Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun honour to Bengaluru Teacher

The Japanese Government recently awarded the “Order of Rising Sun” to a Bengaluru based Japanese teacher, Shyamala Ganesh.

About Shyamala Ganesh

• Shyamala is a Japanese teacher at the Septuagenarian institution and also at the Ohara School of Ikebana in RT Nagar, Bengaluru. She has tutored more than hundreds of students since its inception 38 years ago. Ikebana is Japanese art of flower arrangement.
• Shyamala along with her husband Ganesh started a Japanese language school in 1983 in Bengaluru.

Order of Rising Sun

• The award is presented by the Emperor of Japan.
• It was created in 1875.
• The award is presented to those who have made distinguished achievements in promotion of Japanese culture, achievements in international relations, advancements in their field and conservation of environment.
• It was also awarded for exemplary military service before World War II.
• It is the third highest award presented by the Japanese Government.
• The culture of presenting the award to Non-Japanese recipients began in 1981.
• Women are presented with the award since 2003.
• The award can also be presented posthumously.

Other highest Japanese awards

• The highest Japanese award is the Order of Chrysanthemum. The award is reserved only for the heads of the state.
• The Order of Paulownia flowers is mostly reserved for politicians.

Order of Chrysanthemum

• It was established in 1876 by Emperor Meji of Japan.
• It can be conferred posthumously unlike its European counterparts.

Order of Paulownia Flowers

• It was established in 1888.
• It was once conferred to the former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
• It is the second highest award presented by the Japanese Government.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2021