 Over the next ten years, he was in demand as a guest speaker on modern Japanese poetry around the country.In 1967, his submission of poetry in the traditional Japanese style for the "Utakai Hajime" contest at the Imperial Palace on the topic of fish drew praise from Emperor Hirohito (an amateur marine biologist), and Horiguchi was awarded the 3rd class of the Order of the Sacred Treasures.In 1970, he became honorary chairman of the Japan Poetry Club, and in November of the same year was made a Person of Cultural Merit by the Japanese government.