On 23 February, former Kyoto University President Hiroshi Matsumoto was appointed an Honorary Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE). The title was bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II on Dr Matsumoto, President of RIKEN since 2015, in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to research and education relations between the UK and Japan". The investiture ceremony took place at the British Embassy Tokyo, where His Excellency Paul Madden, the ambassador, presented Dr Matsumoto with an OBE medal.
Established in June 1917 by King George V, OBE rewards civilian contributions to the arts, culture, science, public service, and other spheres of human activities, in the name of the British monarch.
Dr Matsumoto's wide-ranging contributions to Japan-UK academic and educational exchange have included facilitating credit transfers between Kyoto U and British institutions as the 25th KU President from October 2008 through September 2014, and promoting research collaboration between the two countries as RIKEN President, most notably via the RIKEN-RAL Muon Facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL).
His Excellency Madden (left) and former KU President Matsumoto
Related link
- RIKEN: "President Matsumoto awarded Honorary OBE"
http://www.riken.jp/en/pr/topics/2017/20170302_1/
