BUCKFIELD — The school gym was buzzing with excitement Thursday while students waved signs written in Japanese. The school welcomed Consul General of Japan Toyohisa Kozuki, who was there to honor high school history and government teacher David Fulenwider.

Fulenwider, who has served as president of Portland-based Japan America Society of Maine for eight years, was presented with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by the government of Japan in a Portland ceremony Thursday night.

The award is given for the contributions of Fulenwider for Japanese events, spreading Japanese culture and enhancing student-exchange relationships.

Fulenwider and his society assisted Gov. John Baldacci and his delegation to set up a trip to Japan and facilitated meetings with that government.

Fulenwider said his interest in Japan stemmed from his visit there as an exchange student in 1961.

“I had a great host family who introduced me to the Japanese culture. I was 16 years old at the time and after that one summer, I knew I wanted to learn more,” Fulenwider said.

While attending Bates College in Lewiston, he was able to take courses for a year in Japan where he mostly studied the language, Fulenwider said. He received a degree in government.

After two years in the U.S. Army, he was employed by a large bank in Manhattan that wanted to establish an international bank in Tokyo. Fulenwider said he worked for five years for the bank in Japan where he met and married his wife, Eiko.

Getting from Japan to Manhattan to Buckfield, Maine, was another story, Fulenwider said. “My wife and I decided we wanted to raise our son and daughter in a rural setting and I wanted to go into teaching. I came to Buckfield 32 years ago as a teacher.”

Fulenwider said it was years before someone told him about the Japan America Society of Maine that was formed in Portland in 1982. “My wife and I found being a part of this group to be something we really enjoyed,” he said.

Fulenwider said he was excited about his work on getting a sister/city/state relationship between Portland and Shinagawa wa, Japan, as well as two municipalities in Maine.

Fulenwider told the Buckfield Junior-Senior High School students that it was important to continue to work with Japan to further relationships. “There is still much to learn. It is very interesting and satisfying work.”

School Principal George Reuter, sporting an international tie, welcomed Kozuki to the school and praised Fulenwider for his passion for Japan. Reuter told the students, “Follow your heart with your passion. You may not end up being honored as Mr. Fulenwider is today, but follow your passion for the right reasons.”

Kozuki told the students that it was an important day to honor their teacher. “We have relied on Mr. Fulenwider to help us fulfill our responsibilities in Maine. He has been very helpful in promoting cultural exchanges with many educational exchanges. We are grateful for his magnificent contributions,” he said.

Tom Ward, superintendent of Regional School Unit 10, said he was very impressed that a staff member not only has connections with Japan, but is the president of the Japan America Society of Maine. “I think this is a great honor being bestowed on him for his work,” Ward said.

Mark Fulenwider, the couple’s son, came from California where he works as an actor and stunt man in Hollywood to be present for the ceremony.