Embassy of Japan
Press Release
April 29, 2013

Conferral of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette upon
Mr. Joseph J. Krakora, Executive Officer of the National Gallery of Art

 

On April 29, 2013(Japan Time), the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2013 Spring Imperial Decorations. Among the 40 recipients is Mr. Joseph J. Krakora, Executive Officer of the National Gallery of Art, who received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in recognition of his significant contributions to introducing Japanese art in the United States and promoting exchange between museums of the two countries.

  • DECORATION : The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
  • SERVICE : Contributed to introducing Japanese art to the United States and promoting exchange between museums of the two countries.
  • NAME (AGE) : Joseph J. Krakora (74)
  • MAJOR TITLES : Executive Officer of the National Gallery of Art
  • ADDRESS (NATIONALITY) : Washington, D.C. (U.S.A.)

 

Mr. Krakora was born in 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio. He studied theatre arts at Denison University and Union Theological Seminary. After graduation, he took on important posts primarily in the field of performing arts, including Associate Director of Development at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York, Executive Vice President at the City Center Joffrey Ballet in New York, Director for the Dance Program at the National Endowment for the Arts, and General Director at the Chicago City Ballet. Since 1985, for a total of 27 years to date, he has served as Executive Officer in charge of external and international affairs at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

 

The National Gallery of Art has held three major exhibits devoted to Japan over the past few decades: ‘Japan: The Shaping of Daimyo Culture’ in 1988, ‘Edo: Art in Japan’ in 1998, and ‘Colorful Realm: Japanese Bird-and-Flower Paintings by Ito Jakuchu’ in 2012. These exhibitions were of an unprecedented scale and quality for Japan-related exhibits held outside of Japan and Mr. Krakora continually played a pivotal role in arranging and promoting them. In particular, ‘Colorful Realm’, the exhibit of works by Ito Jakuchu, which was held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the gift of cherry blossom trees from Japan to the United States, received the seventh-highest daily average attendance in the history of the National Gallery of Art.

 

Mr. Krakora has also played an active role in promoting exchange between the museums of Japan and the United States by coordinating requests for loans of works of art from the National Gallery’s collection for exhibitions in Japan. In 2011, the exhibition ‘Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Art’ was held in both Tokyo and Kyoto directly after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Despite various uncertainties, the exhibit was eventually held as planned. To realize this exhibition, Mr. Krakora worked tirelessly to convey the importance of lending works in support of Japan during the time of crisis.

 

He also developed the concept of establishing a Global Initiative for Cross-Cultural Understanding and Exchange to create a partnership including the cultural institutions of Japan and the National Gallery of Art.

 

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