Shoko Hamano, professor emeritus of Japanese and International Affairs at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, received the prestigious Foreign Minister's Commendations from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan.
The Foreign Minister’s Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries. Hamano’s award specified she was receiving the honor for her work promoting the Japanese language education in the United States.