Embassy of Japan
Press Release
November 3, 2013

Conferral of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
upon Ambassador Rust Macpherson Deming
Adjunct Professor of Japan Studies at Johns Hopkins University

 

On November 3, 2013 (Japan Time), the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2013 Autumn Imperial Decorations.  Among 49 foreign recipients is Ambassador Rust Macpherson Deming, Adjunct Professor of Japan Studies at Johns Hopkins University who will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, in recognition of his significant contributions to strengthening relations and promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States, through people to people exchange.

  • DECORATION: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
  • SERVICE: Contributed to strengthening relations and promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States, through people to people exchange.
  • NAME (AGE): Rust Macpherson Deming (72)
  • MAJOR TITLES:
    • Former Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the U.S. in Japan
    • Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
    • Adjunct Professor, Japan Studies, Johns Hopkins University
    • Chairman, The Japan-America Society of Washington DC
  • ADDRESS (NATIONALITY): Bethesda, Maryland (USA)

Ambassador Deming spent his youth in post-war Japan. He received his B.A. in 1964 from Rollins College, and entered the State Department in 1966. He received his M.A. in East Asian Studies from Stanford University in 1981. He went on to becoming the Head of Japan Desk in the State Department, served as Deputy Chief of Mission and the Chargé d’Affaires in the Embassy of the U.S. in Japan, served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and for 37 years until he retired from the State Department in 2003, he made his career as an expert on Japanese affairs. In 2011, upon the request by the State Department, he became the Head of Japan Desk once again. From 2005, Ambassador Deming has been the Adjunct Professor of Japan Studies and the Senior Advisor in the Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies at Johns Hopkins University, as well as have been actively taking part as the Chairman of the Japan-America Society of Washington DC, and contributing widely to the strengthening of the relations and promoting of the mutual understanding between Japan and the United States, through people to people exchange.

 

Ambassador Deming realized the first visit by a Japanese Emperor to the U.S. as a staff of the Japanese Division in the State Department in 1975. During his tenure as the DCM in the Embassy of the U.S. in Japan, the U.S.-Japan trade friction was at its peak, and he contributed to the issuance of the Heads of both countries’ joint announcement, as well as the agreement on the negotiation framework. At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Ambassador Deming had just become the Head of Japan Desk in the Department of State, for the second time upon the request of the Department. He took the leadership role in the taskforce launched within the Department. He contributed to the U.S.’s support towards Japan through the implementation of Operation TOMODACHI, and the response to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. As the Adjunct Professor at the Johns Hopkins University and Senior Advisor of its Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies, Ambassador Deming has been involved with the Annual Report on the U.S.-Japan Relations, and has been organizing symposiums and writing articles, giving lectures on U.S.-Japan relations, and contributing to the nurturing of the younger generation which will be taking part in policy making towards Japan in the future. As the Chairman of the Japan-America Society of Washington DC, he has been actively been engaged in the organizing of the “National Japan Bowl”, a national competition of Japanese language and culture for high school students as well as the “Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival” which has a record of 40,000 participants in one day, during the National Cherry Blossom Festival which has more than 1 million participants every year. Through taking part in these activities, Ambassador Deming is still contributing greatly to the U.S.-Japan cultural exchange.

 

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