The Japanese government has selected former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar for the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, in recognition of his achievements in bolstering India-Japan ties.

Indians who have in the past received the Decoration — conferred in recognition of distinguished accomplishments— include industrialist Ratan N. Tata.

A Japanese government press release says Dr. Kumar served as the Special Envoy of former PM Manmohan Singh to Japan during the visit of the Emperor and Empress of Japan to India in December 2013, “and significantly contributed to the success of the visit.”

On the honour, Dr Kumar said: “I am humbled by the decoration, but this is an honour not to me, but to India.”