Former director of UWF Japan House recognized with Order of the Rising Sun award

Shigeko Honda, who was director of the University of West Florida Japan Center and Japan House for 26 years, has been awarded the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays.

Honda was recognized at an event on UWF’s Pensacola campus on April 1 which celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Japan House. The Order of the Rising Sun, Japan’s first award established in 1875, is awarded to individuals in recognition of their services to the Japanese nation or public. Honorable Kazuhiro Nakai, Consul General of Japan in Miami, presented Honda with The Order of the Rising Sun award.

Honda's achievements include the establishment of the two-year Japanese language program at UWF, which was the first Japanese language course in 1987. Her efforts also led to UWF being recognized as one of the most active universities in Florida in activities related to Japan. Her dedication resulted in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan recognizing UWF for its contributions to strengthening the Japan-U.S. relationship in 2012.

Honda's influence extended to UWF joining the Florida-Japan Linkage Institute, where she later orchestrated the relocation of its head office to UWF in 2006. One of her most significant accomplishments is the conceptualization and realization of the UWF Japan House and gardens, a center for Japanese culture in the Pensacola area.

The Japan House was a partnership between UWF and the Jikei Group of Technical Colleges headed by Dr. Kunihiko Ukifune. The Rainwater family, State of Florida matching grants, supporters in Gero and many others helped to construct Building 71 and the Japan House. This initiative made UWF the only University in Florida with authentic Japanese rooms and gardens on its campus. Honda's efforts led to the renaming of the Japan House tea room as "Fukutokuan" by the Urasenke Grand Master Zabosai Sen Soshitsu XVI in March 2009.

Visit uwf.edu/japan for details.

Find ways to help: Gulf Coast VA and Veterans Benefits Administration host vet enrollment and benefits fair

DOH-Santa Rosa to host All Moms All Babies One Mile Color Walk/Run

The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County is hosting the second annual All Moms All Babies One Mile Color Walk/Run at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 13 at Bagdad Mill, 4636 Forsyth St., Bagdad. Registration is free and begins at 9 a.m.

The purpose of the event is to celebrate National Minority Health Month and encourage breastfeeding for all moms and babies. DOH-Santa Rosa takes action to provide education and support for prenatal and postpartum mothers to encourage breastfeeding or providing breast milk to infants. Breastfeeding provides health benefits to both the infant and the mother.

This event also encourages families in Santa Rosa County to be active together and to work toward more active lifestyles. Everyone is encouraged to wear white clothing and sunglasses during the family fun event. Participants will be showered with food-safe colored powders along the one-mile course. Bottled water and a light snack will be provided, and attendees will receive a gift bag, while supplies last.

Visit SantaRosa.FloridaHealth.gov for details.

Help fight hunger alongside Santa Rosa Medical Center

Join the Santa Rosa Medical Center in the fight against hunger and advance their purpose of helping people get well and live healthier during their second Jars of Love Peanut Butter Drive.

To meet the need of 700 jars of peanut butter for FoodRaising Friends Inc., the medical center is encouraging their team members, and those who are able, to help them collect as much peanut butter (and other nutritious butters like almond butter or sunflower seed butter) as possible to support their program for Spring Break.

They are also supporting Feeding the Gulf Coast through this effort. Bring plastic jar donations (no glass) to one of the following collection sites: Santa Rosa Medical Center (main lobby), Santa Rosa Medical Center ERs (Pace and Milton), Santa Rosa Medical Center Medical Office Building (5992 Berryhill Road, Milton), Santa Rosa Medical Group Clinics (Avalon, Berryhill, Doctor's Park, Dogwood, Five Points, Navarre, Woodbine), and Santa Rosa Medical Center Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine (Woodbine).

Visit srmcfl.com for details.

Take part: To make a Causes submission, email [email protected].

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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Former UWF Japan House director honored with Order of the Rising Sun