Faculty scholar receives Japanese Foreign Minister Commendation
Mr Shun Ikeda
Mr Shun Ikeda, Head of the Faculty’s Japan Centre, has been awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation to acknowledge his contribution to the promotion of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Australia:
Mr Ikeda has made a significant contribution to deepening understanding between the people of Japan and Australia through his work at the Japan Centre at the Australian National University. In 1992, he initiated and established an exchange programme involving 12 Japanese universities. Throughout his academic career, he has also devoted himself to playing an important role in teaching Kabuki to University students, using it as a way to introduce traditional Japanese culture.
Also, since 1972, as a foundation board member of the Australia Japan Society in Canberra, Mr Ikeda has made a great contribution to promoting mutual understanding between the people of Japan and Australia.
In addition, Mr Ikeda has played a vital role in the management of the Japanese Supplementary School in Canberra, which works to preserve and teach the Japanese language to many children living in ACT.
See: http://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp/e_web/events/2009_Commendations.html