Mr. Hiroshi Senju, Artist On July 20th, 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced the recipients of the Foreign Minister's Commendations for 2016, including an individual from the areas where the Consulate General of Japan in New York serves: Mr. Hiroshi Senju.
The Foreign Minister's Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups of outstanding achievements in international fields, to acknowledge their contribution to the promotion of friendly relations between Japan and other countries.
Mr. Senju started his New York-based art activities in the 1980s. By gaining critical acclaim, he became a major force in presenting the beauty of Japanese arts to the American art community. He has also revealed in his majestic artworks a great universality, present in the aesthetic sense and techniques of the Japanese arts, and made significant contributions in promoting the understanding of Japanese culture in many countries throughout the world.
He has introduced Japanese arts to the world through the creation of impressive works, such as his paintings on fusuma (paper screen doors) in the Shofuso Japanese House in Philadelphia (2007) and his creation of large-scale installations for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2010. Additionally, based on his extensive experience as an educator and an innovator, he has given lectures on and written about the Japanese arts to broaden global understanding and appreciation of this multi-faceted subject.
The Conferment Ceremony of the Commendation for Mr. Senju was held at Ambassasor Takahashi's residence on November 3rd, 2016 with about 100 guests to celebrate his achievement. Ambassador Takahashi presented the Commendation to Mr. Senju in front of his work.