Carme Feliu becomes first Girona resident to receive Japanese Consul's Merit Award

The director of Nipponia academy is honored for her dedication to Japanese language and culture.

Generic image of Japanese cultural elements such as a calligraphy brush and cherry blossoms.
IA

Generic image of Japanese cultural elements such as a calligraphy brush and cherry blossoms.

Carme Feliu i Latorre, director of the Nipponia Idiomes academy, has been honored with the 2026 Japanese Consul General's Merit Award in Barcelona for her cultural contributions.

This marks the first time a person from Girona has received this prestigious recognition. Consul Akiko Shikata highlighted Feliu's significant role in strengthening cultural and educational bonds between Japan and Spain through her long-standing professional career.

"Contribution in strengthening cultural ties between Japan and Spain, especially in the field of disseminating Japanese culture and language."

Consulate General of Japan · Awarding Institution
Founded twenty years ago, Nipponia was one of the first private centers in Catalonia to specialize in Japanese studies. Based in Girona's Rutlla Street, the academy has become a local hub for Asian languages, including Chinese and Korean, under Feliu's leadership.