Embassy of Japan
Press Release
August 12, 2016
Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2016
National Mall and Memorial Parks, National Park Service
On July 13, 2016 (Japan Time), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the recipients of the Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2016. National Mall and Memorial Parks, National Park Service is among this year’s foreign recipients. National Mall and Memorial Parks, National Park Service will receive the Commendation in recognition of their contributions to the promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.
National Mall and Memorial Parks, National Park Service is a federal government organization that cares for the cultural heritage and natural surroundings of the U.S. capital’s National Mall and implements educational programs that build connections and relationships. The Mall is where the cherry trees presented to Washington, D.C. by the mayor of Tokyo in 1912 have been, to this day, nurtured and protected, making the National Mall and Memorial Parks a partner in the largest Japanese cultural festival in the U.S., the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival, and a major contributor to mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.
Every year, the Foreign Minister’s Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields, in order to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas. The Commendations also aim to promote the understanding and support of the Japanese public for the activities of the recipients.
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