Icchiku Yamada and Yayoi Yamazaki appeared on Syria Plus. The interview was conducted at SSJ’s newly established office in Damascus.
Yamada:
“Seeing a Syria liberated from the Assad regime is a source of immense joy, both for the country and for me personally. In 2011, when I saw Syrians of my own generation stand up against dictatorship in pursuit of freedom, something changed profoundly within me.
On the day the regime fell, I could not hold back my tears. Quietly, I found myself saying, ‘We have finally come this far.’ My thoughts were always with those Syrians who sacrificed their lives for the Revolution. This victory belongs to them.”
Yamazaki:
“While living in Syria under the former regime, I often found myself asking why such a rich and beautiful country had been placed in circumstances of such profound injustice.
Even in the field of cultural heritage, which was my area of expertise, I witnessed many deeply troubling realities. My late Syrian husband taught me a great deal about what Syrians truly seek. I shared those aspirations then, and I continue to carry them forward through my work today.”
