His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Bhutan’s King—widely known as the People’s King—has received an honorary doctorate from the Chiba Institute of Technology in Japan. This is the latest in a growing list of honors awarded to Bhutan’s King. In 2024 alone, several Thai universities also conferred honorary doctorates on His Majesty.
Chiba Institute of Technology recognized His Majesty’s role in Bhutan’s smooth transition to democracy, his leadership of key initiatives like the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) and Gyalsung, and his ongoing efforts to promote the philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH).
The GMC and Gyalsung are among His Majesty’s most recent projects and have gained strong momentum. The GMC aims to build a sustainable city in the southern town of Gelephu—one that not only reflects mindful urban planning but also encourages young Bhutanese living abroad to return home. Gyalsung, on the other hand, is similar to the country’s voluntary military program, De-suung. It has already trained hundreds of young Bhutanese in both military and physical skills, giving them a sense of unity and purpose—something that may become harder to find as Bhutan continues to modernize.
His Majesty was in Japan to receive the award alongside other recipients: philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.
The citation highlighted that “His Majesty’s leadership embodies what we seek to inspire in our students: ethical courage, systems thinking, and global responsibility,” and noted that the university was proud to present him with the highest honor it can bestow.