Foreign Minister’s Commendation – Mrs Rachel Barclay
2026/4/17
On 17 April, Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki presented the Foreign Minister’s Commendation to Mrs Rachel Barclay, Curator at the Oriental Museum, Durham University, at a ceremony held at the Embassy of Japan.
Mrs Barclay has greatly contributed to promoting understanding of Japanese culture and history in the UK through numerous Japan-related exhibitions. She also played a key role in fostering cultural exchange between the National Museum of Japanese History (Sakura, Chiba Prefecture) and the Oriental Museum by establishing a Memorandum of Understanding, enabling joint research, researcher exchanges, and reciprocal exhibitions.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Suzuki praised Mrs Barclay’s long-standing dedication to promoting Japan though Japan-related exhibitions and Japan-UK cultural and academic exchange in Northeast England, and expressed his deep respect and gratitude for her work.
Mrs Barclay reflected on her past efforts and expressed her gratitude for receiving this award.
Mrs Barclay has greatly contributed to promoting understanding of Japanese culture and history in the UK through numerous Japan-related exhibitions. She also played a key role in fostering cultural exchange between the National Museum of Japanese History (Sakura, Chiba Prefecture) and the Oriental Museum by establishing a Memorandum of Understanding, enabling joint research, researcher exchanges, and reciprocal exhibitions.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Suzuki praised Mrs Barclay’s long-standing dedication to promoting Japan though Japan-related exhibitions and Japan-UK cultural and academic exchange in Northeast England, and expressed his deep respect and gratitude for her work.
Mrs Barclay reflected on her past efforts and expressed her gratitude for receiving this award.