Australian screen and stage legend Dame Olivia Newton-John will be awarded Japan's highest honour, for her contribution to developing the Asian nation's musical culture and promoting friendly relations with Australia.
The Japanese government today announced it had decided to confer the Order of the Rising Sun on the Australian singer, who currently lives in the United States.
In 2015, Dame Olivia became the first foreign artist to perform in Fukushima, after a nuclear disaster four years earlier forced the city's evacuation.
"I first visited Japan in 1972 and since then I've been back more than 10 times, one of my favourite countries and favourite people. A particularly memorable moment was my "Pray for Fukushima" concert in 2015 in Fukushima," she said.
"I was deeply touched by the resilience of the people affected by the disaster and it was a heart-warming experience.
"I so look forward to visiting Japan and seeing you all again soon thank you so much."
The 73-year-old has been a campaigner for several social and health causes, in particular advancing treatments for cancer, including through the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne.
Dame Olivia is a British-born Australian star who first battled breast cancer 25 years ago and has since used her own experience, including further cancer diagnoses, to promote awareness about the disease.
However, she has also used her profile to bring attention to post-disaster recovery efforts, including at Fukushima and after Australia's Black Summer bushfires.
At the end of 2019, she was made a dame in the Queen's 2020 New Years honours list for her services to charity, cancer research and entertainment.
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