Doreen Simmons, an English-language sumo commentator for NHK, has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government, The Sun reported on 8 November.
Eighty-five-year-old Simmons moved to Japan in 1973. After falling in love with the sport, she would attend tournaments whenever they were held in Tokyo and go to watch matches in Osaka and Nagoya.
She took up her role after NHK began offering English commentaries 25 years ago.