The Japanese government has selected former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar for the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, in recognition of his achievements in bolstering India-Japan ties.
This Order of the Rising Sun was established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan.
The design of the Rising Sun symbolizes energy as powerful as the rising sun in parallel with the “rising sun” concept of Japan (“Land of the Rising Sun”).
Indians who have in the past received the Decoration include industrialist Ratan N. Tata.