Mutoh Keiko awarded Order of Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays

KUWAIT CITY, May 20: On May 19, the Government of Japan awarded Ms. MUTOH Keiko, CEO of Food Supply Co. WLL and Owner of Kei Japanese Restaurant, the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, which was bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, during an official conferment ceremony held in Tokyo in recognition of her outstanding contributions to promoting Japanese cuisine, as well as Japanese food culture and food products in Kuwait.

Kei Japanese Restaurant

Kei Japanese Restaurant was established in the year 1980 by Ms. MUTOH’s father as Kuwait’s first Japanese restaurant.

In 2004, Ms. MUTOH Keiko took over the business and has run it with devotion, fulfilling her father’s vision of introducing Japanese cuisine to the Kuwaiti people. She continues to honor his legacy by serving authentic Japanese taste. Today, she magnificently manages Kei operations in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Thanks to Ms. MUTOH’s tireless efforts, Japanese cuisine has steadily gained popularity in Kuwait over the past decades. Where once there were only a handful of Japanese restaurants, today the country boasts more than one hundred establishments of varying sizes. Amid this growth, Kei Japanese Restaurant remains widely recognized as the pioneer of authentic Japanese dining in Kuwait.

Initiatives at Various Levels

Ms. MUTOH’s efforts to promoting Japanese cuisine and food culture have greatly deepened the Kuwaiti people’s understanding of Japan, while also fostering stronger ties of friendship between the two countries.

She has also worked diligently to expand the demand for Japanese cuisine through various initiatives. For example, she launched a premium Japanese fruit kiosk as part of the Japanese government’s campaign to promote food exports. In addition, she has conducted lectures on Japanese cuisine in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Kuwait. Appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture as a Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador, Ms. MUTOH continues to play an active role in spreading Japanese food and dietary culture.

Thus, in recognition of those distinguished achievements, Ms. MUTOH Keiko has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays.

TAKAHASHI Yudai

Second Secretary

Embassy of Japan