The Japanese government has decided to confer former foreign secretary Madan Kumar Bhattarai the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, for his contribution to Nepal–Japan relations under the 2026 Spring Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals.

According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Bhattarai, who also served as Nepal’s ambassador to Japan, contributed to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting friendship between Japan and Nepal.

In addition to serving as foreign secretary and ambassador to Japan, he also served as Nepal’s ambassador to Germany and worked in various Nepali missions abroad during his four-decade-long diplomatic career. He served as Foreign Secretary from 2009 to 2011 and later became an adviser to former President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

In 1977, Bhattarai secured first position in the Public Service Commission examination and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Section Officer. During this period, he served as ambassador to Germany and Japan, head of mission at the Nepali embassies in New Delhi and Dhaka, first secretary in New Delhi, and consul general in Kolkata.

Before entering diplomatic service, Bhattarai was involved in teaching and journalism.