127 The success of the international collaboration between Japan and Cambodia at the Angkor archaeological site has yielded many results. It has been valued highly at the global level, and in 2017 we became recipients of the 59th Ramon Magsaysay Award. This award signifies nothing less than global approval of the Sophia Mission has been fulfilling in Cambodia since 1979, namely the Sophia Mission (the providing of relief to refugees and archaeological sites). This Sophia Mission is a specific contribution to Asia via the founding spirit of the university, and we hereby express our gratitude to all at Sophia for the backing they have offered us over these many years. The activity of the Sophia Mission involves “cooperation between people” on the basis of trust and mutual respect. It is something transcending language, nationality, and race. For me personally though an opening for this was provided by about forty young Cambodian friends. They were conservation officers whom I met in 1961, men who were capable and diligent. The activities of our Sophia Mission commenced with prayers for the repose of souls of the dead, namely for our missing conservation officers. On witnessing the nation of Cambodia being tossed about at the mercy of global politics, I was startled. Each day I shed tears and prayed for peace, wondering why such injustice was considered acceptable. I travelled to Cambodia several times, seeking the whereabouts of friends and others. I earnestly hoped to find them alive, but that was not to be. I dedicate this book to the souls of those young conservation officers. They were men with an intense love for Angkor Wat, and they took a profound pride in it. Frankly speaking though the proposal for this book’s title was obtained thirty-five years ago from Mr. Yao of Union Publishing, when I used to work at Kagoshima University. I offer my apologies for having made him wait so long. Also, with regard to its publication, I wish to express my thankfulness to Ms. Sumi Setsuko and Ms. Nakai Nahomi, for having assisted me in a variety of ways.
元のページ ../index.html#133