Imperial Decoration Conferment Ceremony for Dr. Judith Nancy Rabinovitch, Karashima Tsukasa Professor Emerita of Japanese Language and Culture, Department of World Languages and Cultures at the University of Montana

On September 19, 2023, a conferment ceremony and reception were held at the Official Residence of the Consul General to celebrate Dr. Judith Rabinovitch’s receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. Her family and friends were in attendance.

Prof. Rabinovitch was awarded the Imperial Decoration on April 29, 2023 for her outstanding contributions to advancing research and education about Japan and its language, literature, and culture, enhancing the relationship between Japan and the United States. Consul General of Japan in Seattle INAGAKI Hisao formally conferred the Order, expressing his appreciation for Prof. Rabinovitch’s long record of contributions to teaching, educational outreach, scholarship, and service to the profession, which significantly advanced the promotion of academic exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.

Following the conferment Dr. Rabinovitch gave an address, speaking about her teaching, research, and program-building endeavors, in particular the establishment of the innovative degree program in Japanese at the University of Montana. She also outlined her ongoing scholarly work as a pioneer researcher and translator in the field of Japanese classical literature centering on Kanshi (Sinitic verse). Dr. Rabinovitch reflected on the valuable and inspiring relationships she made with professors, colleagues, and students of Japanese over the years, as well as the ties forged with non-profit educational organizations, governmental organs, professional bodies, and universities in the U.S. and Japan that nurtured her professional and scholarly life. She expressed deep gratitude for the invaluable support she received from all of these individuals and entities, also offering a remembrance of Mr. Karashima Tsukasa, founder and long-time president of the Kumamoto Foreign Language Academy, whose generous endowment to the University of Montana made it possible to launch Montana’s first four-year Japanese program in the early 1990s.