Consulate Activities

 At the Consular Residence on Thursday December 1st, Mr. Michael Paul Winkler, former Deputy Commander of the U.S. Fifth Air Force, was conferred the Imperial Decoration, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, for his contributions in strengthening the Japan-US relations in the field of defense. 
 

 Through his assignments in Japan as the Deputy Commander of the Fifth Air Force for almost two years, he has contributed to deepening mutual understanding and to strengthening the air-to-air cooperation between the two countries. Even after he left Japan and assumed his position as Director, Strategy, Plans and Program of Pacific Air Force, his efforts to promote close bilateral collaboration between the two Air Forces of Japan and the US, greatly contributed to the deepening of the Japan-US alliance, and to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. 

 

 At the ceremony, Consul General Aoki delivered a congratulatory message followed by the conferment ceremony. Mr. Winkler also delivered a speech, then, MajGen Mark Weber delivered a congratulatory address and made a toast on behalf of the guests. Mr.Winkler commented that he was delighted to contribute to strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance through cooperation between USPACAF and Japan Air Self-Defense Force as well as exchanges with Japanese people when he was stationed in Yokota Air Base.

 

The program of the Conferment Ceremony was as follows: