Wangari Maathai receives Japan's Highest Honor, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun

On Thursday, May 21, 2009, Prof. Wangari Maathai was awarded Japan’s highest honor—the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun for her work promoting the Mottainai Campaign. The ceremony took place at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Nairobi, Kenya. It was wonderful to have an award of this caliber bestowed in Kenya so that GBM and friends could attend. So few of Prof’s awards have been given in Kenya and so it was special to have this one presented to her at home among friends.

The Japanese government granted her this award in recognition of her contribution to protecting the environment, raising the Japanese people’s awareness of environmental issues and in promoting Japanese environmental initiatives around the world. Prof played an immense role in the promotion of Japan’s environmental diplomacy through various activities, but in particular through the promotion of the Mottainai Campaign. She also was recognized for her involvement in the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development in May 2008.

Watch Professor Maathai speak about Mottainai!

Prof Maathai first learnt about the Japanese concept of Mottainai during an interview with the senior editor of Mainichi Newspapers in 2005. This concept wonderfully articulated the idea of not wasting resources and using them with gratitude and respect. The message has been very well received by the Japanese public even as it continues to grow and expand around the world. In Japan, all sectors of society are involved in the campaign including: children, women’s organizations, politicians, musicians, corporations, teachers, media and financial institutions. The Mottainai concept also ties in well with the well known 3R campaign of Reuse, Reduce and Recycle.

In Kenya, GBM also adopted the Mottainai campaign around the elimination of waste plastic from the natural environment. Prof saw the linkage between the concept of Mottainai and the eyesore caused when plastic waste litters public spaces everywhere. Today, the GBM campaign in Kenya is growing and has been responsible for influencing policy changes around the production and use of very thin plastic materials. With climate change now at the top of most global agendas, the Mottainai Campaign has the opportunity to share a unique new message with the rest of the world.

It was interesting to hear the comments to newspaper articles that were published the day after Prof’s award was announced. It may have come as a surprise that Prof is so popular in Japan! One reader recalled a conversation he had with his professors in Japan who he said often have two questions for Kenyans they meet – “Who is the president of Kenya?” and “Do you know Wangari Maathai?”... I guess the Ambassador was right when he remarked at the ceremony that, “She is quite popular among the Japanese.” Arigato to the people of Japan for this amazing honor given to our Founder.

Read more about Professor Maathai’s work on the Mottainai Campaign!

• 1.

  Comment by james090073 on July 25, 2009 7:25am:

  The message has been very well received by the Japanese public even as it continues to grow and expand around the world.
• 2.

  Comment by james090073 on July 25, 2009 7:26am:

  The ceremony took place at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Nairobi, Kenya.
• 3.

  Comment by fiesta on August 2, 2009 6:12am:

  Listening to a radio Advert that gives a brief history of Wangari Maathaiand the Green Belt Mvmt before going head on to the product being advertised fills me with pride. being away from home(kenya)and to hear such an ad makes me nijivunie..Keep up the good work Prof
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• 4.

  Comment by Hunt on August 3, 2009 3:06am:

  Professor Wangari maathai is a proud person of Japan great Achievement for him.
• 5.

  Comment by jimb12345 on August 9, 2009 8:21pm:

  Wangari Maathai is great person to have this world. What she has done for kenya is beyond words. This is so good to see a women that dedicates here life to help people.
• 6.

  Comment by ryan-t on August 11, 2009 4:04am:

  Its amazing to read this article which re-instates the belief in power of one. She has certainly made a long lasting impact in the world by teaching so many to reuse, reduce and recycle.
• 7.

  Comment by TSB on August 14, 2009 1:06am:

  Congrats, Prof! You certainly deserve the award.
• 8.

  Comment by malikjammy on August 14, 2009 7:12pm:

  Congratulations to the order of the rising sun
• 9.

  Comment by Henlay on August 18, 2009 2:56am:

  Its great honor for her that Japanese recognized her contribution to protecting the environment, raising the Japanese people’s awareness of environmental issues.
• 10.

  Comment by Shade on September 18, 2009 4:50am:

  @admin: A few days ago i´ve posted a comment, but now it isnt there anymore? Why?
  
  Shade
• 11.

  Comment by franklyn007 on September 24, 2009 2:03pm:

  Hi shade.. Your comment might have been looked spammy. Usually spammy comments will be removed from the comment list. Make sure that your comment doesn't look spammy when you post them.
• 12.

  Comment by saada on October 3, 2009 1:03am:

  Listening to a radio Advert that gives a brief history of Wangari Maathaiand the Green Belt Mvmt before going head on to the product being advertised fills me with pride. being away from home(kenya)and to hear such an ad makes me nijivunie..Keep up the good work Prof
• 13.

  Comment by lloydsol on October 8, 2009 6:51am:

  This really is a great achievement for Wangari maathai. Now he has every right to feel proud about himself.
• 14.

  Comment by vijayrajesh on October 11, 2009 9:07am:

  Japan is always involving in encouraging people on the movement.
  
  Btw, in India Maa means mother in Hindi. thai means mother in Tamil. Well, it seems She has got right name as she is for earth.
• 15.

  Comment by lazysloth on October 19, 2009 4:09am:

  Its nice to see someone is using there voice to make a real change in the world
• 16.

  Comment by jon on October 24, 2009 1:25am:

  Congrats, Prof! You certainly deserve the award.
• 17.

  Comment by adensi on December 6, 2009 4:11pm:

  We can say that Japan have honored itself by honoring her.
• 18.

  Comment by FlacherBauch on December 11, 2009 1:19am:

  It's so great that she could get this award, but so sad that there are not more people like Prof. Wangari Maathai around. My hope for the future is that more people will begin to appreciate the benefits of Mottainai. All the best Professor...
• 19.

  Comment by Yuri Mizyuk on January 21, 2010 7:04am:

  As I know the first achievement of professor Maathai was the the third global women's conference in Nairobi in 1985 when Maathai arranged seminars and presentations to describe the work the Green Belt Movement was doing in Kenya. That conference helped to expand funding for the Green Belt Movement and led to the movement's establishing itself outside of Kenya. That was very important success for Maathai and increased her popularity.
• 20.

  Comment by carlawise on January 24, 2010 10:51am:

  Congratulations to the order of the rising sun. This really is a great achievement for Wangari maathai.
• 21.

  Comment by adensi on February 27, 2010 10:01am:

  being away from home(kenya)and to hear such an ad makes me nijivunie..Keep up the good work.
• 22.

  Comment by mikesanti on April 26, 2010 10:07pm:

  Congratulations to you Professor Maathai . Keep up the good work and I am sure there are still lots of awards that are suitable for your great works.