My sincere congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the Japan Foundation Awards. Japan and Thailand have built a firm relationship in both the economic sector and in terms of cultural exchange. In Thailand, a center was opened very soon after the Foundation’s establishment, and came to provide numerous valuable opportunities to experience quality Japanese culture. There are many people around me whose interest in Japan was triggered by the Foundation’s activities. The number of people traveling to Japan, learning Japanese, and even working in jobs connected to Japan, has increased far beyond the level it used to be. I am also delighted to hear that more Japanese people are interested in Thai culture. I express my heartfelt respect for the efforts of all the people involved in the Foundation over these long years. I hope that human exchange between Thailand and Japan will deepen further through the activities of the Japan Foundation in the future, and that this will foster human resources who will be responsible for our friendship and goodwill in the next generation.

Phaisith Phipatanakul

(Original text in Japanese)

Awards and Special Prizes: Recipients List