Olivia Newton-John Given Japan’s Order Of The Rising Sun

Olivia Newton-John
Richard Shotwell / Invision / AP File – Olivia Newton-John

The Japanese government has awarded Australian singer and actor Olivia Newton-John one of its highest honors, the Order of the Rising Sun, for her contribution to developing musical culture in Japan and promoting friendly relations with Australia. The singer currently lives in the United States.

Newton-John is well-known in Japan for many things, but is specially appreciated for having been the first foreign artist to perform, in 2015, in the prefecture of Fukushima after the area’s forced evacuation following a major meltdown of a nuclear power plant in 2011. 
In a video message, Newton-John said, “I first visited Japan in 1972 and since then I’ve been back more than 10 times, one of my favorite countries and favorite people. A particularly memorable moment was my Pray for Fukushima concert in 2015. I was deeply touched by the resilience of the people affected by the disaster and it was a heart-warming experience. I so look forward to visiting Japan and seeing you all again soon, thank you so much.”
In the United Kingdom, where Newton-John was born, she has also been honored with an Order of the British Empire twice.