【Photo Diary】 (2) Visit to Malaysia

Published on October 21, 2024
I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my visit to Malaysia from August 31 to September 4, 2024, in my capacity as chairman of The Nippon Foundation.
 
[September 2, Kuching and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia]

 

Visiting a Japanese cemetery in Kuching, the capital of the state of Sarawak. It contains 32 graves, including those of 29 “Karayuki-san,” Japanese girls and women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries who were trafficked from poverty-stricken agricultural prefectures in Japan to Southeast Asia and other parts of Asia to serve as prostitutes.
Visiting a Japanese cemetery in Kuching, the capital of the state of Sarawak. It contains 32 graves, including those of 29 “Karayuki-san,” Japanese girls and women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries who were trafficked from poverty-stricken agricultural prefectures in Japan to Southeast Asia and other parts of Asia to serve as prostitutes.
Laying a wreath flowers and praying at the monument to "Karayuki-san" and other Japanese.
Laying a wreath flowers and praying at the monument to "Karayuki-san" and other Japanese.
Visiting Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, an orangutan sanctuary and nature reserve that offers the chance to get up close to semi-wild orangutan.
Visiting Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, an orangutan sanctuary and nature reserve that offers the chance to get up close to semi-wild orangutan.
Walking through the forest in the Gunung Gading National Park in search of world’s largest flower.
Walking through the forest in the Gunung Gading National Park in search of world’s largest flower.
I finally found the Rafflesia arnoldii, the flower with the world’s largest bloom, reaching a size of almost one meter in diameter. It was larger than I had expected.
I finally found the Rafflesia arnoldii, the flower with the world’s largest bloom, reaching a size of almost one meter in diameter. It was larger than I had expected.
After flying back to Kuala Lumpur, I met with Dr. Abdul Razak Ahmad, Special Advisor to the Foreign Minister of Malaysia, in my capacity as chairman of The Nippon Foundation and also as Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar. Malaysia will assume the chair of the Association of Southeast Asi an Nations (ASEAN) in 2025.
After flying back to Kuala Lumpur, I met with Dr. Abdul Razak Ahmad, Special Advisor to the Foreign Minister of Malaysia, in my capacity as chairman of The Nippon Foundation and also as Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar. Malaysia will assume the chair of the Association of Southeast Asi an Nations (ASEAN) in 2025.
I underlined the importance of all 10 ASEAN member states having the same position on Myanmar. I also stressed the need to pursue “silent diplomacy” when confronted with a situation as challenging and complicated as Myanmar’s. Sticking with this policy, please allow me to refrain from posting further details of my talks on Myanmar in this and the following blogs.
(To be continued)