Memorial Report: Funeral of Board Member Katsumasa Yagisawa Held in Thailand
We are deeply saddened to announce that our board member, Katsumasa Yagisawa, passed away on January 7, 2025, at the age of 66.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the kindness and support he received during his lifetime.
A traditional Thai Buddhist funeral was held in Bangkok, Thailand.
From January 8 to 10, nightly chanting ceremonies were conducted from 6:30 PM at Wat Saphan in the Khlong Toei district.
While the primary rites followed Thai Buddhist customs and were led by Thai monks, on January 10, a Japanese Soto Zen-style ceremony, including precepts and sutra chanting, was also held. This was in honor of Mr. Yagisawa’s deep ties with the Soto Zen community and the presence of Shanti’s board members and related staff at the ceremony.
On January 11, following a final sutra recitation and Dharma talk, a cremation ceremony was conducted at the temple crematorium.
More than 100 individuals gathered to pay their final respects, including representatives from the Embassy of Japan in Thailand, JICA, various Japanese companies based in Thailand, long-time friends, members of the local media, our board members, Tokyo Office staff, colleagues from our project offices in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the Myanmar (Burma) refugee camps, former staff, and members of our partner organization, Sikkha Asia Foundation (SAF). The ceremony was marked by numerous floral tributes and a collective farewell filled with warmth and gratitude.
In accordance with Mr. Yagisawa’s wishes, his ashes were scattered in the Mekong River by his family, and a portion was interred in Ban Sawai Village, Surin Province.
Yakigawa was awarded the Thavadan Medal (Knight Grand Officer) by the Government of Cambodia—the highest-ranking honor bestowed on foreigners, in recognition of his significant contributions to the country’s peace and development.
A memorial gathering in Japan will also be organized by Shanti Volunteer Association. Details will be announced on our website once preparations are complete.
Interview with Katsumasa Yagisawa (In Japanese)
“Forty Years on the Frontlines of Educational Support in Asia – His Lifelong Devotion to the Field”
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Public Relations
Akiko Suzuki
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