By Manal Abdel Fattah
The Embassy of Japan in Cairo honored Japanese Egyptologist Sakuji Yoshimura, honorary professor at Waseda University, and former president of Higashi Nippon International University, who is considered one of the oldest Egyptologists, as he spent 50 years of his life in Egypt searching for Egyptian antiquities.
During his honoring ceremony, the Egyptologist was decorated with the Medal of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, in recognition of his great contributions to enhancing academic exchanges between Japan and Egypt and restoring Egyptian antiquities, including the sun boats of King Khufu.
The celebration was attended by Ambassador Oka Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, Dr. Zahi Hawass, the famous Egyptologist, Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Major General Atef Moftah, General Supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Museum Project, Dr. Issa Zidan, Director General of Restoration at the Grand Egyptian Museum, and Dr. Al-Tayeb Abbas. Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for the Grand Egyptian Museum, and Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.
Dr. Zahi Hawass, the Egyptologist with whom he made many archaeological discoveries, described Sakuji Yoshimura as a legend with a heart beating with love for Egypt and Egyptian antiquities. He presented important discoveries to Egyptian antiquities, including the Khufu II ship and archaeological discoveries in the area of the pyramids.
Sakuji Yoshimura, the Japanese Egyptologist, said that he loves Egypt and has lived there for more than 60 years. He now has more than 42 research schools in Egypt to research and excavate antiquities.
Sakoji explained that he began his archaeological career when he read a book by British Egyptologist Howard Carter about King Tutankhamun, so he decided to travel to Egypt and work in the field of archeology and archaeological excavation.
For his part, Dr. Mustafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, announced that he will begin work on an archaeological project in the pyramids in cooperation with the Japanese side and Egyptologist Sakuji Yoshimura.
