On April 29, the government of Japan announced that it awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays to former KING 5 anchor Lori Matsukawa, for her contributions in promoting friendly relations between Japan and the United States.
A news release stated that Matsukawa “significantly contributed to increase awareness of Japanese American history with her reporting and Emmy award-winning documentary films about the history of Japanese American wartime incarceration in the Northwest. She also provided impartial, first-hand reports about Japan after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Her work significantly contributed to a wider understanding of Japan from many perspectives.”
In 2003, Matsukawa co-founded the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington and has for nearly 20 years taken an active role in leading the organization’s activities.