ANGKOR and I

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30 To the Institute of Asian Cultures of Sophia University At that time, Japan still had no diplomatic relations with Cambodia which was under the Heng Samrin regime, and due to the fact that I continued at Kagoshima National University, I could not enter a nation with which Japan had no diplomatic relations. So, in order to continue my relief activities at the Angkor ruins I considered transferring to my alma mater, namely Sophia University. On discussing the issue with my professor of my university days, namely Paul Rietsch, he informed me that Giuseppe Pittau, who was then the president of Sophia University, was planning on strengthening Asian studies. As a matter of fact in 1980, in the course of his greeting to the people of the university at the commencement of the year, President Pittau affirmed as follows. “Sophia University until now has had its eyes open towards the west, and it has emphasized an internationality primarily centered on the west. Henceforth in the 1980s, with a focus on Asia, I believe we have a mission to understand Asia, cooperate with it, and create a new world.” This coincided with what Professor Paul Rietsch had taught in my university days, namely “Look at Asia lying at your feet.” In May of that year, concrete plans for the structure of Asian studies were presented to the university’s board of trustees, and a preparatory committee was created for the setting up of the “Institute of Asian Cultures.” The purpose of the establishment was expressed as follows. “Today, in various corners of East Asia, in view of the ideology of our university’s founding that seeks cultural exchange between East and West with Christian humanism as a base, the significance of conducting necessary educational activities via comprehensive research on the religions, languages, societies, histories and so on of the many friendly Asian nations in the vicinity, is increasing. Hence, to