On February 1st, 2012, H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and his wife Mrs. Ileana de la Guardia de Kosmas, paid a courtesy visit to the Arakawa Water Museum, which is sister museum of the Interoceanic Panama Canal Museum, and where there is a monument in honor of Mr. Akira Aoyama, a hydraulic engineer who participated in the construction of the Panama Canal from 1904 until 1911.
Mr. Masaru Kojima, General Manager of the Arakawa Karyu River Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, gave a tour of the Arakawa Water Museum, explaining the history of Akarawa River and the work which was performed by Engineer Aoyama.
On the occasion of his visit, Ambassador Kosmas offered a flower arrangement in memory of Mr. Aoyama. Mr. Aoyama learned excavations and canalization techniques during his experience at the Panama Canal, which he used to prevent frequent floods of Sumida River in the Tokyo area, in the early 20th century.
During the meeting with Mr. Kojima, Ambassador Kosmas reiterated the importance of the work performed by the Engineer Aoyama, which was indispensable for the development of Japan, and also the need to disseminate to Japanese citizens about his work.
Mr. Kojima appreciated the visit of Ambassador Kosmas and his wife, expressing his interest in that Panama and Japan strengthen relations through sister museums of both countries.
H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and his wife Mrs. Ileana de la Guardia de Kosmas, hearing the explanation of Mr. Masaru Kojima, General Manager of the Arakawa Karyu River Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan
H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and his wife Mrs. Ileana de la Guardia de Kosmas, hearing the explanation of Mr. Masaru Kojima, General Manager of the Arakawa Karyu River Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, in the Arakawa Water Museum
From left to right side, Mr. Yoshinori Itou, Deputy General Manager of the Arakawa Karyu River Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, Mr. Masaru Kojima, General Manager of the Arakawa Karyu River Office, H.E. Jorge Kosmas Sifaki, Ambassador of Panama to Japan, and his wife Mrs. Ileana de la Guardia de Kosmas, in front of the monument in honor of Mr. Akira Aoyama