Fall 2024 Decoration Conferred on Mr. Brian Swords
2025/4/9
On Wednesday, April 2, the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles held a conferment ceremony for Fall 2024 Decoration recipient, Mr. Brian Swords, who is a Former Local Employee, Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles
Mr. Swords received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays (瑞宝双光章), for his contribution to the activities of Japanese overseas establishment.
The ceremony was held at the official residence of the Consul General in Los Angeles. It was attended by his family and relatives, as well as people who have been involved with his longstanding partnerships and goodwill activities with the U.S. and Japan from a wide range of fields, such as economics and politics.
At the ceremony, Consul General Sone congratulated Mr. Swords and presented him with a Certificate of Commendation and the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays.
Mr. Stephen Cheung, CEO of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), and Mr. David Abel, Chairman of VerdeXchange, congratulated Mr. Swords on his achievement.
A toast by California Senate Majority Leader Emeritus Robert Hertzberg followed the reception.
The following are Mr. Brian Swords’s profile and contributions:
Award
Decoration: The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays (瑞宝双光章)
Outline of Merit: Contributed to the activities of Japanese overseas establishment
Main Career: Former Local Employee, Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles
About Mr. Brian Swords
Mr. Brian Swords has contributed to the development of U.S.-Japan economic relations for more than 33 years, from May 1, 1989 to January 31, 2023, as a local staff member of the Economic Affairs Section of the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles. He developed long-term cooperative relationships with economic organizations in California, such as the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and the World Trade Center Los Angeles, to promote trade and investment between Japan and the United States and to facilitate business activities between the two countries. In addition, he has worked with the VerdeXchange, an environmental think tank that hosts international conferences in California, from the ground up to increase awareness of green technology and expand business opportunities for Japanese companies for 17 years since 2005. In addition to his work in the Economic Affairs division, Mr. Swords contributed greatly to the overall activities of the Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles. He was involved in a wide variety of duties and actively supported other divisions, including handling inquiries about Japanese domestic and diplomatic affairs with the Policy and Partnerships division and building relationships with former US military personnel who served at U.S. bases in Japan.
Mr. Swords is currently working as a freelance economic consultant helping Japanese companies expand their business operations in the U.S. He is also a visiting lecturer at the UCLA School of Business and Saddleback Community College, where he teaches courses on the Japanese economy. He also lectures on the Japanese economy as a guest lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Business and Saddleback Community College. Through such activities, he continues to work to promote understanding of Japan-U.S. relations among a wide range of generations of Americans.
Informational Links:
The Order of the Sacred Treasure:
https://www8.cao.go.jp/shokun/en/orders-of-the-sacred-treasure.html
Mr. Swords received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays (瑞宝双光章), for his contribution to the activities of Japanese overseas establishment.
The ceremony was held at the official residence of the Consul General in Los Angeles. It was attended by his family and relatives, as well as people who have been involved with his longstanding partnerships and goodwill activities with the U.S. and Japan from a wide range of fields, such as economics and politics.
At the ceremony, Consul General Sone congratulated Mr. Swords and presented him with a Certificate of Commendation and the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays.
Mr. Stephen Cheung, CEO of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), and Mr. David Abel, Chairman of VerdeXchange, congratulated Mr. Swords on his achievement.
A toast by California Senate Majority Leader Emeritus Robert Hertzberg followed the reception.
 |
 |
| Mr. Brian Swords and Consul General Sone | Group Picture |
 |
 |
| Remarks by Mr. Brian Swords | Remarks by Mr. Stephen Cheung President & CEO, LAEDC |
 |
 |
| Remarks by Mr. David Abel Chair, VerdeXchange |
Toast by Mr. Robert Hertzberg California Senate Majority Leader Emeritus |
The following are Mr. Brian Swords’s profile and contributions:
Award
Decoration: The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays (瑞宝双光章)
Outline of Merit: Contributed to the activities of Japanese overseas establishment
Main Career: Former Local Employee, Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles
About Mr. Brian Swords
Mr. Brian Swords has contributed to the development of U.S.-Japan economic relations for more than 33 years, from May 1, 1989 to January 31, 2023, as a local staff member of the Economic Affairs Section of the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles. He developed long-term cooperative relationships with economic organizations in California, such as the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and the World Trade Center Los Angeles, to promote trade and investment between Japan and the United States and to facilitate business activities between the two countries. In addition, he has worked with the VerdeXchange, an environmental think tank that hosts international conferences in California, from the ground up to increase awareness of green technology and expand business opportunities for Japanese companies for 17 years since 2005. In addition to his work in the Economic Affairs division, Mr. Swords contributed greatly to the overall activities of the Consulate-General of Japan in Los Angeles. He was involved in a wide variety of duties and actively supported other divisions, including handling inquiries about Japanese domestic and diplomatic affairs with the Policy and Partnerships division and building relationships with former US military personnel who served at U.S. bases in Japan.
Mr. Swords is currently working as a freelance economic consultant helping Japanese companies expand their business operations in the U.S. He is also a visiting lecturer at the UCLA School of Business and Saddleback Community College, where he teaches courses on the Japanese economy. He also lectures on the Japanese economy as a guest lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Business and Saddleback Community College. Through such activities, he continues to work to promote understanding of Japan-U.S. relations among a wide range of generations of Americans.
Informational Links:
The Order of the Sacred Treasure:
https://www8.cao.go.jp/shokun/en/orders-of-the-sacred-treasure.html