Japanese Consul General Masaki Tani stated here on Tuesday that the award was bestowed on Kariyono, also a business manager at SJS, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the SJS.
"Eko Kariyono has contributed significantly to Japanese people for 20 years since he began work at the Japanese School of Surabaya in 1998," he remarked.
During this time, the consul noted that Kariyono had supported the management of SJS in coordination with governmental authorities and also catered to the daily needs of SJS teachers, who came and went every three years.
"Eko has mastered the Japanese language and has a deep understanding of Japan. Hence, he plays a major role in enhancing mutual understanding between the two countries," Consul Tani pointed out.
According to Tani, Kariyono also plays a role in promoting Japanese cultures that underline educational activities through a newsletter "Kabar Sekolah" that literally means School`s News. Kariyono translated the content and promoted Japanese cultures among Indonesian school children as part of a cultural exchange with SJS.
For his contribution, Tani stated that the Consul General in Surabaya had bestowed the award on Kariyono in the presence of all SJS students, teachers, and parents.
In addition, he stated that the Government of Japan, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has also dispatched 158 leaders of Islamic boarding schools and madrassas to Japan from 2004 until now.
Of the 158 people invited to Japan, 22 are from the working area of the Japanese Consulate General in Surabaya in East Java, East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and North Kalimantan.
"This year is also the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Japan and Indonesia. We hope that relations between the two countries would grow closer," he added.
Reporter: Abdul Hakim
Editor: Suharto
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