Russian President Vladimir Putin personally presented the Medal of Pushkin to Japanese actress Komaki Kurihara and others in Moscow on Nov. 4, the Day of People’s Unity, a Russian national holiday.
The medal is awarded to Russians and foreigners for their contributions in the arts and culture and other fields.
Kurihara starred in the 1974 Japan-Soviet co-produced movie “Moscow Waga Ai” (Moscow my love) and has served as chairperson of the organizing committee of the annual Russian Cultural Festival held in Japan.
Speaking in Russian, Kurihara said: “I am very honored. This award shines with the passion that I have extracted from the Russian arts. I pray from my heart for the eternal friendship of the peoples of Japan and Russia.”
In his speech, Putin said the unity between Russians and their foreign friends would never falter, adding that they could all celebrate victory after facing various global threats.
Putin established the national holiday in 2005 to replace the one on Nov. 7 that celebrated the Russian Revolution.
The Day of People’s Unity was originally intended to celebrate the liberation of Moscow from the Polish military in 1612.
AloJapan.com