US Senator Lamar Alexander accepts his award (The Herald/ Submitted Photo)

Blount County native US Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) was honored with the government of Japan’s “Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star,” Oct. 18.“I accept this on behalf of the people of Tennessee, whose friendship with the Japanese has been a great source of enjoyment to us over the last 30 years and has helped raise our family incomes more than any other event in our state’s recent history,” Alexander said at the ceremony.

Established in 1875 The “Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star” is a national decoration conferred by the Emperor of Japan in recognition abiding service and dedication to Japan-US friendly relations.

Alexander was recognized primarily for his outstanding contributions to promoting economic relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.

“It is remarkably fitting that one of my first official duties as Consul-General in Nashville is to confer this decoration upon Senator Alexander, the very man who set the foundation for this close Japan-Tennessee friendship that brought our consulate to this beautiful state,” said the Consul-General of Japan in Nashville Motohiko Kato.

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