笹岡正俊さんを追悼する

Tribute to My Professor

Alfian Helmi（笹岡ゼミ元学生）

I first met Sasaoka sensei when he was working at CIFOR around February 2013. At that time, my aspiration to pursue a master’s and doctoral degree at Hokkaido University was warmly welcomed by him. From that first meeting, our discussions grew more intensive and eventually led to my acceptance as a student at Hokkaido University with the support of the Monbukagakusho (MEXT) scholarship.

For me, Sasaoka sensei was not only an academician, but also a mentor. He was a kind, humble, and deeply dedicated person. From him, I learned the true meaning of being a lecturer: not merely to lecture, but to guide, to listen, and to provide an example in everyday life.

Throughout my academic journey, we engaged in several research projects together, including publishing a co-author article in the Journal of Rural Studies. Through these experiences, I witnessed firsthand how he worked with remarkable dedication, paid close attention to detail, and always placed integrity as the foundation of our research.

As his student, my deepest impression was his unwavering attention, even outside the classroom. He always made time to discuss ideas, to listen to my concerns as an international student in Japan, and to offer encouragement whenever I faced difficulties. His guidance, example, and kindness will always remain in my memory. He was a person who played a pivotal role in my academic career. I feel truly fortunate to have been his student, and I owe him a great deal. Sayonara, sensei. Your legacy of knowledge will continue to illuminate the path for us, your students.