During a meeting of the Supervisory Board of Hotel Okura Amsterdam B.V., followed by a lunch at the Dutch embassy in Tokyo, Mikio Matsui, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Hotel Okura Co. Ltd., was appointed Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau. Marcel P. van Aelst, Board Member of Hotel Okura Co. Ltd and President & General Manager of Hotel Okura Amsterdam, was present at the ceremony, as were the Chairman of the Board, Mr Van Rooijen, and Commissioner Mr Van Eenennaam. The accolade is in recognition of the work of Mr Matsui, who assumed the position of Chairman on May 1.

Mr Matsui began his career in 1962, when Hotel Okura Tokyo was opened. He held various positions and was also involved with the preparations for the opening of Hotel Okura Amsterdam in September 1971. From 1989 until 1993 Mikio Matsui was President & General Manager of this first European Okura hotel. During this period he was also a Board Member of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands.

After his return to Japan he accepted final responsibility for the entire chain. In this position he took many initiatives aimed at strengthening the ties between Japan and the Netherlands. For example, on the occasion of 400 years of Dutch-Japanese relations, he organized a large exhibition of Dutch art at the Okura Tokyo, the proceeds of which were donated to the International Red Cross.

In the course of many years, Hotel Okura Tokyo has had the honour of welcoming a number of Dutch ministers and trade delegation as well as various members of the Dutch Royal House. The Okura Garden Hotel Shanghai has also received numerous Dutch ministers. During a state visit to China HM the Queen also stayed at the Okura Shanghai.