On November 3 Japan celebrated the Culture Day. Japan’s government bestowed decorations to135 foreign citizens for achievements in various fields, including singers, politicians and business people. Bulgarian Professor Zheni Zaharieva (piano) is among them. The Ambassador of Japan to Bulgaria will present the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun to Zheni Zaharieva at a solemn ceremony in February 2019. Professor Zaharieva will receive recognition for her active international concert activity. Zheni Zaharieva has been teaching piano at the National Academy of Music Professor Pancho Vladigerov for many years. She contributed to the professional development and career of many Japanese musicians and their success at the international music stage. Moreover, she popularized the works of many Japanese composers in Bulgaria. Professor Zaharieva has been maintaining active ties with the Japanese music society for over 25 years and is an important jury member at several international music competitions in Tokyo. She is also the organizer of several music competitions in Bulgaria attended by Japanese musicians. In 2014 Professor Zaharieva received the honorary diploma of the Ambassador of Japan in Bulgaria.