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As a child, Sakuji Yoshimura read about the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb by British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. Since then, he has dreamt of becoming an archaeologist like Carter.

After attending Waseda University, Yoshimura spent a year surveying all major monuments in ancient Egypt, from Alexandria to Abu Simbel. This was the first ever field study of its kind carried out by a Japanese person.

“During this research, I realized that Egypt deserves that I dedicate my whole life to it,” said Japanese Egyptologist Yoshimura, President Higashi Nippon International University.

The above was part of a documentary about Yoshimura displayed in an event held at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Cairo to celebrate his being awarded the Decoration of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, by the Emperor of Japan for his achievements in academic exchanges and promotion of cooperation for scientific research between Japan and Egypt over many years.

Yoshimura had started his excavation activities in Egypt in 1966. Since then, he has conducted several joint archaeological excavation projects and his team is continuing its archaeological activities on the fields today.

“The list of his achievements is countless, and his successful achievement is made possible by his devotion to Egyptology, who has opened ways singlehandedly as a pathfinder,” Ambassador Oka Hiroshi said.

Among his numerous achievements is the project, which is internationally highly acclaimed, to excavate and restore the Second Khufu Boat in co-operation with experts of both countries and with the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency.

When Yoshimura decided to carry out excavations in Egypt, he joined Cairo University after graduating from Waseda University, where he worked hard to obtain rights to archaeological excavation, while studying Egyptology.

Famed archaeologists Zahi Hawass and Supreme Council of Antiquities’ (SCA) Secretary General Mostafa Waziry attended the celebration on November 30.

It was announced that a huge archaeological project in the Pyramids area will be carried out by the joint Japanese-Egyptian mission in the near future.

The Egyptian side is headed by Waziry and the Japanese by Yoshimura. Yoshimura, now 80, is still in search of new discoveries.

Source: Egyptian Gazette