Arboretum San Antonio Congratulates Founder, Henry G. Cisneros, On Top Honor Bestowed by Japan.

Arboretum San Antonio congratulates our Founder, Henry G. Cisneros, on receiving the Japan Rising Sun Award from General Counsel Zentaro Naganuma. Cisneros, former City of San Antonio mayor and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, has been honored with one of Japan’s highest awards. This prestigious accolade recognizes his decades of dedication to strengthening ties between San Antonio and Japan.

During his visit, we were honored to welcome Japan's General Counsel, Zentaro Naganuma, for a special tour of Arboretum San Antonio with Evangelina Flores, Board Chairman, Fred Jones, Board member, Adriana Quiñones, President & CEO, and TJ Pinales, Project Manager. We look forward to continuing to grow our relationship between the City of San Antonio and Japan.  

"I am deeply honored that the Emperor of Japan has conferred this recognition," said Cisneros in a press release. "I am gratified that it is awarded for actions that have benefited both our nations. From mutual respect and sincere outreach can come good things for all sides. That should be the goal of ongoing relations between nations."

Founded in 1875 by Emperor Meiji, the Order of the Rising Sun is one of Japan's highest national honors that it bestows on foreigners, often for significant contributions to Japanese culture, sports, or foreign relations. Previous American honorees include Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, Senator Mazie Keiko Hirono, and Carol Bellamy, chair of the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund.