Japan Honors Prof. R. B. Hall

Japan Honors Prof. R. B. Hall Regents Name Him Department Chairman After appointing Prof. Robert B. Hall of the University's geography department acting head of the department, the U-M Board of Regents took part in ceremonies in which Prof. Hall was awarded the order of the Sacred Treasure by the Japanese government. Takeo Ozawa, Japanese consul general from Chicago, made the presentation on behalf of his government for Prof. Hall's “services in fostering good will between Japan and the United States and his contributions to the promotion of Japanese culture.” The presentation took place in the U-M's Clements Library. In presenting the award, Ozawa said that his government "again recognizes Prof. Hall's unselfish services to Jap Earlier, at its meeting in the Administration Building, the U-M board appointed Prof. Hall acting chairman of the geography department for the first semester of 1962-63. He will serve while Prof. Charles M. Davis, the department's chairman, is on leave as a visiting professor at the University of Hawaii. Prof. Hall also holds the Order of the Rising Sun, highest decoration granted by the Japanese government to a foreigner. He was the first American to receive the silver medal of the Tokyo Geographical Society, which was presented to him in 1960 for his study of Japanese settlement and regional geography and his work in the U-M Center for Japanese Studies which published the book “Village Japan.” The book was dedicated in his honor. Founder and first director of the U-M Center for Japanese Studies, Prof. Hall served as director of Asia Foundation work in Japan from 1955 to 1960. A U-M graduate, he has been on the faculty since 1938. He lives at 270 Barton Shore Dr., Barton Hills.