Embassy of Japan
Press Release
November 3, 2017
2017 Autumn Conferment of Decoration
Secretary Ernest J. Moniz
On November 3, 2017 (Japan Time), the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2017 Autumn Imperial Decorations. Former Secretary of Energy Ernest J. Moniz is among this year’s foreign recipients and, in recognition of his contributions towards strengthening the relationship in the field of energy between Japan and the United States, he will receive the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.
- DECORATION: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun
- SERVICE: Contributed to strengthening the relationship in the field of energy between Japan and the United States
- NAME (AGE): Ernest J. Moniz (72)
- MAJOR TITLES:
- Former Secretary of Energy of the United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems Emeritus and Special Advisor to the MIT President
- ADDRESS (NATIONALITY): Brookline, Massachusetts (USA)
SUMMARY OF CONTRIBUTIONS
Former Secretary of Energy Ernest J. Moniz has played an important role in the energy field both in the United States and throughout the world in his roles as former Secretary of Energy. He has contributed substantially to the U.S.-Japan relationship by helping to decommission the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and managing contaminated water after the accident that took place during the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. In addition, he made tremendous contributions to promoting U.S. energy export, promptly approved the construction of Japanese companies’ LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) projects, which has enhanced Japan’s energy security through imports from Japan’s closest ally. Finally, during the G7 Kita-Kyushu Energy Ministerial Meeting held at the G7 Ise Shima Summit, the “Kita-Kyushu Initiative for Energy Security to Support Global Growth” was adopted, where Secretary Moniz’s contributions greatly aided in and helped make the summit a success.
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