Edwin Newton Dodge awarded Japanese Order of the Rising Sun Decoration for contribution to relations between Japan and New Zealand

Media Release from the Embassy of Japan, Wellington, New Zealand 2 November, 2012

[embargoed until morning of 3 November, 2012]

Mr Edwin Newton Dodge of Christchurch, New Zealand, has been awarded the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays decoration of Japan for his contributions to the promotion of mutual understanding and friendly relations between Japan and New Zealand.

The Order will be presented on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan by H.E. Mr Yasuaki Nogawa, Ambassador of Japan to New Zealand, at a reception scheduled for 7 December.

Mr Dodge originally developed an interest in Japan over 40 years ago when he attended the 1970 Osaka Expo as part of a New Zealand business delegation to promote business exchange with Japan. He also participated in a business delegation to the 1985 Tsukuba Expo, and has worked to promote business exchange with Japan in a variety of other arenas.

Mr Dodge has worked tirelessly as a committee member, and for 9 years as the chairman, of the Christchurch-Kurashiki Sister City Society. The society was founded in 1973 with the formalisation of sister city ties between the two cities. Under the stewardship of Mr Dodge the Society has been the main link between the two cities, and between citizens of Christchurch and Japan in a wider sense.

Mr Dodge has also served as a member of the steering committee for the Christchurch Festival of Japan on a number of occasions from 1983 to 1999, and has worked to promote greater understanding of Japan and Japanese culture in Christchurch over many years.

Another of Mr Dodge’s achievements was his role in student exchanges in 1995 in the aftermath of the Great Hanshin Earthquake. At the time Mr Dodge worked to invite 50 Japanese students from Kobe who suffered from the Earthquake to Christchurch for a homestay programme to escape the aftermath of the disaster and experience life in New Zealand. He also worked to coordinate donations in both Kurashiki and Kobe for Christchurch after the recent Canterbury earthquakes.

Further information about the Order and the award ceremony is available from the Embassy of Japan in Wellington.

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Information about the Order of the Rising Sun: http://www8.cao.go.jp/shokun/en/orders-of-the-rising-sun.html
Information about the Christchurch-Kurashiki Sister City Relationship: http://www.christchurch.org.nz/sistercities/kurashiki/

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