include actor Tetsuya Watari, 63, and judoka Haruki Uemura, 54, who won a gold medal in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.