Gary Tang honoured for guiding M’sian students in Japan

Gary Tang, a 63-year-old father of three, has been honoured by the Japanese Foreign Minister for his efforts in facilitating the educational exchange between Malaysia and Japan. The recognition, which came as a surprise to Tang, is the result of his dedication to helping Malaysian students navigate the process of studying and settling in Japan.

Back in 1983, Japan was a significant player in the global technology sector, with companies like Sony, Fujitsu, and NEC having a strong presence. This led Tang's father to send him to Japan for studies after his high school graduation. Despite the language barrier, Tang's senior student at Tokyo's University of Electro-Communications went out of his way to help him secure a place at a school and find a guarantor for his stay.

Today, Tang serves as the president of the Japan Graduates Association of Malaysia (Jagam), an organisation that promotes Japanese education and cultural ties through initiatives such as the annual Japan Education Fair and the Daihatsu Jagam Scholarship. Through Jagam, Tang has also helped establish the Asean Council of Japan Alumni’s Business Advisory Board and co-organised the annual Pavilion x Jagam Matsuri, which showcases Japanese culture in Malaysia.

Tang's work with Jagam is rooted in his own experiences as a student in Japan, which taught him values such as respect for others (sonkei) and gratitude (kansha). He hopes that by sharing these lessons, he can help other Malaysian students face the challenges of studying and living in Japan, and in turn, strengthen the relationship between the two countries through acts of understanding and mutual respect.