Furthering culture: ‘Japanese-to-Urdu Dictionary’ creator honoured

Dr Amin conferred Japan’s third highest civilian award

The Japanese government on Tuesday conferred one of its most prestigious awards, the ‘Order of the Rising Sun’ upon Pakistani author Dr Muhammad Amin in recognition of his significant contributions to promoting Japan-Pakistan relations by establishing linkages between the two countries through language and literature.

Dr Amin was decorated in a simple conferment ceremony at the official residence of Japanese Ambassador Takashi Kurai in Islamabad on Tuesday. The ceremony was attended by family, relatives, friends and colleagues of Dr Amin. In 1971, Dr Amin had travelled to Japan on the MEXT scholarship offered by the Japanese government. He had subsequently obtained a doctorate in sociology from the Waseda University in Tokyo.



Owing to his fluency in the Japanese language, Dr Amin in 1988 made the first Japanese-to-Urdu Dictionary.

Dr Amin went on to author 35 books, many of which are related to Japanese language, literature and culture. He is also known as a pioneer in Urdu Haiku and a collection of his Haiku poetry published in 1981 is regarded as the first creative Haiku book in Urdu.

Ambassador Kurai congratulated Dr Amin for receiving this prestigious honour which acknowledges his dedicated efforts in the promotion of Japan-Pakistan relations.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan in 1952, Kurai said, mutual cooperation has been steadily growing between both the nations in economic, political and cultural forums. “I believe that the cultural relationship, in particular, contributes to deepening mutual trust and understanding among the people which should be the very foundation of any relationship between the countries,” he said, adding, “In this respect, all the efforts made by Dr Amin, have been of tremendous significance to our bilateral relationship over the years.”

Kurai hoped that this contribution will further promote and strengthen cultural relations as well as people to people contacts between Japan and Pakistan.

The Order of the Rising Sun is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji and became the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government which is typically awarded to those who have made distinguished achievements in international relations, promotion of Japanese culture, development and other fields. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 5^th, 2018.