On November 29, 2021, in a ceremony held at the official residence of Mr. Iijima Yasumasa, Consul General of Japan in Saint Petersburg, Irina Fedorovna Popova, Director of the IOM RAS, was awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Certificate of Commendation for her contribution to the development of Japanese studies in Russia and promotion of friendly relations between Japan and Russia.

The Certificate of Commendation in Russian and in Japanese