Having made valuable contributions to the Turkish archaeological world for nearly half a century, Dr. Sachihiro Omura, head of the Kalehöyük excavations and founder of the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology, was sent off on his final journey with a ceremony held in the Kaman district of Kırşehir. Dr. Omura played an important role in strengthening cultural ties between Japan and Türkiye.
Commemorated with Extensive Participation
The ceremony held at the Kaman Museum Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology campus was attended by the Governor of Kırşehir Murat Sefa Demiryurek, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gokhan Yazgi, General Director of Cultural Heritage and Museums Birol Incecikoz, Director of the Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology Assoc. Kimiyoshi Matsumura and Dr. Omura's wife, Dr. Masako Omura also participated.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister Yazgı emphasized that Dr. Omura was not only a scientist but also a representative of a life dedicated to humanity, culture and friendship. Yazgı said, “Today, we have gathered here to bid farewell not only to a great scientist but also to a life dedicated to humanity, culture and friendship,” and stated that this speech was a difficult but honorable task for which words were inadequate.
“He Laughed With Us, He Cried With Us, He Lived With Us”
Expressing that Omura saw these lands as his destiny from the day he first stepped into Türkiye 53 years ago, Yazgı noted the following: “He saw Türkiye as a homeland and us as a family; we embraced him wholeheartedly and embraced him with love and respect.”
Emphasizing that the excavations that started in Kalehöyük 40 years ago left not only a scientific but also a human legacy, Yazgı said that traces of Dr. Omura's labor, wisdom and love can be found in every work carried out in Kaman, Yassıhöyük and Büklükale.
Drawing attention to the permanent bridge of friendship established through the Japanese Garden, the Archaeological Museum and the Japanese Anatolian Archaeological Institute, Yazgı said, “He was now an inseparable part of Turkish archaeology; he laughed with us, cried with us, and lived with us.”
At the end of his speech, Yazgı offered his condolences to Dr. Omura's wife, Dr. Masako Omura, and concluded his words as follows:
“Dear Sachihiro Omura… We are grateful to you for calling these lands ‘home’, for carrying our history into the future, and for finding a place in our hearts with your friendship. We will always keep you alive in our hearts. Rest in peace. These lands will never forget you.”
Dr. Sachihiro Omura's contributions to Turkish archaeology and the friendship between the two countries will continue to be remembered by future generations.
