Arboretum San Antonio Founder Receives Top Honor from Japanese Emperor
- Arboretum San Antonio
- Apr 30
- 2 min read
A San Antonio politician is being recognized in the international arena. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Iwaya Takeshi, speaking through the Consul-General of Japan in Houston, Zentaro Naganuma, announced on Tuesday, April 29, that former San Antonio Mayor and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton, Henry G. Cisneros, would receive the Order of the Rising Sun with Golden Rays from Japanese Emperor Nauhito.
"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."
Cisneros is being honored for his contributions to Texas-Japanese relations. In the '80s, he served four terms as San Antonio mayor. He established many cultural and economic ties between Japan and San Antonio, including a sister city agreement with Kumamoto City in 1987.
In recent years, Cisneros has held the position of Chairman at the Shirane Foundation, a nonprofit organization established in honor of Baroness Naoka Shirane, which is committed to providing scholarships for American students to participate in study tours in Japan.
Shirane, a member of one of Japan's oldest noble families, fell in love with San Antonio thanks in part to Cisneros's friendship and would represent Texas' interest in Japan and shepherding exchanges of culture, business, and even baseball. She would stay for extended periods in the city, absorbing the possibilities of what Cisneros would describe in his 2021 book as "The Texas Triangle."
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.
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