Below, please find Kiyo's fabulous description of the award and of John's contributions:

It is my great honor and pleasure to announce that our (CJS's) former director, and Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Professor John Creighton Campbell will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon from the Japanese government. He will be recognized for his extraordinary contributions toward promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States through his roles as an academic, educator, director, and community member. The Consulate General of Japan in Detroit issued the attached press release yesterday.

After a long and illustrious career at UM promoting social science research on Japan and nurturing many younger talents, he and Ruth moved to Tokyo and then to Oakland, California, where they reside today, but he never lost ties with us. Last fall, for instance, Professor Campbell was a key participant in two of the three CJS 70th anniversary conferences. He returned again this September to meet with former Toyota Visiting Professor (TVP) and current Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo, Dr. Ikuo Kabashima. who was visiting CJS with Kumamon for the TVP 30th Anniversary Special Lecture Series. Professor Campbell invited and hosted many other prominent social scientists as TVP, and mentored and guided a number of political scientists not just at UM but globally, and many of them are enjoying successful careers in the US and Japan. We cannot look back on the history of CJS, the TVP program, or social science research on Japan in the last several decades without a sense of gratitude for Professor Campbell's leadership and contribution. Please join me in congratulating Professor John Campbell for this wonderful recognition of his accomplishment.

Best regards,

Kiyoteru Tsutsui
Director, Center for Japanese Studies

Press Release