Japan awards top civilian order to US meat representative
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended Philip Seng (pictured) for his contributions to "strengthening Japan-US economic relations, particularly in the meat field, and promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the US."
Mr Seng said: "I am honoured and humbled to receive this prestigious award from the Japanese government.
"However, the recognition should primarily go to the many Japanese colleagues who mentored me along the way, and to the numerous Japanese individuals and companies who introduced and championed US meat products in Japan."
While the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon is the third highest order bestowed by the Japanese government, it is considered the highest ordinarily conferred order for civilians.
Mr Seng joined USMEF as its Asian director in 1982 and served as president and CEO from 1990 to 2018.
"My strategy was to approach the market respectfully, with the perspectives of the Japanese trade and consumers paramount," explained Seng. "In this way, we were able to jointly satisfy customer demands and develop everlasting trade relationships that benefitted both the US and Japan."
