Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Special Advisor of the Global Peacebuilding Association of Japan (GPAJ) and former United Nations Under-Secretary-General, received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in the 2004 Autumn Conferment of Decorations by the Government of Japan. The Grand Cordon is the highest class of the Order of the Rising Sun, one of Japan’s most prestigious decorations, awarded to individuals who have rendered distinguished service to the state, including in the fields of diplomacy and international relations.
According to the Official Gazette of Japan, Mr. Akashi was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun as of 3 November 2004. Subsequently, at the Grand Cordon Investiture Ceremony held at the Imperial Palace, he received the insignia directly from His Majesty the Emperor, followed by the presentation of the official certificate by the Prime Minister.
The decoration recognizes Mr. Akashi’s long and distinguished service in the United Nations, where he held several senior positions, including Under-Secretary-General, as well as his leadership as Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), where he played a central role in advancing the Cambodian peace process. It also honors his subsequent work as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the former Yugoslavia, through which he contributed significantly to international peace and stability.
Mr. Akashi graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1954 and later studied as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Virginia and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in the United States. In 1957, he became the first Japanese professional staff member of the United Nations Secretariat. Over the following decades, he served as Under-Secretary-General for Public Information, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, in addition to his special representative roles in Cambodia and the former Yugoslavia.
Today, Mr. Akashi continues to play an active role in the field of peacebuilding. He serves as Special Advisor of GPAJ, Honorary Chair of the Kyoto Peacebuilding Center and Chairman of the Kyoto International Conference Center, among other positions, providing guidance on the future of United Nations peace operations and Japan’s contribution to international peace and security.
(Reported by Koki IMON)