Artist Kazi Ghiyasuddin receives Japan’s ‘Order of the Rising Sun’ honour

Japan has conferred “the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays” honour on artist Kazi Ghiyasuddin at the official residence of Ambassador Hiroyasu Izumi in Dhaka.

The Order of the Rising Sun is the first national decoration of Japan established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Gold and Silver Rays is a class within that order.

Ghiyasuddin is the seventh Bangladeshi  to have received the honour from the government of Japan.

Japan earlier in April decided to confer the decoration on Ghiyasuddin in recognition of his “great contribution to strengthening cultural exchange through promoting modern art in Japan and Bangladesh”.

The embassy said Ghiyasuddin was the first Bangladeshi to receive a doctoral degree in fine arts from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts in 1985, and one of the accomplished painters who have developed the Japanese contemporary arts.

During the Wednesday ceremony, Ambassador Izumi expressed his “sincere appreciation to Ghiyasuddin for longstanding contribution to promoting friendly relations between Japan and Bangladesh through his works attracting the artists of both countries”.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor was present, among others, in the ceremony.