At the 2021 Autumn Conferment of Decorations, Japan conferred the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star upon GRIPS Prof. Emeritus Keijiro Otsuka, for his contribution to research and education. This order is awarded to distinguished individuals for their long and/or meritorious service to the public good. During his long career in the field of development economics, Prof. Otsuka made a number of internationally acknowledged research achievements, and served in leading positions; and as an educator, he fostered the development of excellent future researchers, educators and practitioners in and outside Japan. At the same time, with his devoted engagement in policy proposal formulation, policy advisory work, and policy implementation based on research evidence, Prof. Otsuka has contributed to the agricultural and industrial growth of developing countries and to Japan’s international cooperation efforts. Currently, Prof. Otsuka is project professor at the Kobe University Center for Social Systems Innovation (KUSSI).