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Japan Honors Ed Nelson

On April 29, the Government of Japan officially announced that Mr. Edward G. Nelson, President of Nelson Capital Corp. would be honored with a prestigious decoration, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Japan-U.S. friendly relations in Tennessee. The decoration will be conferred by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.

The Orders of the Rising Sun, established in 1875 as Japan’s first award, recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to friendly relations between Japan and other countries. Mr. Nelson has been recognized primarily for his longtime service and dedication to Japan-U.S. friendly relations as Honorary Consul-General of Japan in Nashville from 1988 to 2007.

Mr. Nelson’s abiding interest in Japan stems from his service as a counter-intelligence agent in Japan during the Korean War. Later, in the banking business, he had the opportunity to meet numerous Japanese bankers and business executives. As a successful investment banker and business leader, Mr. Nelson has been facilitating business partnerships between American and Japanese companies.

He has also been a board member of the Japan-America Society of Tennessee since 2000 and Vice President since 2003. Additionally, he serves as a board member of Vanderbilt University and Chairman of its Medical Center Board. Mr. Nelson also led efforts to establish the Center for U.S.-Japan Studies and Cooperation at Vanderbilt University.

Mr. Nelson received a congratulatory message from Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, shortly after the official announcement of the recipients of decorations.

The Consular Office of Japan in Nashville, which opened January this year as the first consular office in Tennessee, plans to host a formal conferment ceremony and a reception in honor of Mr. Nelson at Cheekwood Botanical Garden on Wednesday, June 4.