Foreign Minister’s Commendation for FY2026 (Mr. HAYASHI Tomomi, President of the Japanese Cultural Society in Estonia)

1. On September 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced the recipients of the Foreign Minister’s Commendation for FY2026. From Estonia, Mr. HAYASHI Tomomi, President of the Japanese Cultural Society in Estonia, has been awarded the Commendation in recognition of his outstanding contributions to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and Estonia. The Embassy of Japan in Estonia extends its heartfelt congratulations to Mr. HAYASHI on receiving this prestigious award.

 

2. Since assuming the presidency of the Japanese Cultural Society in Estonia in 2016, Mr. HAYASHI has dedicated himself to fostering friendship and goodwill between the two countries. He has contributed significantly to promoting the Japanese language, thereby ensuring the smooth operation of Japanese-language courses and serving as the Chairperson of the Japanese Speech Contest Steering Committee—ensuring the continuation of the contest by moving it online, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, since 2022, he has organized "Japanese Culture Day" twice a year, providing Estonian people with firsthand opportunities to experience Japanese culture, including the tea ceremony, calligraphy, and martial arts. In addition, through the autumn cultural festival "Momiji – Japanese Autumn in Estonia 2026," launched in 2025 in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan, he has contributed to promoting Japanese culture in regional areas, in cooperation with Saku Municipality, which enjoys a sister-city relationship with Saku City in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

 

3. The Foreign Minister's Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in the field of international relations, to recognize their contributions to promoting friendship between Japan and other countries. The Commendations also aim to promote the understanding and support of the Japanese public for the activities of the recipients. 

 

4. The Commendation ceremony for Mr. HAYASHI will be held at a later date.

 

MOFA Press Release