The Emperor of Japan will award Khaled El-Anany, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, and renowned archaeologist Zahi Hawass, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star.
Both have worked for the past few years to strengthen the archaeological relationship between Japan and Egypt. This has come through the Japanese participation in the Grand Egyptian Museum project. In addition to their role in encouraging Japanese archaeological work at many sites including: Giza, Abusir, Dashur, and Luxor.
Moreover, El-Anany represented Egypt during the Enthronement ceremony of the Emperor of Japan in Tokyo. Hawass has also participated in many Japanese television programmes on Egyptian archaeology with many famous Japanese celebrities. Also, the two Egyptian scholars have given many lectures in Japan about the archaeological discoveries and restorations happening in Egypt. These lectures have helped to promote Japanese tourism to Egypt. Moreover, the two Egyptian ministers have organized successful temporary Egyptian exhibitions in Japan.
Traditionally, this decoration should be received in Japan by the two scholars directly from the Emperor; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, El-Anany and Hawass will receive this decoration from the Japanese Ambassador in Cairo.
