PHILADELPHIA, February 1, 2016: The government of Japan has named Morgan Lewis labor and employment senior counsel Dennis Morikawa a recipient of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. The award, which was bestowed by Ambassador Reiichiro Takahashi during a January 29 ceremony in Philadelphia, honors Mr. Morikawa for his legal work on behalf of Japanese nationals and Japanese-Americans, as well as his service to Japanese community groups.
Mr. Morikawa has served as Honorary Consul General of Japan in Philadelphia since 2000. One of the highest honors awarded by the Japanese government to noncitizens, the Order of the Rising Sun celebrates achievements in international relations, promotion of Japanese culture, professional advancement, and developments in the welfare of or preservation of the environment.
Mr. Morikawa is co-chair of the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, co-chair of the Japanese Association of Greater Philadelphia, and a founding member of the Asian American Bar Association of Pennsylvania. In connection with these groups, Mr. Morikawa and other Morgan Lewis lawyers have provided services to Japanese companies, as well as provided assistance to Japanese nationals regarding a variety of needs, including insurance claims, custody issues, immigration, and contracts.