Foreign Minister’s Commendation - Ms YAMANAKA Masumi

On 7 October 2021, Ms YAMANAKA Masumi was awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendation at the Opening Reception of “Japan” at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for her distinguished contribution to Promotion of Japanese Culture in the United Kingdom by Ambassador Hayashi.

Ms Yamanaka is the first Japanese resident botanical artist in Kew Gardens in its 260 years of history. Beyond professional spheres she has been engaging with institutions across the UK and Japan fostering exchange through plants between Japan and the UK and creating a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation in the botanical world and beyond.

At the ceremony, Ambassador Hayashi paid tribute to her substantial achievements and expressed the hope that she would continue promoting Japanese culture and furthering the understanding of Japan in the UK in the future.