Tokyo, Japan – April 29, 2024 – The Japanese government announced on Monday that former professional wrestler Tiger Jeet Singh has been confirmed to be awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, as part of the Spring 2024 Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals. It is the highest honour the Japanese government can bestow on a foreigner.

A total of 101 foreigners from 49 countries and regions are among this year’s spring honor recipients. Tiger was honoured for contributing towards promoting friendship and mutual understanding between Japan and Canada through sports. Upon the announcement, the Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto on behalf of the Honourable Kamikawa Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, sent a congratulatory message to Tiger.

Recipients will meet with Japanese Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward from May 9.

The Order followed an earlier Commendation bestowed upon Tiger by the Japanese Foreign Minister in October 2022 in recognition for Tiger Jeet Singh Foundation’s relief effort for displaced children as the result of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011.

The Order of the Rising Sun is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun. The design of the Rising Sun symbolizes energy as powerful as the rising sun in parallel with the “rising sun” concept of Japan (“Land of the Rising Sun”).

Order of the Rising Sun – Wikipedia

Congratulatory Letter from Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto

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