Dr Haruhisa Handa is a successful businessman, an academic, an accomplished artist and a generous philanthropist.
His extraordinary accomplishments are the result of a life-long love of learning and a deep resolve to improve the enjoyment of life for those who are less fortunate.
Born in 1951, Dr Handa’s love of learning has seen him receive an Economics degree from Doshisha University, Kyoto; a postgraduate degree from Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo; and a Masters degree in creative arts from WAAPA (West Australian Academy of Performing Arts) at Edith Cowan University.
He has two Ph.D degrees. One in Literature from the Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University, China, and the other in Literature on the study of Chinese Classical text, Zhejiang University, China. Dr Handa received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from The Juilliard School. He is co-founder, chancellor, and professor within the College of Arts and Humanities, at the University of Cambodia. He is also professor at the College of Japanese Language and Culture, Zhejiang Gongshang University, China.
Today, Dr Handa is involved in the management of more than a dozen companies and organisations in Japan and internationally.
He is a practicing artist and a professional in many fields of the arts – with his talents ranging from painting, Noh acting, opera and calligraphy to poetry composition and flower arranging.
Recognised globally for his promotion of art and cultural exchanges Dr Handa serves as Chairman for a number of organisations worldwide including the International Foundation for Arts and Culture, Japanese Blind Golf Association, International Sports Promotion Society and the Legends Tour also known as the US LPGA Women’s Senior Golf Association. He also serves as honorary patron of International Blind Golf Association, advisor to the European Senior Tour and lifetime honorary member of the PGA of Australia.
He is deeply involved in social causes, serving as president of the International Shinto Foundation (a United Nations’ ECOSOC NGO); founder and vice-chairman of the Sihanouk Hospital (a 24 hour free emergency hospital servicing the poor in Cambodia); vice-president of Britain’s Royal National Institute for the Blind; advisor to the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions; honorary consul of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Fukuoka and is an advisor to the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Dr Handa is also a major benefactor, through the organisations he has founded, of the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the WA Academy of Performing Arts and the Australian Singing Competition.
He has established a Chair in Human Rights Education at Curtin University of technology and, in recognition of his vision and contributions to Western Australia through his organisations, Dr Handa has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by Curtin University, Edith Cowan University and the University of Western Australia. He has also been the recipient of the Keys to the City of Perth and the City of Swan.
In recognition of his social contribution, Dr Handa has also received the Medal of Dark Blue Ribbon of Japan from the Japanese government. Dr Handa was conferred the decoration of Commander of the Royal Order of Sahametrei by His Majesty Norodom Sihanouk, former King of Cambodia, and the title of Commander of the Royal Order of Monisaraphon by Prime Minister Hun Sen. He was also bestowed the Grand Officer of the Royal Order of Sowathara as well as Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Monisaraphon by His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.
Dr Handa lives in Japan and regards Perth as his second home. He is an Official Patron of Golf Australia.