Evergreen chairman honored in Japan

Chang

  In recognition of his contributions to assist the reconstruction of Japan following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Evergreen Group Chairman Yung-Fa Chang was honored Tuesday with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star during an award ceremony at the Tokyo Imperial Palace.
   The Japanese government also honored Chang for his achievements in improving the international transportation industry and enhancing development of Japan’s economy and the relationship between Japan and Taiwan.
   Japanese Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko presented the awards. Immediately after the ceremony, Chang was granted an audience with Emperor Akihito of Japan. Chang is one of the few foreign entrepreneurs to receive this honor.
   From the founding of Evergreen in 1968, Chang was able to receive aid from Marubeni Corp., which allowed the company to grow and flourish. “With gratitude, he devoted himself to Japan’s economic and trading development and played a diplomatic role between Taiwan and Japan,” the company said in a statement.
   Immediately after the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami, Chang instructed the Evergreen Shipping Agency (Japan) to donate one billion yen in his personal name to Japanese Red Cross to support the post-earthquake reconstruction. He also directed both EVA Air and Evergreen Marine Corp. of Evergreen Group to provide necessary emergency aids, and free air transport and shipping service to carry relief supplies to Japan.
   Together with Order of the Rising Sun, Chang has received 13 medals of honor to date.