The Japanese government conferred the prestigious decoration Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette upon Dr Muhammad Amin on Tuesday in recognition of his significant contributions for promoting Japan-Pakistan relations by establishing linkages between the two countries through language and literature. The decoration conferment ceremony was held at the official residence of Japanese Ambassador Takashi Kurai. On behalf of the Japenese government, Ambassador Takashi Kurai conferred the decoration upon Dr Muhammad Amin. The ceremony was attended by the family, relatives, friends and colleagues of Dr Amin. Dr Amin went on the Japanese government’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports & Science & Technology scholarship to Japan in 1971 and afterwards obtained a Philosophy in Doctorate degree in Sociology from Waseda University. Well versed and fluent in Japanese, Dr Amin earned the title of being the first person ever to produce the Japan to Urdu Dictionary in 1988. Dr Amin is the author of 35 books, many of which are related to Japanese language, literature and culture. He is also known as a pioneer in Urdu Haiku and a collection of his Haiku poetry published in 1981 is regarded as the first creative Haiku book in Urdu. Takashi Kurai, while speaking on the occasion congratulated Dr Amin for receiving this prestigious decoration by the Japanese government which is an acknowledgement of his dedicated efforts for the promotion of Japan-Pakistan relations. The ambassador said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan in 1952, mutual cooperation has been steadily growing between both the nations in economic, political and cultural forums. “I believe that cultural relationship, in particular, contributes to deepened mutual trust and understanding among the people which should be the very foundation of any relationship between the countries. In this respect, all the efforts made by Dr Amin, have been of tremendous significance to our bilateral relationship over the years,” Ambassador Kurai said. While admiring the ceaseless dedication and efforts of Dr Amin in promoting Japanese language and literature in Pakistan, Kurai expressed his sincere hope that this contribution will further promote and strengthen the cultural relations as well as people to people contacts between Japan and Pakistan. Published in Daily Times, December 5th 2018.