Conferment of the Order of the Rising Sun onto Mr. Robert Keating (April 29, 2022)
On April 29, 2022, the Government of Japan announced the recipients of the 2022 Spring Conferment of Decorations onto Foreign Nationals.
The Consulate General of Japan in Montreal is pleased to announce that Mr. Robert Keating, former Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Québec and former Delegate General of Québec in Tokyo, was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette for his contribution to promoting interregional exchanges and mutual understanding between Japan and Canada.
The Order of the Rising Sun, established in 1875, is Japan’s oldest awards system. Its different classes of decoration are awarded to individuals, both Japanese and non-Japanese nationals, in recognition of their distinguished accomplishments.
During the four years and a half Mr. Keating worked as Delegate General of Québec in Tokyo, from 2000 to 2005, he received a large number of delegations from Quebec, including representatives of the Government of Quebec, economic missions, and academic and cultural organizations, thus contributing greatly to the development of Japan-Quebec exchanges and cooperation in various fields.
Subsequently, a high official in Quebec, Mr. Keating also played a vital role in various missions of importance by Government of Quebec to Japan as person in charge, and contributed through his sustained efforts to the strengthening of Japan-Quebec relations.