Mr. Burton E. Bard Jr. (Former Washington State Coordinator for Sister Cities International) to receive 2019 Spring Decoration from the Government of Japan

On May 21, 2019, the Government of Japan announced that Mr. Burton E. Bard Jr., former Washington State Coordinator for Sister Cities International, has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, in recognition of his contributions in promoting friendly relations and mutual understanding through facilitating sister city relationships between Japan and the United States.

     Born in Lake Forest Park, located near Seattle, Mr. Burton E. Bard Jr. obtained a B.A. in Russian Studies in 1955, and a M.A. in Slavic Linguistics in 1966 from the University of Washington. After working as a Title Examiner at Puget Sound Title Insurance Co. for about a decade, he began to work at the University of Washington, hoping to get involved in international exchange activities for which he had had great interest since childhood. Through his role as an international student advisor and Director of the Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS) from 1966 through 1972, he assisted a number of Japanese exchange students in adapting to a new life in a foreign country. Deepening his interest in Japan, in 1973 he founded the American Cultural Exchange (ACE) in Seattle, hoping that he could serve as a bridge between Japan and the United States in the field of education. Over 25 years, ACE welcomed more than 2,000 students from Japan and contributed to promoting English education and cross-cultural understanding. As ACE’s President, Mr. Bard visited Japan a number of times.

     Additionally, as a pioneer in the establishment of sister city agreements in Washington State, Mr. Bard worked tirelessly on facilitating sister city relationships between Washington State and Japan. For instance, in 1996, he assisted in concluding an agreement between Kisakata town, Akita Prefecture (currently known as Nikaho city) and Anacortes, followed by one between Matsushige town, Tokushima Prefecture and Mount Vernon in 2009. Thanks to his dedication to such initiatives, sister city relationships and exchanges between Washington State and Japan began to thrive. Today, beginning with the relationship between Seattle and Kobe, Japan is proud to be the country with the most sister city relationships (36) with local governments in Washington State.

     Furthermore, Mr. Bard established, with others, the Ethnic Heritage Council in 1980, being elected as its founding President, in order to promote cross-cultural understanding between different ethnicities. In relation to Japan, the council organizes an event called “From Hiroshima to Hope,” which commemorates victims of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The event has been held every August since 1984, contributing to further friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.