VSUES President Gennady Lazarev was awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun

On November 3, the Japanese Government published a list of foreign citizens who will be awarded orders in the fall of 2021. In the consular district of the Consulate General of Japan in Vladivostok, two Russians, including the President of the VSUES Gennady Lazarev, will be awarded for their merits.

The President of VSUES was awarded a high award for his contribution to the development of scientific exchange and deepening mutual understanding between Japan and Russia. The Consulate General of Japan in Vladivostok, announcing the presentation of Gennady Lazarev to the Order of the Rising Sun, notes his consistent and active work to strengthen Russian-Japanese relations throughout his time at the university:

- As Rector and President of VSUES, Gennady Innokentievich actively conducts scientific exchanges with enterprises and universities in Japan and organizes many Japanese-themed events, thereby contributing to the promotion of scientific, cultural and creative exchange between Japan and Russia. In addition, as the head of the Vladivostok-Toyama Friendship Society, Mr. Lazarev played a key role in the successful creation of the Japanese Rock Garden. Yoshio Morimoto (Toyama Friendship Garden-Vladivostok) on the territory of VSUES. Gennady Innokentievich actively initiates the implementation of projects to strengthen Japanese-Russian friendly relations and cultural events dedicated to Japan, and also contributes significantly to the spread of Japanese culture in Vladivostok.

In addition to the President of VSUES, Andrey Kortunov, Director General of the Russian Council for International Affairs, Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of MGIMO, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Valery Fokin, Artistic Director of the Alexandrinsky Theater, and Valentin Sergienko, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences, were awarded the Orders of the third degree.

A total of 4,036 Japanese citizens and foreigners were awarded. Among them are the daughter of US President John F. Kennedy, former American Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy and Australian actress Olivia Newton-John.

The previous time the list of recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun was published on April 29. Then five Russians received them, including the famous violist and conductor Yuri Bashmet.

Reference

The Order of the Rising Sun is the first and oldest national order of Japan. It was established by Emperor Meiji and approved by decree of the State Council of Japan on April 10, 1875. The sign was created in the form of the rising sun and symbolizes its powerful energy, and embodies the idea of Japan (the Land of the Rising Sun).

On December 31, 1875, the first awarding and awarding ceremony of the order took place in Tokyo: to emphasize the high status of the award, the emperor and seven members of the imperial family became the first cavaliers. In the future, the award was awarded not only to members of the imperial house. The first Russian knights of the Order of the Rising Sun have been known since the XIX century, they were mainly military.

Today it is the third in its status order in the award system of Japan, but due to the fact that the highest Order of the Chrysanthemum is intended for heads of state and royalty, and the Order of the Flowers of Paulownia is awarded most often to politicians, the Order of the Rising Sun is the highest award that can be obtained in other fields of activity. It has six degrees.

In the XX century and today, the order is usually awarded for outstanding achievements of scientists and educators, culture and art, sports, noted contribution to the development of international relations and public diplomacy, environmental protection. Among the Russian awardees in recent years: Director of IMEMO RAS, Academician Alexander Dynkin, Rector of St. Petersburg State University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Nikolai Kropachev, conductor Valery Gergiev, People''s Artist of the USSR, ballerina Maya Plisetskaya, artistic director of the State Academic Maly Theater Yuri Solomin, cosmonaut Yuri Krikalev, theoretical physicist and public figure Evgeny Velekhov, politician and scientist Viktor Gorchakov.