16.06.2025

On 12 June 2025, the Japanese government awarded Prof. Dr. Cornelia Storz the Imperial the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun on a Collar - Golden Rays in recognition of her exceptional contributions to promoting bilateral relations and international understanding between Germany and Japan. 

This order is comparable to the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and is awarded for exceptional service in the civilian sector. Previous recipients include eminent scientists and politicians who have made significant contributions to mutual exchange.

The ceremony took place at the residence of the Consul General of Japan in Frankfurt am Main, Mr Takeshi Ito, and was attended by representatives of the Consulate General of Japan, the City of Frankfurt am Main, and the current and future Dean of the Department of Economics at Goethe University. Other attendees included professors and academics from the departments of economics, social sciences, and humanities at Goethe University, as well as from the university's Asia and Africa Centres (IZO and ZIAF). Many colleagues from other German and international universities were also represented. The Association of Japanese Companies Frankfurt e.V. (Hojinkai) and the German-Japanese Society Frankfurt am Main were also present. 

Laudatory speeches were held by Prof. Dr. Verena Blechinger-Talcott and Prof. Dr. Gregory Jackson, both from Freie Universität Berlin. Prof. Dr. Blechinger-Talcott praised the honoree as a networker in particular, while Prof. Dr. Jackson praised the honoree's institutional theoretical analysis.