2018 Autumn Conferment of Decoration - Secretary William S. Cohen

On November 3, 2018 (Japan Time), the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2018 Autumn Imperial Decorations. Former U.S. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen is among this year’s foreign recipients and, in recognition of his contributions towards strengthening the relationship between Japan and the United States of America in security and defense areas, 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 between Japan and the United States on national defense
• NAME: William S. Cohen
• MAJOR TITLE:
  • Former U.S. Secretary of Defense
  • Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cohen Group
• ADDRESS (NATIONALITY): Maryland (United States of America)

Former Secretary William S. Cohen served as the 20th Secretary of Defense of the United States from 1997 to 2001. As Secretary of Defense, he played an important role in strengthening the Japan-U.S. relationship. He led the revision of the Guidelines of Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation in 1997. In addition, he has made outstanding contributions towards the Japan-U.S. defense Alliance through dialogues including Japan-U.S. Defense Ministers’ Meeting and Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (2+2).