Japanese Imperial Decoration Conferred on Dr. William R. Farrell
On July 18, 2012, a ceremony was held to confer the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon upon Dr. William R. Farrell, Chairman of the National Association of Japan-America Societies. The ceremony took place in Middletown, Rhode Island, where Dr. Farrell lives. Mr. Takeshi Hikihara, Consul General of Japan in Boston, presided.
The connection between Dr. Farrell and Japan began when he started his study of Japanese at the U.S. Department of Defense Foreign Language Institute in Monterey, California. Since then, for more than 40 years, Dr. Farrell has dedicated himself to furthering friendship and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States in a variety of capacities: as a career military officer, a college professor, a business leader, and a key figure in grassroots activities.
Since 2003, Dr. William R. Farrell has served as Chairman of the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS), which is the only national non-profit network in North America devoted to the promotion of cooperation and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. NAJAS works toward this goal through its programs focusing on education, cultural and business topics in Japan-U.S. relations. Dr. Farrell has been an effective leader to the members of the 37 Japan-related organizations that make up the NAJAS in North America. Dr. Farrell has also been a board member of the Japan-America Society of Rhode Island for over 20 years.
Dr. Farrell served many years in the U.S. Air Force in Japan. He also taught at the U.S. Naval War College in Rhode Island, where he served as a liaison between the Naval War College and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and looked after young exchange students from the JSDF.
As Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), Dr. Farrell supported U.S. companies doing business in Japan while also strengthening the international business environment there. Dr. Farrell has contributed greatly to the development of economic and business relations between Japan and the United States.
Dr. William Farrell