Jazz Singer Masumi Ormandy Receives Japanese Ambassador's Award

Bratislava, April 8 (TASR) - The 18th Award of the Japanese Ambassador to Slovakia has gone to Masumi Ormandy, 86, founder of the Pacific Language School in Tokyo, an internationally renowned jazz singer and supporter of the Blooming Slovakia campaign, Zuzana Ondrejkova of the Japanese Embassy to Slovakia has informed TASR. Ormandy received the award "for her long-standing sincere and selfless contribution towards mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Slovakia in the field of jazz music and for her generous support of the Blooming Slovakia 2020 campaign". Ondrejkova noted that the award ceremony was held on the premises of the Japanese Embassy on April 4. In April 2017, Masumi Ormandy performed in Slovakia with the 'father of Slovak jazz' Peter Lipa, with whom she also went on a concert tour of the Czech Republic. In 2018, she performed as a special guest at the 'Square Leaf for Talents' charity concert held at the P.O. Hviezdoslav Municipal Theatre in Bratislava, where she supported young artists. The Japanese Embassy noted that in 2020, Masumi Ormandy and her Association for Education and Cultural Activities became one of the most generous donors and supporters of the Blooming Slovakia 2020 campaign, which was initiated by the Japanese Embassy to Slovakia on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Slovakia and Japan. "Thanks to their generous contribution amounting to €22,571.41, it was possible to plant almost 500 cherry trees throughout Slovakia," said the embassy. The Award of the Japanese Ambassador is given to individuals, bodies or institutions whose activities significantly contribute towards mutual understanding and the deepening of friendly relations between Japan and other countries. In Slovakia, it was first awarded in 2014 to the AnimeCrew association, the organiser of the Comics Salon and AnimeShow festivals. ko/df