On 29 April 2023, the Government of Japan announced the recipients of the 2023 Spring Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals. This year, which marks the 50th commemorative year of ASEAN-Japan relations, two Bruneians will be decorated in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the strengthening of bilateral relations and promotion of friendship between Japan and Brunei Darussalam.
Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Negara Pengiran Anak Haji Puteh ibni Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam, former Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Japan
The Government of Japan has conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star on Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Negara Pengiran Anak Haji Puteh ibni Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam. In 1984, Yang Amat Mulia accompanied to support Their Majesties during their first state visit to Japan after independence. He was later designated as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam to Japan in 1986. From 1987 to 1997, he served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, committing his efforts to deepening both bilateral and multilateral engagements with Japan. Yang Amat Mulia was also one of many Bruneians who contributed to the promotion of karate in Brunei, and has been the Honorary President of the Brunei Karate Federation since 2009.
Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam
The Government of Japan has conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof. Since joining JICA’s Young Leaders Program in Japan in 1992, Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof has consistently played a significant part in the enhancement of Japan-Brunei bilateral relations. In 2006, as Director of the Department of International Trade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Darussalam, he contributed to moving forward negotiations of the Japan-Brunei Bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement. After his appointment as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei Darussalam in 2008, he led negotiations of a long-term contract to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan. In January 2018, he assumed the post of Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and held many key meetings with his counterparts to deepen further exchanges between the two countries. He also exercised significant leadership on emerging issues when Brunei Darussalam took over the ASEAN chairmanship in 2021.