Thank you Makoto, thank you for being you.  I recall that smile. When you smiled, your whole face smiled and the world became a better place.         …

My thoughts are with you and your family. Your joyfulness and kindness will be sorely missed. Love,  Simon …

I will miss you, Makoto! At work, you were always freely sharing your ideas, insights, time, and affection with me. In our projects you were generous with your time, never looking for an advantage, always interested to push our research further. You were never fake: you praised what you liked and criticized what you didn’t – openly and without malice. The same was true about the private things you shared with me: you were a fantastic father, and I know you loved your wife dearly. I remember you sharing your kids’ Kumon math books, and my son and daughter will never forget the world you opened to them by lending us your Totoro movie. Thank you, my friend, I will miss you! …

In memory of Makoto, a kind and gentle soul who is much missed in the department. Makoto’s care and thoughtfulness, not only for his students but also his colleagues, is something that I will always remember. We would see him often, whether he was popping into the office to ask about one of his students or just for a chat – sometimes he’d just appear with a big smile and boxes of icecreams for us all. In quieter moments he would sit in with us whilst beavering away on his research. It was always a pleasure to be in his company. The department just isn’t the same without him. …

Hey Shimoji-san: You, Alan and I often had lunch together and enjoyed talking about other things. You were also a frequent visitor to my office. We had no overlapping fields of research, so we often talked and complained about work-related matters. I did not know that you often visited and spoke to most academic members and administrators. You had many friends and they came to your funeral. Be proud of it! After the funeral, now I feel that what you shared with me was only one part of yourself. I am very sad about your sudden departure. Enjoy your reunion with Alan. I will see you again, but I don’t know if it will be soon or much later. …

Miyako, Masaru & Minori – what a wonderful man Makoto was.  He will be missed terribly and thought of fondly.  He was always such a calming presence and always so kind, to everyone.  I hope it brings you some comfort to know how very highly he was thought of.  I will miss him popping by with a “quick question”, chatting with him about work and family.  He lit up when he talked about you all.  Such a lovely man xxx. …

To my dear friend Makoto: Today I said my final goodbye to you. It broke my heart. It broke my heart to think there will no longer be a knock on my door to “ask me a small question”, that my phone will ring no more at the most awkward times so you can “talk to me for a minute”, that we will no longer chat about our children and feel proud of them. You are a person of integrity, honesty, and precision with a timeless sense of justice who has touched the lives of so many people through your unfaltering devotion and commitment to our academic world. Yet you are one of the softest and kindest souls on earth. Over the years our bonding became stronger and stronger as we shared our common joys and sorrow. Our countless conversations about our common friends, academic research, and personal lives will always remain a treasure. Thank you dear Makoto for being a true friend and for enriching our lives with your unique personality. Until we meet again, rest in eternal peace, my friend. …

Makoto, you were kind and generous. A wonderful friend and colleague. I will miss you enormously!   …

Miyako, Masaru and Minori, I will hold happy memories of Makoto, who was a thoughtful gentleman who brought much good into our lives. May you always find comfort amongst your friends and family for your loss. …

Makoto was one of the first people who talked to me when I started working in York almost five years ago. He was a genuinely kind and sincere person with a strong sense of justice, constantly looking after and supporting colleagues in cases of unfair treatment. Makoto did not always say what was on his mind, but when he spoke you could always be sure that he meant what he said and that he had thought about it carefully. His measured and contemplative mind made him a wonderful person to work with, especially in research, and I have learned so much from him. He enjoyed casual chats, but he would usually have a work related excuse for dropping by my office, only to stay for a long talk afterwards. Visits from Makoto were always a pleasure and I’m very sad that they have come to an end. While he was a somewhat private person, I do consider him a good friend. He left us much too soon, but he has still managed to improve the lives of many. His impact will last a long time. …