Khaldon Azhari 

TOKYO: The Japanese government honored seven prominent Arab personalities with Imperial orders, decorations and medals for their notable contributions in strengthening relations and promoting friendships between their countries and Japan.

The seven recipients were from the UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Algeria, and were among 119 foreigners from 54 countries decorated in this year’s Autumn Honors. In addition, 3,999 Japanese citizens were honored, including 1,910 from the private sector and 436 women.

A list of the honorees that Arab News Japan received showed that Hany Helal, Former Minister of Higher Education and State Minister for Scientific Research in Egypt and also Secretary General of the Steering Committee of Egypt-Japan Education Partnership, was awarded The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star as he contributed to strengthening relations between Japan and Egypt in the field of education and scientific research.

The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon was given to Ahmed El-Gohary of Egypt for contributing to promoting academic exchanges and mutual understanding between Japan and Egypt. He is the former President of Egypt Japan University of Science and Technology El Shrouq in Cairo. The same order was also made to Mohammed Abu-Dayeh Matouq of Jordan, Professor, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Al-Balqa Applied University, for promoting academic exchanges and mutual understanding between Japan and Jordan.

The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, was awarded to Salima Souakri Dziri, who contributed to promoting judo in Algeria and enhancing friendly relations between Japan and Algeria through sports. She is the former Secretary of State in charge of Elite Sport, a member of the Executive Office, a Development Director of the International Judo Federation, and a member of the Gender Equality Commission of the International Judo Federation in Algiers. 

The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays was awarded to Naser Al Tamimi, General Secretary, UAE Wrestling and Judo Federation in Abu Dhabi, for contributing and promoting judo in the UAE and friendly relations between Japan and his country.

Tamimi has been contributing to spreading the Japanese martial art, judo, for more than 20 years since he was appointed as Secretary General of UAEWJF in 2001, playing an important role in nurturing local judokas and promoting judo in the UAE.

As Treasurer of the International Judo Federation, he successfully initiated the Abu Dhabi Judo Grand Prix, the first of its kind in the Middle East, which has continued as Abu Dhabi Judo Grand Slam since 2014.

It is also worth mentioning that the UAE has been sending judokas to every Olympic Games since 2008.

The Embassy of Japan in the UAE has the honor to pay tribute to Naser Al Tamimi for his distinguished service on the occasion of the conferral.

The same order was awarded to Nasser Rouibah, President of the Algerian Aikido Federation and Technical Director of the African Aikido Confederation, for promoting Aikido in Algeria and enhancing friendly relations between Japan and Algeria.

The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Silver Rays, was given to Sayed Ahmed Hussein Ahmed, a former local employee of the Embassy of Japan in Egypt, for contributing to activities of the Japanese overseas establishment.

Among the honorees from the Middle East, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star was given to Ahmet Bülent Meriç, former Ambassador of Turkey to Japan and former Director General for International Security Affairs for contributing to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting friendship between Japan and Turkey.

Zeev Weiss, Chairman of the Israel-Japan Friendship Society and Chamber of Commerce in Tel Aviv, was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, for promoting economic exchanges between Japan and Israel.

The foreign awardees included former UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, former US National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon, former Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and French pastry chef and chocolatier Pierre Herme.

Japanese awardees included the internationally renowned fashion designer KOSHINO Junko, GUNJI Akira, a former vice president of the House of Councillors of Japan’s parliament, MIURA Satoshi, former chairman of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp, and astronomer IE Masanori. 

According to the government, Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio will present some of the awards.