Hitoshi Abe Receives Japan's 2021 Foreign Minister’s Commendation
Hitoshi Abe is a professor in the Department of Architecture and Urban Design. His firm, Atelier Hitoshi Abe, known for architecture that is spatially complex and structurally innovative has been published internationally and received numerous awards around the world.
Hitoshi Abe. Photo by Andy J. Scott. On Aug. 20 (Japan Standard Time), the Government of Japan announced the recipients of its 2021 Foreign Minister’s Commendations.
From the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, Dr. Hitoshi Abe, director of the UCLA Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies; professor, UCLA Department of Architecture and Urban Design, School of Arts and Architecture, and Kimiko Fujita, president of Orange County Japanese American Association, were awarded.
The Foreign Minister’s Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups of outstanding achievements in international fields, to acknowledge their contribution to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries. The commendation also aims to promote the understanding and support of the Japanese public for their activities.
Award ceremony dates are still undetermined at this time. When scheduled, the ceremonies are slated to be held at the Consul General’s Official Residence with a small number of guests.
Following are profiles of this year’s honorees.
Dr. Hitoshi Abe
Born in Miyagi Prefecture, Abe is principal of Atelier Hitoshi Abe Architect Co. He was a professor in the Department of Architecture and Building Science, Graduate School of Engineering, at Tohoku University before joining the Department of Architecture and Urban Design at UCLA as a professor from 2007.
As director of the UCLA Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies since 2010, Abe has contributed to mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill between Japan and the U.S. through his support of Japanese studies and academic exchanges.
Serving as a member of the Japan America Society of Southern California’s Board of Governors (2012- ), chairman of the Steering Committee of Little Tokyo Design Week (2011, 2013) and Japan House Los Angeles adviser (2016-2018), Abe has greatly contributed to Japanese and Japanese American communities.
Abe has been awarded the Foreign Minister’s Commendation in recognition of his promotion of mutual understanding and academic exchange between Japan and the U.S. through architecture.
— Aug. 24, 2021
This post is an excerpt. Read the full article on the Rafu Shimpo website.
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