When International Criminal Court (ICC) Judge Fumiko Saiga, who was based in Seattle as consul general of Japan from September 2000 to July 2002, died of heart failure at age 65 last April, no one was sure who would take her place.
June 30: William E. Franklin is a rising sun
The Consulate General of Japan at Seattle held a conferment ceremony for William E. Franklin, who was decorated with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.