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ANNOUNCEMENT

Spring 2012 Imperial Decorations

  April 30, 2012

2012 Spring Conferment of Japanese Decoration Awarded to Mr. Robert Toshio Nakasone of Hawaii

On April 29, the Government of Japan will confer a decoration to the following individual of merit in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States:

  l      Mr. Robert Toshio Nakasone,  Past President of the Worldwide Uchinanchu Business Association of Hawaii and  Past President of the United
      Japanese Society of Hawaii, will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays for his contribution to the promotion of friendly
      relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.

      In 1993, Mr. Nakasone founded the Hawaii Uchinanchu Business Group, going on to found the Worldwide Uchinanchu Business Association
      in 1997, expanding the network to 22 chapters around the world.  In doing so, he successfully brought together entrepreneurs and small
      Okinawan-ancestry business owners, promoting not only U.S.-Japan exchanges but exchanges worldwide. In 1999, Mr. Nakasone joined the
      East-West Center as an Adjunct Project Coordinator.  The following year, during the G8 Summit in Nago City, Okinawa, then President Bill
      Clinton dedicated a special Okinawa business and education initiative, to be administered by the Center, in memory of the late Prime Minister
      of Japan Keizo Obuchi.  In his capacity at the East-West Center, Mr. Nakasone has since dedicated his efforts to the “Obuchi Okinawa
      Education and Research Program, an international program which promotes scholarships, faculty/research exchanges, and business seminars
      and internships between Okinawa and the U.S.

      Over the years, Mr. Nakasone has been active in many Japanese- American organizations in the community, including the United Japanese
      Society of Hawaii, the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, and the Hawaii United Okinawa Association. Through these efforts, Mr.
      Nakasone has helped and contributed to strengthen the bonds of　friendship between Japan and Hawaii and between Japan and the U.S.

 For general information regarding Japan’s decorations and medals, please refer to the website 

 http://www8.cao.go.jp/shokun/en/index-e.html