Conferment of Decorations for 2024 Spring

2024/4/29
On April 29, 2024, the Government of Japan announced the recipients of its Spring 2024 Decorations, who include two distinguished U.S. citizens from within the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Japan in New York.

  1. Mr. Daniel Russel
    Mr. Daniel Russel
    Former Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State
    Vice President for International Security and Diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute
    Decoration: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
    Services: Contributed to the promotion of cooperation between the U.S. and Japan in the field of diplomacy

    Mr. Daniel Russel served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Obama administration. During his tenure, he helped formulate President Obama's strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region, including strengthening alliances with Japan, South Korea, and other countries; deepening US engagement with multilateral organizations such as ASEAN, APEC, and the G20; and expanding cooperation with emerging countries in the Asia-Pacific. As Deputy Director for International Security and Diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, he has developed policy events on Asia including Japan, and has contributed to the dissemination of information on Japan in New York, the cultural and economic center of the United States.
  2. Professor Frank K. Upham
    Former Professor of Law at New York University
    Decoration: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
    Services: Contributed to developing Japanese Studies in the United States and to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States

    Prof. Frank K. Upham
    Professor Frank K. Upham has long been a leading scholar of Japanese studies at the New York University School of Law, one of the most prominent law schools in the United States. Based in New York, he has significantly promoted the understanding of Japanese law in the U.S., particularly in the areas of Japanese socio-economic and legal development, and gender. Also, as an educator, Professor Upham has actively promoted exchange among legal professionals and scholars in the U.S. and Asian countries including Japan, and has contributed to the globalization of the Japanese legal profession and the building of networks among the Japanese, U.S., and Asian legal communities.

The Consulate General of Japan in New York would like to express its deepest respect to Mr. Russel and Dr. Upham for the contributions they have made.