Omara Portuondo receives high award from Japanese Government

August 18, 2019

The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, which was conferred upon her by His Majesty Naru- hito, Emperor of Japan, last May of the first year of Reiwa (2019).

The distinguished artist Omara Portuondo and researcher Teresita Hernández Corrales received on August 16th in Havana, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, which was conferred upon them by His Majesty Naru- hito, Emperor of Japan, last May of the first year of Reiwa (2019), for their contribution to strengthening the friendship between our two countries, which this year are celebrating the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The delivery of the diploma and the order granted by the Japanese Government was carried out by the Ambassador of Japan to Cuba, Kazuhiro Fujimura, who before presenting the respective honors made public the congratulatory message sent to the recipients by Taro Kono, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

At the presentation ceremony, which took place at the ambassador's residence, in the presence of family members, friends, colleagues, and embassy staff accredited in the country, Kazuhiro Fujimura highlighted the values for which both personalities received such high recognition.

Omara, he said, has visited Japan on more than 18 occasions since 1969, to delight the Japanese public with her exquisite performances, among which stands out the concert offered three weeks after the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred in 2011; while Teresita –who for 20 years directed the Casa del Asia Museum, of the Office of the Historian of the City–, has contributed to mutual understanding between Japan and Cuba, through the celebration of multiple cultural events, including the Japanese Culture Day in Havana and the free Japanese language course open to the public.

The diplomat urged both award recipients to maintain their special bond with initiatives that promote ties of friendship between the two nations. Omara, for her part, thanked Emperor Naruhito, the Ambassador, and the Government of Japan for such a high decoration and said that she surely hopes to continue visiting the country and its people, whenever she can, to bring them the best of her music and the friendship of all Cubans; while Teresita reciprocated the gesture and the order received: "Japan is a country that I carry in my heart," she said, and thanked the help that the embassy of that country always provided to the institution, as well as the Japan Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Institute of Japan.