On November 3, 2012, the Government of Japan announced that Mr. Arvydas Ališauskas, ex-head of the Japanese Studies Centre, was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette for his contribution to promoting Japanese culture and advancing Japanese language studies in Lithuania.
Mr. Ališauskas is the first Lithuanian private person who has received this decoration from the Government of Japan. It is expected that this conferment will further promote and strengthen relations between Japan and Lithuania.
The Details of the Conferment are as follows:
The Name and Title of the Recipient: Mr. Arvydas ALIŠAUSKAS (70 years old) , Former Head of the Center for Japanese Studies, Vytautas Magnus University
Meritorious Service for Japan
(1) The Translation of Japanese literature directly from Japanese Language to Lithuanian Language and Promotion of Japanese Culture
Mr. Arvydas Ališauskas studied Japanese language at the Institute of Eastern Languages under the Moscow Lomonosov State University. Mr. Ališauskas became the first translator in Lithuania who translated Japanese literature directly from Japanese language to Lithuanian language in 1969. Since then, Mr. Ališauskas continued the translation of Japanese literature and completed the translation of 8 works of Japanese literature and introduced them to Lithuania.
(2) The Establishment of the Center for Japanese Studies
Due to the initiative of Mr. Ališauskas, the Center for Japanese studies was established at Vytautas Magnus University in 1994, and he became the first Head of the Center himself. Until he resigned from the Head of the Center in 2008, Mr. Ališauskas had greatly contributed to the development of Japanese studies in Lithuania and had brought up the first generation of Japanologits. Many of his former students, including former Ambassador of Lithuania to Japan Mr. Dainius Petras Kamaitis and Minister of Culture Mr. Arūnas Gelūnas, are playing an active role in various fields to strengthen the relationship between Japan and Lithuania.
(3) The Introduction of Japanese Business Management to Lithuania
Since the 1970s, Mr. Ališauskas wrote articles and gave lectures on the Japanese business management system and Japan’s economic development. As he introduced the Japanese business management model, he also encouraged Lithuanian companies to apply the Japanese management model in their work.
(4) The Introduction and Promotion of the Achievements of Vice-Consul Chiune Sugihara
The building of the prewar Consulate of Japan in Kaunas, where Vice-Consul Chiune Sugihara worked, has become the “Sugihara House” museum. In 2001, the Center for Japanese Studies of Vytautas Magnus University was moved to the second floor of the “Sugihara House.” Mr. Ališauskas, together with the staff members of “Sugihara House” made a great effort to introduce and promote the achievements of Vice-Consul Chiune Sugihara, famous for his issuing “Visas for Life.” Mr. Ališauskas also translated into Lithuanian language the memoirs of the late Ms. Yukiko Sugihara, wife of Vice-Consul Sugihara.
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