The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette was presented during a ceremony and reception at the home of Japan's consul general in Atlanta, Takashi Shinozuka.
"It is an honor for Japan to have such a wonderful friend," Shinozuka said.
The 81-year-old Aaron was singled out for his long relationship with Japan's home run leader, Sadaharu Oh, and their efforts to bring young people together through the World Children Baseball's Fair, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.
Oh was unable to travel to Atlanta, but the 75-year-old sent videotaped remarks.
Aaron sat through most of the ceremony, next to his wife, Billye. He now must use a cane to get around after undergoing hip-replacement surgery.
"The communication between the two countries is great," Aaron said. "Baseball has always played a pivotal role in whatever happens in everyday life."
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4 comments:
got to see him on his last trip to Memorial Stadium - he is a CLASS act!
Sorry, I still consider Hank to be the ONLY home run king. He did it on natural talent and didn't enhance anything with pills, injections, liquids, or the like. He is also an honorable man who had to endure a lot of racism and hate leading up to 1974 including death threats. A true role model. sad to see how far our standards and values have fallen.
A truly honorable man that showed true sportsmanship in professional ball. We need more like him in pro ball of all types. Him and Babe Ruth to me were true kings of Baseball. Aaron deserves any and all recognition he gets.
This man is an example of what sports and those who play them should be.
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