Congratulations to Prof. Ehud Harari on Receiving The Order of the Rising Sun

From left to right: Ms. Sophiya Berezansky, Mr. Shmuel Shnitzer, Mr. Zeev Weiss, Prof. Ehud Harari, Mr. Elchanan Harel (Honorary President of IJCC), Mr. Dror Vered, Dr. Roni Bornstein (Honorary President of IJCC)

The Order of the Rising Sun is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun. The design of the Rising Sun symbolizes energy as powerful as the rising sun in parallel with the "rising sun" concept of Japan ("Land of the Rising Sun").

The order is awarded to those who have made distinguished achievements in the following fields: international relations, promotion of Japanese culture, advancements in their field, development in welfare or preservation of the environment. Prior to the end of World War II, it was also awarded for exemplary military service.

The modern version of this honor has been conferred on non-Japanese recipients beginning in 1981 (although several foreigners were given the honor before World War II); and women were awarded the Order starting in 2003 (previously, women were awarded the Order of the Precious Crown). The awarding of the Order is administered by the Decoration Bureau of Office of the Prime Minister. It is awarded in the name of the Emperor and can be awarded posthumously.

It can be awarded to Japanese as well as non-Japanese nationals.

On November 3rd, 2017, the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2017 Autumn Imperial Decorations. 2 Israeli citizens among the 149 foreign recipients are receiving the decorations as follows.

Prof. Ehud Harari

Decoration: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star

Service: Contributed to developing Japanese studies and promoting understanding of Japan in Israel.

Major Titles: Honorary President, Israel Association of Japanese Studies Professor Emeritus, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Former Chairperson, Israel-Japan Friendship Society Former Chair, Department of East Asian Studies, Faculty of Humanities Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Ms. Anette Goldstein Decoration: The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays Service: Contributed to the activities of the Japanese overseas establishment Major Titles: Former local employee of the Embassy of Japan in Israel