Henry G. Cisneros Conferred High Honor by Emperor of Japan

Henry G. Cisneros, Vice Chairman and Partner of Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC (SWS) and a former secretary of Housing and Urban Development and mayor of San Antonio, was conferred the Order of the Rising Sun with Golden Rays by Emperor Naruhito of Japan on April 29, 2025.

The award is a rank within the Order of the Rising Sun, Japan’s first national decoration, which was established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji to honor distinguished service to the state.

The award was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Iwaya Takeshi, and relayed through Zentaro Naganuma, Japan’s Consul-General in Houston. It was conferred for Cisneros’ contributions to the advancement of U.S.-Japan relations. While serving as mayor of San Antonio in the 1980s, Cisneros began formal relations with Japan, including annual delegations to introduce the city to Japanese governmental, business, educational, civic and municipal leaders.

The relationship grew into a sister city agreement with Kumamoto City in southern Japan, along with business and trade investments coming to San Antonio, such as Toyota Motors Manufacturing’s 2.2 million-square-foot plant and multiple key supplier firms along 2,678 acres, which now employ over 9,400 people. The ripple effects of Toyota’s investments in the city are projected to add $208 billion to Bexar County’s GDP. In 2024 Toyota announced a new assembly plant will begin operations there in 2026.

“I would like to reiterate my profound gratitude for your invaluable contribution to the advancement of Japan-U.S. relations,” Consul-General Naganuma wrote in a letter to Cisneros. 

Cisneros has continued to maintain strong ties with Japan following his terms as mayor, chairing the board of the Naoko Shirane Foundation, a nonprofit named in honor of Baroness Naoko Shirane, whose efforts were instrumental in forging San Antonio’s relationship with Japan, including Toyota’s investment. The organization sponsors scholarships for American students to study in Japan.

Naganuma will bestow the prestigious award upon Cisneros during a ceremony in San Antonio on July 30.

“I am deeply honored that the Emperor of Japan has conferred this recognition,” Cisneros said. “I am gratified that it is awarded for actions that have benefited both our nations. It recognizes that exchange efforts initiated by leaders and citizens within communities can create sound foundations for international relations between nations. In San Antonio’s case, the residents of our city have benefited immensely from cooperation with Japan, and the nation of Japan has benefited from its relationship with San Antonio. From mutual respect and sincere outreach can come good things for all sides. That should be the goal of ongoing relations between nations.”

In the decades since Cisneros concluded his terms as mayor of San Antonio, the city’s relationship with Japan has remained strong and has been sustained by his successors.

Currently, Cisneros serves as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Siebert Williams Shank, a Shank Williams Cisneros company that has executed over $10.2 trillion in municipal and corporate financings since its founding in 1996. From 1981-1989, Cisneros served as mayor of San Antonio before going on to serve as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton from 1993-1997.

Dually headquartered in New York, NY and Oakland, CA, SWS is an independent non-bank financial services firm that offers investment banking, sales and trading, research, and advisory services. Its mission is to exceed expectations through value-added results and leave a lasting impact on the sectors, corporations, and communities it serves. SWS counts over 80 Fortune 100 companies among its clients. SWS ranked third as senior manager (true economics to bookrunner) of negotiated municipal financings issued through the top 10 cities in the U.S. and their related entities from 2020-2024.