Farewell Speech
168th International Senior Seminar
Dr. Kattiya Ratanadilok (Thailand)

Director Senta, Deputy Director Ishihara, Professor Hirano, faculty and staff of UNAFEI,JICA, ACPF, distinguished guests, and my dear fellow participants.
Good evening, kon-banwa.
It is my great honor to be standing here representing all of the participants delivering thisfarewell speech. While I was preparing my speech, images of all the things that have
happened in the last 30 days came alive, namely the snow day, ACPF receptions, Japaneseclass, VPO’s houses, MOJ and, Shinkansen rides, beautiful temples and shrines, tall Kyoto
and Tokyo Towers, and the moving Hiroshima events.
Our entire journey has not only been the most enriching but also the most entertaining.
These days, we have developed a filial affection towards each other and also with the staffof UNAFEI and JICA as well as our Japanese participants. All of our professors,administrative staff, especially Jun-san, Arisa-san, Ide-san and Minase-san, and ourJapanese classmates Kata-san, Honda-san, Oku-san, Shio-san, Taro-san, Waka-san, andYasu-san. They have become our second family as we have spent most of our time days
after days, weekdays and weekends, from mornings to nights, breakfasts to dinners, on thetrains and buses, in the gym, Lounge A and Lounge B, singing and listening to the very
unique Karaoke songs we all enjoyed, and experiencing fun as well as flu times together.
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Do you remember Saturday’s lunch party at UNAFEI when we were all surprised with thebirthday cake and drunken man magic show and amazing card trick by Director Senta? So,
let us take this opportunity to thank all of you for being the best caregivers ever. We willremember each one of you for giving us your help and support whenever we needed it.
Though we all have not be that close but, that occasion of passing the smile crossingclassroom, cafeteria, and Ping-Pong tables has been very nice and heartwarming. Also
giggling in the Japanese classes and on the stage at the ACPF’s reception dinner where wewere all sounding out words that we were not quite sure what they actually meant (sorry tobring this back as some of us may be trying to forget that traumatized evening). Yes, we all
did. And yes, all of these memories would be unforgettable.
We want to thank UNAFEI and JICA for giving us a wealth of learning opportunities by
arranging lectures of experts from within Japan including the VPO’s, and from abroad,sharing knowledge and best practices from participants from various counties (as Gaña-san
pointed out that it is a good opportunity for us to “shop” for new ideas that will help us
when we return to our own countries), and several study visits to places that help enrich ourknowledge and understanding of the concept and the promotion of the Rule of Law. Our
sincere gratitude also goes to the staff of Tokyo’s Probation Office, the Supreme Court andthe Tokyo District Court, the Hiroshima High Public Prosecutors Office, Halfway Houses,
and the Juvenile Training School who welcomed us so warmly and kindly and patiently
explained to us their work. With that experience came the various receptions from the MOJ

2with the Vice-Minister of Justice, a chance to meet with UNAFEI alumni, and the superdinner reception provided by the ACPF Hiroshima Branch.
We have also benefited greatly from the group work assignment. Apart from the knowledge
that we co-created in producing the paper according to the topic of our interest, working aspart of a group has taught us skills that we can use in more than just the professional area of
our life.
Now, as we are leaving, we want you to remember us the good times that we have had
together and forgive us for our inconvenience to you in any way. Moreover, our best wishes
for UNAFEI, JICA, and the ACPF will always be there and we sincerely wish that yourorganizations continue to get more interesting and exciting training programs that wouldbenefit other participants from all over the world in many more years to come. We areleaving here today with a wealth of knowledge we will always treasure. We will utilize
what we’ve learnt in our future endeavors.
Now, I will speak on my own behalf. My wish for everyone here is for you all to be
successful and happy in things you find important.
Thank you once again for all your support and friendship. Moments spent with you all will
always hold a special place in my heart.
Domo arigato gozaimasu

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