Japan has conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, marking the highest distinction the country gives to foreign nationals.
The award was presented by Emperor Naruhito during the Imperial Conferment of Decoration Investiture on November 11, 2025, held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The citation, read by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, highlighted Zubiri’s work in advancing long-standing cooperation between Manila and Tokyo.
After receiving the honour, Zubiri said he accepted it “with deep gratitude and humility,” stressing that the decoration reflected the “deep friendship” between the two countries rather than an achievement of one individual. He also noted that such a high recognition comes with greater public responsibility, saying he intends to be “even more careful, open and consistent” in explaining how his work with Japan benefits Filipinos.
During the ceremony, Emperor Naruhito also expressed sympathy for communities affected by Typhoons Tino and Uwan in the Philippines. Zubiri described the Emperor’s remarks as a reminder of Japan’s consistent concern for the country, adding that Japan’s timely disaster assistance continues to be felt by many.
Zubiri is among only eight foreign nationals to receive the Grand Cordon from the 104 awardees in Japan’s Autumn 2025 honours list. Other recipients include former Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and former Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. At 56, Zubiri is the youngest among them.
As President of the Philippines–Japan Parliamentarians Association, Zubiri has worked on deepening cooperation in security, defense, trade, tourism and cultural exchange. He has long pushed for the Reciprocal Access Agreement between the Philippines and Japan, championing closer strategic alignment in the region.
He also spearheaded legislative efforts that encouraged more Japanese investment into the Philippines, which he said created jobs and livelihood opportunities for thousands of Filipinos. Zubiri likewise credited Japan’s support in pushing forward major agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the RAA between the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
According to Zubiri, the real measure of success will be when communities feel the benefits through safer environments, improved disaster coordination and clearer long-term cooperation between the two nations.
In diplomacy, Zubiri led the Philippines’ hosting of the 31st Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in 2023 and strengthened ties with the National Diet of Japan. One of his major milestones was inviting then–Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to deliver a policy address before a historic joint session of Congress in 2023.
Describing the Japanese government’s recognition as “galvanizing,” Zubiri said it motivates him to pursue even stronger partnerships that would benefit both Filipinos and Japanese moving forward.
