Japan confers decoration to former Ambassador Mathema

KATHMANDU: Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2022 Spring Imperial Decorations naming Kedar Bhakta Mathema as one of the recipients.

Mathema, former Ambassador of Nepal to Japan, was awarded the Order of Japan (the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star) among foreign nationals conferred the 2022 Spring Imperial Decorations by the Government of Japan.

The Japan Government has recognized Mathema for his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting friendship between Japan and Nepal as the Ambassador of Nepal to Japan.

During his tenure from 1996 to 2003, Mathema accomplished many high-level exchanges including the visits to Japan by the then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala (1998) and the then Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah (2001).

He also made a conspicuous contribution to the establishment of the Honorary Consulate of Nepal in Fukuoka (2001), and promotion of cultural and academic exchanges between two countries.

Late Koirala was the first democratically elected Nepali leader who visited Japan after the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between Japan and Nepal.

On the heels of his visit, Yoshiro MORI, then Prime Minister of Japan, visited Kathmandu in 2000, as the first Japanese prime minister who officially visited Nepal.

This year 2022 is the Japan-Southwest Asia Exchange Year and it marks 120th Anniversary of International Student Exchanges between Japan and Nepal.

Japanese decorations are conferred upon foreigners twice a year, on April 29 and November 3, concurrently with the conferment of decorations and medals on Japanese nationals.

The Order of the Rising Sun is bestowed upon individuals of merit, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the nation or public.

This award is also conferred upon foreign nationals who have made notable contributions to the promotion of relations between Japan, and other countries for excellence in politics and diplomacy, research and education, medicine and social welfare, economy and industry, and culture and sports.