Japanese Envoy Vows to Carry Forward Legacy of Those Who Died in Cambodia

Japanese Envoy Vows to Carry Forward Legacy of Those Who Died in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 3, 2026 — Japan’s Ambassador-designate to Cambodia, ISHIZUKI Hideo, laid flowers at memorials on October 2 honoring three Japanese nationals who lost their lives while serving or working in Cambodia.

The memorials commemorate the late Police Superintendent TAKATA Haruyuki, a civilian police officer with the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC); NAKATA Atsuhito, a United Nations Volunteer election monitor; and ISHIYAMA Koki, a Kyodo News journalist.

TAKATA and NAKATA lost their lives while serving in United Nations peacekeeping operations in Cambodia. ISHIYAMA was killed while reporting from territory controlled by the Khmer Rouge.

During the memorial visit, Ambassador-designate ISHIZUKI paid tribute to those who lost their lives in Cambodia and expressed his condolences to their families and those affected by their deaths.

ISHIZUKI also pledged to carry forward their commitment to peace and work to further deepen relations between Japan and Cambodia.

The Japanese government, according to the embassy statement, will continue to support Cambodia’s democratic development.

The visit came as part of the ambassador-designate’s activities in Cambodia ahead of his diplomatic tenure.