Imperial Decoration Conferment Ceremony for Former Director of the East Asia Resource Center, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, Ms. Mary Hammond Bernson

On October 12, 2018, a conferment ceremony and reception was held at the Official Residence to congratulate Ms. Mary Hammond Bernson, Former Director of the East Asia Resource Center, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington, for her receipt of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. Ms. Bernson’s family, friends, colleagues and many others were in attendance.
 

Consul General Yamada expressed his appreciation for Ms. Bernson’s contributions, and read and formally conferred the Order. Ms. Bernson expressed her gratitude for the honor, and spoke on her devotion to creating a creative curriculum, introducing Japan at American educational institutions as the Director of the East Asia Resource Center. She also spoke about her participation in teacher-exchange activities between Japan and the United States as well as the JET Program, in which she has been serving as an interview screener for many years, and its contribution to the promotion of the US-Japan relationship and much more.

Dr. Resat Kasaba, Director and Dr. Kenneth Pyle, Prof. Emeritus and Former Director of the Jackson School of International Studies delivered congratulatory remarks, respectively. Ms. Lynn Parisi, Director, Program for Teaching East Asia and Director, National Consortium for Teaching about Asia at the University of Colorado gave congratulatory remarks and also proposed the toast.

Ms. Bernson was awarded the Imperial Decoration for her contributions in promoting understanding of Japan in the United States and educational exchange between Japan and the United States.