Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for Akihiko Hoshide, JAXA Astronaut
2023/7/29
On July 21, 2023, Consul General Murabayashi hosted a reception at his official residence in honor of Mr. Akihiko Hoshide, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut and Director of JAXA Houston Office. Mr. Hoshide has received a commendation from the Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the advancement of friendly relations between Japan and the United States of America.
Mr. Hoshide joined JAXA as an engineer in 1992, and was selected as a Japanese astronaut candidate to board the International Space Station (ISS) in 1999. Since then, Mr. Hoshide has traveled to the ISS three times, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 2008, the Soyuz spacecraft in 2012, and the Space X Crew-2 Crew Dragon spacecraft in 2021.
At the beginning of the reception, Consul General Murabayashi thanked Mr. Hoshide for his successful missions in space and his contribution in the field of international human space activities. He also praised him for his work as Director of the JAXA Houston Office, which further strengthens Japan-U.S. space cooperation together with his international counterparts of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
After recalling his involvement in various space programs in Houston and his time in space, Mr. Hoshide thanked all the guests for their attendance, saying that it is the “people” who make space exploration possible. He emphasized his hope to continue this journey together with everyone in Japan, the U.S, and around the world.
Dr. Vanessa Wyche, the Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, thanked Mr. Hoshide for all he has done for human space exploration and the relationship between NASA and JAXA.
Ms. Niké Luqman, a representative of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, presented a certificate of appreciation for Mr. Hoshide’s contribution to the friendly relations between Houston and Japan.
Finally, Dr. Koichi Wakata, JAXA astronaut who just completed his fifth space mission in March this year, proposed a toast for Mr. Hoshide and the Japan-U.S. cooperation in space.
The guests enjoyed the evening with various Japanese food and sake.
Mr. Hoshide joined JAXA as an engineer in 1992, and was selected as a Japanese astronaut candidate to board the International Space Station (ISS) in 1999. Since then, Mr. Hoshide has traveled to the ISS three times, aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 2008, the Soyuz spacecraft in 2012, and the Space X Crew-2 Crew Dragon spacecraft in 2021.
At the beginning of the reception, Consul General Murabayashi thanked Mr. Hoshide for his successful missions in space and his contribution in the field of international human space activities. He also praised him for his work as Director of the JAXA Houston Office, which further strengthens Japan-U.S. space cooperation together with his international counterparts of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
After recalling his involvement in various space programs in Houston and his time in space, Mr. Hoshide thanked all the guests for their attendance, saying that it is the “people” who make space exploration possible. He emphasized his hope to continue this journey together with everyone in Japan, the U.S, and around the world.
Dr. Vanessa Wyche, the Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, thanked Mr. Hoshide for all he has done for human space exploration and the relationship between NASA and JAXA.
Ms. Niké Luqman, a representative of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, presented a certificate of appreciation for Mr. Hoshide’s contribution to the friendly relations between Houston and Japan.
Finally, Dr. Koichi Wakata, JAXA astronaut who just completed his fifth space mission in March this year, proposed a toast for Mr. Hoshide and the Japan-U.S. cooperation in space.
The guests enjoyed the evening with various Japanese food and sake.