Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced April 29 that Mansfield Foundation Board member L. Desaix Anderson is among the recipients of the 2012 Spring Imperial Decorations. Mr. Anderson will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in recognition of his contributions to mutual understanding and strengthening the U.S.-Japan relationship.
Mr. Anderson served for thirty-five years as a foreign service officer in the U.S. Department of State, working in Asia and on Asian issues. From 1985-1989, he served as deputy chief of mission in Tokyo under Ambassador Mike Mansfield. The Embassy of Japan’s press release [link] announcing the honor notes that despite several challenging bilateral issues, “Mr. Anderson worked hard to support Ambassador Mansfield, who did his best to promote the understanding that ‘the U.S.-Japan relationship is the most uniquely important in the world,’ and sought to stabilize and improve that relationship.” Mr. Anderson currently writes on Asian issues and paints in New York City.