At 1 p.m. on July 7th in the Presidential Palace of the Republic of Lithuania, Tokyo University of Science Vice President Makoto Asashima was presented with the Order for Merits to Lithuania in Culture and Education by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybaukaite in recognition of his contributions to science and international exchange.
Two recipients were chosen to receive the Order for Merits to Lithuania in Culture and Education: German Professor Robert Huber (who received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1988) and Vice President Asashima.
Previously, Vice President Asashima has been presented with special awards from the Chairman of the Science Council of Lithuania and the Minister of Economy of Lithuania, and this past May he was selected as the first Japanese member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences in the Republic of Lithuania.
The ceremony took place in the reception hall of the Presidential Palace, where the President of Lithuania pinned the medal onto Vice President Asashima's chest and presented him with his commendation, amidst strains of Lithuanian folk music. Afterward, Vice President Asashima took a photo together with the President, followed by a commemorative group photo together with the President of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, the Chairman of the Science Council of Lithuania and the Lithuanian Ambassador and his wife.
Later that evening, Vice President Asashima met with the Minister of Education and Science at the Minister's office to discuss the future of higher education and universities.
 Vice President Asashima and President Dalia of Lithuania |
 Medal and commendation awarded |