The Founder Konosuke Matsushita

In June, Konosuke was decorated Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau by the Queen of the Netherlands, and the ceremony was held at the Dutch Embassy in Tokyo.
This award was granted "for rendering a distinguished contribution and providing service for economic cooperation and for promoting friendship", which is the highest award in the Netherlands given to foreign nationals. This was given to Konosuke because of the technical cooperation agreement and the collaboration with Philips which contributed to promoting friendship between the two nations. Konosuke was the first to be given this decoration by the Queen of the Netherlands after World War II. He further contributed to promoting friendship between the two nations by establishing and becoming the chairman of the Japan-Netherlands Society of the Kansai in 1959.
Konosuke was decorated again later for his contribution in promoting friendship with other nations, including the Medalie De Honra Ao Merito Cultural Award from Brazil in April, 1968, the Commandeur de L'Ordre de la Couronne Award from the King of Belgium in October, 1972, and the Panglima Mangku Negara and the title Tan Sri from the King of Malaysia in February, 1979.