25 August 2011

Press Release

On 25 August 2011, Ambassador of Japan H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Maruyama presented to Mr. Jouko Skinnari, Member of Parliament (SDP), the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, a decoration conferred on Mr. Skinnari by the Government of Japan on 17 June 2011. The Conferment Ceremony took place as planned at the Residence of the Ambassador of Japan.

Before presenting the decoration, Ambassador Maruyama gave a speech in which he expressed that the decoration was conferred on Mr. Skinnari for his extraordinary contribution to cultivating the relations on trade, culture and other fields of Finland and Japan. Mr. Skinnari has served as the Chairman of the Finnish-Japanese Friendship Group at the Parliament over 20 years.

After the conferment, Mr. Skinnari gave a speech in which he reflected the long traditions of the official relations of Finland and Japan and took a look for the future. “Beside trade exchange, nuclear safety and renewable energy could be further the subjects of cooperation between Finland and Japan”, Mr. Skinnari said in his speech.

 
Pictures and more information are available.

Contact: Mr. Sou Watanabe, 1st Secretary, tel. 09 6860 200

12 August 2011

Press Release

On 11 August 2011, Ambassador of Japan H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Maruyama presented to Mr. Fujiwo Ishimoto the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, a decoration confered on Mr. Ishimoto by the Government of Japan on 17 June 2011. The Conferment Ceremony took place as planned at the Residence of the Ambassador of Japan.

Before presenting the decoration, Ambassador Maruyama gave a speech in which he expressed that the decoration was conferred on Mr. Ishimoto for his long-time contribution to the Finnish-Japanese cultural exchange. He described the career of Mr. Ishimoto since his arrival to Finland in early 1970’s through to the years between 1974 and 2006 when Mr. Ishimoto produced various textile patterns as a designer for Marimekko. The Ambassador expressed his hope that this conferment will further stimulate the Finnish-Japanese artistic and cultural exchange.

After the conferment, Mr. Ishimoto gave a speech in which he clarified the meaning of his Japanese name; “Fuji” meaning a wisteria flower. He described how his career as a Japanese artist based in Finland has been like a growing wisteria plant that has needed supporting branches to grow and foster upon. As these vital branches he named the Finnish companies of Marimekko and Arabia, where he has been able to do his artistic work.

Pictures and more information are available.

Contact: Mr. Sou Watanabe, 1st Secretary, tel. 09 6860 200