The government of South Africa has awarded the Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo to Toshio Akiniwa, the president of the Japan Asia Africa Latin America Solidarity Committee (JAALA), for his unconditional support for the African National Congress (ANC) during the apartheid era.
The Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo is named after former ANC President-in-exile Oliver Reginald Tambo (1917-1993) and is awarded to eminent foreign nationals for friendship shown to South Africa. Among the previous Japanese recipients is Sadako Ogata, former president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, who was awarded with the Order in 2010.
Akiniwa was chosen as one of the eight recipients in 2012 and the Order was bestowed on him by South African President Jacob Zuma in the capital, Pretoria, on Oct, 26. He was presented with a carved wooden walking stick, which symbolizes support, solidarity and commitment to stand by the recipient in return.