Japan confers Grand Cordon honour on SM Lee Hsien Loong for contributions to bilateral ties
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Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong receiving the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Aug 25.
PHOTO: MDDI
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- SM Lee received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from Japan for contributions to the bilateral partnership.
- SM Lee highlighted the strong Singapore-Japan relationship and future collaborations as they approach 60 years of relations in 2026.
- Both countries aim to deepen cooperation in trade, security, digital, and green sectors, with Singapore coordinating Asean-Japan relations.
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TOKYO – Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong was conferred Japan’s prestigious honour, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, on Aug 25 for his contributions to building bilateral relations.
In his acceptance speech upon receiving the distinction from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, SM Lee said: “I am deeply humbled to receive this award.
“I do so on behalf of generations of Singaporeans who have worked hard with their Japanese counterparts to strengthen our bilateral partnership over many decades.”
The Grand Cordon is the top tier of the Order of the Rising Sun, a biennial decoration conferred by the Emperor. It is given to those who have made distinguished contributions to Japan and its people.
When it was first announced in April that SM Lee would receive the award
As Singapore’s prime minister from 2004 to 2024, Mr Lee oversaw the expansion of bilateral ties across multiple realms, including economy, trade, defence, diplomacy, environment and culture.
Mr Ishiba, in his congratulatory speech, described SM Lee as a “leading statesman in Asia”.
Under SM Lee’s leadership, Singapore and Japan have worked closely together bilaterally and internationally, contributing greatly to fostering mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill between the two countries, Mr Ishiba said.
“I sincerely hope that you will continue to contribute, as a true friend of Japan, to the further development of relations between our two countries,” Mr Ishiba said.
Among the Japanese dignitaries who witnessed the presentation of the honour to SM Lee were Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, former prime minister Fumio Kishida, and former foreign minister Taro Kono, who chairs the Japan-Singapore Parliamentary Friendship League.
In his acceptance speech, SM Lee noted how the bilateral relationship “has developed immensely over the years”, with the two countries set to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.
When it was first announced in April that SM Lee Hsien Loong would receive the Grand Cordon honour, Japan cited his “significant contributions to strengthening relations and promoting friendship between Japan and Singapore”.
PHOTO: MDDI
Describing Japan as a steadfast friend and partner to Singapore and the region, SM Lee added: “With the world entering uncharted waters, it is more important than ever for us to strengthen this enduring partnership, and work together to foster regional peace and prosperity and a rules-based multilateral order.
“Singapore is, and will always be, a trusted and reliable partner for Japan in this joint endeavour.”
This close and multifaceted partnership is only possible given their compatible strategic perspectives and shared interests, SM Lee said.
“It is also the fruit of sustained hard work by generations of leaders from both countries. They have carefully nurtured this relationship over the years,” he added.
“They have looked forward, put a difficult history behind us, and resolved to cooperate based on our mutual interests. Long may this continue.”
Previous Singaporean recipients of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun include then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1967,
The late Mr Lee was in 2016 posthumously conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, which ranks higher than the Order of the Rising Sun.
At a meeting with SM Lee before the award ceremony, Mr Ishiba said that he hopes to strengthen bilateral relations with Singapore, with which Japan “shares fundamental values and principles”.
SM Lee added that, with the 60th anniversary milestone to come in 2026, the time is ripe to take stock of the existing multifaceted bilateral relationship and chart “further major steps forward to enhance our friendship”.
In a statement on Aug 25, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that SM Lee and Mr Ishiba discussed ways to further deepen mutual cooperation and expand collaboration in trade and security, as well as the digital and green sectors.
With Singapore serving as country coordinator for Asean-Japan dialogue relations from 2024 to 2027, the leaders reaffirmed efforts to work closely to further bolster ties between Japan and South-east Asia, the ministry added.
