Arab News Japan

Bill Gates will be one of 4,181 people to be awarded Japanese honors for their services to the nation and public this spring, announced the Japanese government.

The Microsoft Co-Founder is one of 117 non-Japanese people to receive the award. He will be awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.

Gates expressed his gratitude in a statement, saying “I first started traveling to Japan 40 years ago, back then I admired the innovative work of Japan's computer programmers and engineers."

He added that he has “come to respect Japan’s scientists and medical researchers.”

The multi-billionaire said the Japanese scientists have worked with the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation and helped develop new technologies that fight deadly diseases.

“That spirit of innovation is why I am confident that humanity will beat this pandemic," he added.

Some of the other honorees include former justices of the Supreme Court, a former head of Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren.