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Order of the Rising Sun: Japan’s Highest Honour for SM Lee

Singapore's Senior Minister receives Japan's highest honour, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, recognising nearly six decades of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

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Archive · 29 Apr 2025
Order of the Rising Sun: Japan’s Highest Honour for SM Lee
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KEY POINTS

  • ●The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun is Japan's highest honour, established in 1875 and features rays of sunlight radiating from the rising sun with paulownia flower attachments.
  • ●The award recognises Senior Minister Lee's contributions to Singapore-Japan relations and the close political and economic ties between both nations.
  • ●2026 will mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan.
  • ●Previous recipients from Singapore include former leaders and ambassadors, reflecting an enduring friendship between the two countries.
  • ●Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep appreciation for Japan's decision to confer this honour.

IN SIMPLE TERMS

Japan has given Singapore's Senior Minister its most prestigious award to honour the strong friendship and cooperation between the two countries. This award is a big deal because it shows how close Singapore and Japan are, and it joins other top Singapore leaders who have received the same honour over the years.

WHY IT MATTERS

The award signals Japan's formal recognition of Singapore's leadership in strengthening bilateral ties.
Such honours reinforce diplomatic relationships during a time when international cooperation is increasingly important.
The award underscores the multifaceted cooperation spanning political, economic, and other sectors between the two nations.
The conferment continues a tradition of recognising Singapore's top leaders, strengthening historical connections with Japan.

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

Do you think international honours like this meaningfully strengthen relations between countries, or are they mainly ceremonial?

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The Full Story
  1. Japan decided to award Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong highest honour.
  2. Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun would be conferred.
  3. Recognition highlights strong Singapore-Japan relations.

Singapore’s Senior Minister will receive Japan’s highest honour, marking almost 6 decades of diplomatic ties and strengthening bilateral relations.

Announcement: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun

Japan made a significant announcement regarding Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The Japanese government decided to confer the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on Senior Minister Lee.

Image Source Cabinet Office Govt of Japan - Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun
Image Source: Cabinet Office, Govt of Japan

It features rays of sunlight radiating from the rising sun, with attachments shaped like paulownia flowers and leaves.

This prestigious award recognises Senior Minister Lee’s contributions to Singapore-Japan relations.

MFA Spokesperson’s Comments

In response to media queries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Spokesperson shared Singapore’s appreciation for Japan’s decision.

According to MFA, the Spokesperson stated, “Singapore deeply appreciates the Japanese government’s decision to confer the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.”

This statement underscores the significance of the award for both nations.

Relationship Between Singapore and Japan

The award highlights the strong ties between Singapore and Japan.

As quoted in MFA’s statement, “Singapore and Japan enjoy a close and longstanding relationship, marked by strong political and economic ties, and multifaceted cooperation.”

This relationship spans various sectors and has been cultivated over many years.

The year 2026 will mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan.

The Order of the Rising Sun

The Order of the Rising Sun is a prestigious Japanese award with a long history.

Established in 1875, this order recognises individuals who have made distinguished contributions to Japan and its people.

The Grand Cordon is the highest rank of this award, making it a significant honour for Senior Minister Lee.

Previous Recipients of the Award

Senior Minister Lee joins a distinguished list of Singaporean recipients of this prestigious award.

  • Former Prime Minister Mr. Lee Kuan Yew (1967)
  • Former Ambassador to Japan Mr. Lim Chin Beng (2004)
  • Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong (2011)
  • Former Deputy Prime Minister Professor S Jayakumar (2012)

This list of recipients reflects the enduring friendship between Singapore and Japan.

The conferment of this award on Senior Minister Lee further strengthens diplomatic ties between the two nations.

This recognition comes at a time when international cooperation is increasingly important.

Do you think such international honours play a crucial role in strengthening bilateral relations between countries?

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