I am passing on some great news. Ted Bestor, Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Harvard University, has just been recognized by the Japanese Agency of Cultural Affairs (Bunka-cho). The official English translation of the award is "Commissioner's Award for the Promotion of Japanese Culture Overseas."

Here is the notice of award recipients.
http://www.bunka.go.jp/ima/press_release/pdf/chokan_hyo
sho_130626.pdf

Here is a Japan Times article, with picture no less.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/30/national/cu
ltural-agency-doles-out-awards-to-those-promoting-japan
/#.UdQTYMsaySN

Congratulations, Ted.

dhs

--
David H. Slater, Ph.D.
Director of the Institute of Comparative Culture Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology Faculty of Liberal Arts, Graduate Program in Japanese Studies Sophia University, Tokyo