Ikebana’s original envoy gets Japanese award

‘The Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays,’ was conferred on Orita, the vice president of JPCA

ISLAMABAD:

The Japanese government on Wednesday conferred one of its highest civil awards on master Ikebana artist Toshiko Orita to recognise her significant contribution to the promotion of long-term cultural exchanges and friendly relations between Japan and Pakistan.

The 2020 spring decorations, ‘The Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays,’ was conferred on Orita, the vice president of the Pakistan-Japan Cultural Association (PJCA), by Japanese Ambassador Kuninori Matsuda at a simple ceremony at the envoy’s official residence.

Matsuda congratulated Orita on receiving the prestigious award and deeply appreciated her long years of service in consolidating Japan-Pakistan cultural ties.

“I believe that cultural exchanges, in particular, contribute significantly to deepen mutual trust and understanding amongst the people which should be the very foundation of any relationship between the countries,” he said.

The envoy expressed his sincere hope that this contribution will further promote and strengthen the cultural relations as well as people to people contacts between the two friendly nations.

“I feel great honour today for receiving ‘The Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays’,” Orita said.

“My journey in Pakistan started almost 60 years ago and it has always been my dream to bring the people of Japan and Pakistan further closer through deepened cultural relations.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2020.