Tokyo, Japan - December 20th, 2017    President and CEO of Fukuyama Transporting Co., Ltd. Shigehiro Komaru received the "Officier" award of the National Order of Merit from the French Republic Government. This medal is awarded for the continuous contribution to the development of the industry of France through trade with French companies.

The conferment ceremony was held in the Embassy of France on December 19th, 2017. The medal was bestowed by Laurent Pic, the current French ambassador to Japan.

President Komaru (left) receiving the medal from Laurent Pic, (right) the French ambassador to Japan.

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About the National Order of Merit of France

Cited from the French Embassy of Japan Website

History

The National Order of Merit was founded in the ordinance of December 3rd, 1963. Alongside the Legion of Honor, it is an award that is nominated by the President of the French Republic and given by the French government. As a custom, the National Order of Merit is often awarded prior to the Legion of Honor. The blue ribbon is reminiscent of the Order of the Holy Ghost originally founded by Henry III in the 16th century.

Organization

The honorary president is the President of the Republic. The president of the Legion of Honor represents the conference of nomination.

About the nomination and rising in rank

All of the decisions are made by the current President of the French Republic.
There are three ranks of this medal: Chevalier (fifth), Officier (fourth), Commandeur (third), and above them are two dignities: Grand Officier (second), and Grand-Croix (first). In order for a French citizen to be nominated a Chevalier, they must be able to prove that they work in a governmental or military occupation, or have continuously worked in a particular field for at least fifteen years. To become a Officier, one must remain a Chevalier for five years, and to become a Commandeur, one must remain a Officier for three years.

According to article 19 of the ordinance in which the National Order of Merit is established, it merely states that the recipient is a "Foreign national that has made a distinguishable achieve-ment to France." Most of the criteria of achievement and personality required to be nominated are the same between French citizens and foreign nationals, except for years in occupation and number of years between ranks.

In the past ten years, approximately one-hundred and fifty Japanese people were awarded the National Order of Merit.

Dignite

First   Grand-Croix

Second   Grand Officier

Grade

Fourth   Officier *

Fifth   Chevalier

* The award given to President and CEO of Fukuyama Transporting Co., Ltd. Shigehiro Komaru

Contact (Japanese Only)

Kojima/Doi
Public Relations IR Office
Tel: (03)3643-0292
Fax: (03)3643-3730

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