The memorial service for Professor Toshisada Nishida who passed away on 7 June 2011, was held at Kyoto University and the Westin Miyako Hotel Kyoto, Japan, on 2 October 2011.

It started at three in the afternoon and was attended by more than 200 people including the colleagues, friends and students of the deceased. A brief note of his career and a copy of Pan Africa News, Special Issue Commemorating the late Professor Nishida, were given to each participant.

At a lecture hall at the Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Drs. Masao Kawai, Kosei Izawa, Ryutaro Ohtsuka, William McGrew, Miho Nakamura, and Kazuhiko Hosaka gave talks about Prof. Nishida’s memories in different time periods. Then the video messages from his international colleagues (Drs. Richard W. Wrangham, John C. Mitani, Frans B. M. de Waal) and from Tongwe assistants were shown with Japanese subtitles. The final speaker at this hall was Ms. Ikuko Nishida, the bereaved daughter. She shared her memories of her father at home. Each speech was really warm and reminiscent of Professor Nishida’s frank character.

At six in the evening, the participants moved by bus to a hall of Westin Miyako Hotel Kyoto, and offered flowers to the altar. Dr. Akisato Nishimura made a short speech and gave a toast to the memory of Professor Nishida. Photos, videos, and some other articles left behind were exhibited at the hall. Participants watched them and cherished the memory of the deceased with other participants. Finally, Mrs. Haruko Nishida, the bereaved wife, made an acknowledgment to close the service at eight in the evening.

Several people kindly made donations for this service. The remaining balance will be donated to the Mahale Wildlife Conservation Society. We would like to continue our activities by following the deceased’s will to conserve chimpanzees and to promote the welfare and education of Tongwe people who have cooperated with the long-term research at Mahale.