NTS employee honoured by the King for deepening UK-Japanese nuclear ties
Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) is thrilled one of its Tokyo-based colleagues has been awarded the Honorary Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in this year’s Honours.
Kazumasa Kuwahara (Kazu), an employee of INS Japan KK (INSJ), part of NTS, has been awarded the honour in recognition of his exceptional contribution to furthering UK-Japan co-operation in civil nuclear.
Every year, the King awards honorary decorations to people who are neither British nor Commonwealth nationals but who have made a significant contribution to relations between the UK and their own country.
Kazu has had a long and distinguished career dedicated to furthering the close collaboration between the UK and Japan in the civil nuclear industry.
He played a leading role in supporting British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BFNL) and Japanese Utility companies in the UK’s reprocessing of Japanese spent fuel and continues to support the co-ordination of important transport activities with our Japanese customers and partners.
Kazu said: “Receiving an MBE is something I did not expect. I was shocked when I answered the phone and it was the Ambassador calling with the news! It is a great honour and I feel very proud.
“I have worked as a facilitator between UK and Japan on nuclear matters for nearly 40 years now – most of it with Marubeni supporting BNFL on reprocessing and transport matters and beyond. I joined INSJ over ten years ago and am pleased to have been able to play a role in helping to bring UK experience and support from across Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), and the UK supply chain, to assist on decommissioning matters in Japan.
“This award would not have been possible without the co-operation of many UK friends in BNFL, NDA and NTS – for which I am deeply grateful.”
Commenting on the award the British Embassy in Japan added: “The UK-Japan relationship in civil nuclear continues to deepen and grow to our mutual benefit, and Mr. Kuwahara’s long service to the UK has played a significant part in making this possible.”
