Embassy of Japan
Press Release
April 28, 2015

 

2015 Spring Conferment of Decorations to the Honorable William Warren Bradley, former member of the U.S. Senate, Dr. Elmer William Colglazier Jr., former Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State, Dr. Julian Raby,
the Dame Jillian Sackler Director of the Arthur M.Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art and Dr. Raymond Shoji Murakami, Former Chairman of National Japanese American Memorial Foundation

 

On April 29th, 2015 (Japan Time), the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2015 Spring Imperial Decorations. Among 85 foreign recipients are the following 4 persons who will receive their respective decorations as follows;

 

Recipients

(1) The Honorable William Warren Bradley, former member of the U.S. Senate

  • DECORATION: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star
  • SERVICE: Contributed to promoting legislative exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States
  • NAME (AGE): William Warren Bradley (71)
  • MAJOR TITLES:
    • Former Member of the U.S. Senate
    • Former Co-Chairman of the US-Japan Legislatives’ Committee Meeting
  • ADDRESS (NATIONALITY): New York, New York (USA)

    • (2) Dr. Elmer William Colglazier Jr., former Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State

    • DECORATION: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
    • SERVICE: Contributed to science and technology exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States
    • NAME (AGE): Elmer William Colglazier Jr. (70)
    • MAJOR TITLES:
      • Former Executive Officer of the National Academy of Sciences
      • Former Chief Operating Officer of the National Research Council
      • Former Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State
    • ADDRESS (NATIONALITY): Mclean, Virginia (USA)

    (3) Dr. Julian Raby, the Dame Jillian Sackler Director of the Arthur M.Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art

    • DECORATION: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
    • SERVICE: Contributed to friendly relationship and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States through the promotion of Japanese arts
    • NAME (AGE): Dr. Julian Raby (65)
    • MAJOR TITLES:
      • The Dame Jillian Sackler Director of the Arthur M.Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art
    • ADDRESS (NATIONALITY): Washington DC, USA (UK)

    (4) Dr. Raymond Shoji Murakami, Former Chairman of National Japanese American Memorial Foundation

    • DECORATION: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays
    • SERVICE: Contributed to the advancement of social status of Japanese Americans in the United States and promoting friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States
    • NAME (AGE): Raymond Shoji Murakami (87)
    • MAJOR TITLES:
      • Former Chairman of DC Chapter, Japanese American Citizens League
      • Former Chairman of National Japanese American Memorial Foundation
    • ADDRESS (NATIONALITY): Bethesda, Maryland (USA)

     

    Summary of Contributions

     

    (1) The Honorable William Warren Bradley, former member of the U.S. Senate

    Senator Bradley has contributed greatly to the promotion of US-Japan high-level exchange. At the time when US-Japan trade friction was at its peak, Senator Bradley made efforts to improve US-Japan relations, especially through the establishment of the US-Japan Legislatives’ Committee Meeting co-chaired by Mr. Motoo Shiina, former member of the House of Representative of Japan. This Meeting accelerated the US-Japan legislative exchange and contributed greatly to the promotion of mutual understanding between our two countries.

    (2) Dr. Elmer William Colglazier Jr., former Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State

    As the Executive Director of the National Academy of Sciences or Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State, Dr. Colglazier greatly contributed to science and technology exchanges between Japan and the United States, as well as to the mutual understanding of the two countries through the interaction with Japanese relevant science policy makers.

    (3) Dr. Julian Raby, the Dame Jillian Sackler Director of the Arthur M.Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art

    Dr. Raby has supervised and supported a great number of special exhibitions related to Japanese art and works by Japanese artists at the Freer and Sackler Gallery. He is the Director of the Freer and Sackler Galleries, the world renowned Japanese and Asian art museums, and has been closely involved with the enrichment of their Japanese art collections. He has been a long-time supporter of the activities of high level experts and researchers such as Japanese art curators and restoration professionals. This has resulted in the development of the Freer and Sackler Galleries as leading centers for education and promotion of Japanese art in the US.

    (4) Dr. Raymond Shoji Murakami, Former Chairman of National Japanese American Memorial Foundation

    As former Chairman of DC Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League and former Chairman of National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, Dr. Murakami actively contributed to the advancement of social status of Japanese Americans in the U.S. Dr. Murakami especially led the efforts to realize the establishment of the National Japanese American Memorial in Washington D.C. The National Japanese American Memorial is now a landmark that is indispensable to look back on the history of Japanese Americans.

     

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