The Japanese Government confers a decoration to Professor Peter Mathias

2003/12/3
On November 28, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, was presented to Professor Peter Mathias as a tribute to the valuable role he has played in promoting academic exchange and deeper mutual understanding between Japan and the UK. One of the UK's pre-eminent scholars on modern economic history, Professor Mathias is particularly known in Japan as the author of The First Industrial Nation.

 

He also earned the gratitude of Japan's Imperial Family by serving as research supervisor to Crown Prince Naruhito while the latter was studying at Oxford University. In addition, Professor Mathias has distinguished himself as visiting professor at both Waseda University and Osaka Gakuin University. Since 1997 he has contributed to wide-ranging UK-Japan exchange as Chairman of the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation.

Professor Mathias said he was highly honoured and delighted at the conferral of the decoration, which he felt recognised the work of the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and the role it plays in enhancing links between UK and Japan through its grants scheme and other programmes. "As an economic historian," he added, "I have been particularly encouraged to see close links developing between British and Japanese academics."

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