The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, announced the prestigious Foreign Minister’s Commendation awards for the FY 2024 on 1 August 2024. The awards ceremony, where the recipients will be officially honoured, is scheduled for 8 August 2024. Three out of 186 individuals who would receive the Commendation Award are Indians.
- Mr. Krishnan Nair Asok Kumar is the Director of the Institute of Japanese Studies, Alumni Society of AOTS (Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships), Trivandrum Centre. Mr. Asok Kumar has contributed immensely to promoting Japanese culture in India. He has taught the Japanese language extensively to students in Kerala and other regions. He has also organised several cultural activities, events, and programs related to Japan in Kerala, facilitating cultural exchange between the two countries. Mr. Asok Kumar is responsible for helping numerous students achieve their dream of academic achievement in Japan.
- Mr. Subramaniam Haribabu is the President and Technical Director of the Shorei-kan Karate-do-Asia H.Q. and Ryu Kyu Kobudo Hozonkai India, H.Q. Chennai. Mr. Haribabu is commended for his immense contribution to promoting Japanese culture in India by teaching students in Tamil Nadu and other regions the Japanese martial art forms of Karate and Kobudo. Due to his training, several martial arts enthusiasts have pursued Karate and Kobudo professionally. Mr. Haribabu has successfully kindled an appreciation of the martial arts forms in several students.
- Mr. Chilaka Sriramulu Rajagopal, Vice-President of the Tamil Nadu Judo Association, has also been commended for his significant contribution to promoting Japanese culture in India. He has taught the martial arts Judo to many enthusiasts in Tamil Nadu and other parts of India. He has been pivotal in enhancing the visibility of martial arts in India, where several villages in the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have established dedicated Judo training centres.
The Foreign Minister’s Commendation Awards are given to groups and individuals with remarkable achievements in the international field. Those individuals and groups who have significantly promoted the friendly ties between Japan and other countries are recognised. The Commendations also aim to encourage the awardees’ recognition by the Japanese public. The award ceremony will be held on 8 August 2024 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan.
This year, 186 individuals and 59 groups will be awarded the Commendations. Of these, 38 individuals and six groups reside in Japan, and 148 individuals and 53 groups reside overseas. The Ministry will also host the Foreign Minister’s Commendations for excellent Chefs for Ambassadors/Consul-Generals of Japan on 8 August, along with conferring the long-time service awards for diplomats having served 25 and 35 years. Seventeen chefs will receive the Commendation awards and be conferred with the title ‘Excellent Executive Chef for Ambassador/Consul-General of Japan.’ The Ministry wishes to award chefs for their contribution to the country’s international relations and make way for the recruitment of highly skilled chefs in the future.
Those at the Ministry will be presented with an award certificate and a commemorative gift in the form of Furoshiki, a traditional Japanese cloth. International recipients will later be awarded the certificate and the commemorative gift at their respective Embassy/Consulate General of Japan. The Consulate General of Japan in Chennai congratulated Mr. Krishnan Nair Asok Kumar, Mr. Subramaniam Haribabu, and Mr. Chilaka Sriramulu Rajagopal. They hoped they would continue strengthening the India-Japan bilateral relations.
