On May 14, 2024, Mr. Yoshiteru Tagawa, the President and Founder of Detroit Kendo Dojo, received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette Commendation at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor at the Spring and Autumn Room of the Imperial Palace (Tokyo, Japan). This award recognized his long-term contributions to cross-cultural understanding through the practice of Kendo in the United States.
Mr. Tagawa was sent to the United States as a Kendo instructor by the All Japan Kendo Dojo Federation in 1976. Since then, he has contributed to cross-cultural understanding by training himself and teaching the Japanese martial art of Kendo to people in the United States. In 2005, he received the highest rank in Kendo, 8th Dan, and in 2016, he received the title of Kendo Hanshi. This was the first Kendo Hanshi title held outside of Japan. Mr. Tagawa is currently the Chief Executive Advisor for the All United States Kendo Federation and the Vice President of the International Kendo Federation. Prior to this conferment of decoration, Mr. Tagawa received the Consul General of Japan Award in Detroit in 2013 and the 2016 Japanese Foreign Affair Minister’s Award for his contributions. We, the members of the Detroit Kendo Dojo, are proud of Mr. Tagawa’s honor and hope for his continued guidance in the future!
The Order of the Rising Sun is a Japanese government honor which was established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji.