On 16th May, Japan��s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Keiichi Hayashi, was awarded ��Diplomat of the Year from Asia�� at Diplomat magazine��s 2011 annual Awards Ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency London. Ambassador Hayashi was presented with the award for solidarity and support for Japan and more importantly for his efforts in conveying ��the message of a country that has immediately got back on its feet following one of the most traumatic natural disasters in modern history.�� In accepting the award, he dedicated it to the Japanese people, saying, ��I know the honour of the award should actually go to the people of Japan who showed their typical fortitude, stoic perseverance and discipline in the most difficult and shocking circumstances�� I am only representing such quality of my people.�� He concluded by expressing his great appreciation for ��the wonderful solidarity shown by so many people in Britain and our friends around the world.��
For the third Diplomat annual Awards Ceremony this year, a panel of 10 deputy heads of mission chose the winners of 12 awards of various categories from among 164 countries. Ambassador Hayashi was chosen from among 20 countries in Asia. The ceremony, hosted by the magazine��s publisher, Hugo de Blocq van Kuffeler, was attended by heads of mission from more than 85 countries.
For more information, please see the Diplomat magazine website: www.diplomatmagazine.com.
