The Diplomat
The Japanese ambassador to Spain, Takahiro Nakamae, has awarded the Secretary General for Defense Policy, Admiral Juan Francisco Martínez Núñez, the Gold and Silver Star of the Order of the Rising Sun.
The event held last week at the Japanese Embassy was attended by the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, together with the Chief of the Defense Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón and the Undersecretary of the Ministry, Adoración Mateos Tejada, as well as family members of the recipient.
Ambassador Nakamae explained in his welcoming remarks the origins, history and background of the decoration and highlighted the merits that the admiral has for the Government of Japan to have awarded him this distinction.
In his words of thanks, Martínez Núñez highlighted Spain’s strategic rapprochement with Japan as a constant Spanish priority throughout history.
He also dedicated a few words of remembrance to the “heroes of Fukushima”, who were awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord in 2011 for their courage and spirit of sacrifice during the nuclear emergency of that same year in northeastern Japan.
He concluded by referring to the growing strategic, technological and military cooperation between the two countries, which is based on the common objective of promoting international peace and security.
For her part, the Minister of Defence asked the ambassador to convey to her Government the deep satisfaction of her department for the recognition of the admiral for his work at the head of the General Secretariat for Defence Policy, which has allowed strengthening cooperation between Japan and Spain in the most diverse matters related to defence and security.
