Page 95 - A Life Well-Lived Is a Beautiful Memory

My Esteemed

Colleague,

Bhanupong

Shigeyuki Abe
22 March 2024

My initial acquaintance with Bhanupong dates back to the inception of the Core University
Project, a collaborative endeavor between Kyoto University and Thammasat University over two
decades ago. Assigned to oversee affairs from the Kyoto University end, I vividly recall Rector

Naris Chaiyasoot of Thammasat University appointing Bhanupong as the project leader on their
side. Thus commenced a close collaboration wherein we delved into various aspects of the project,
spanning research themes, liaison with collaborators, meticulous planning of meetings, and more.
The project boasted a substantial budget, facilitating the attraction of numerous esteemed Asian
researchers to Kyoto, and enriching our endeavors. Annually, a conference convened either in

Kyoto or Bangkok, gathering all participants to synthesize and document our findings. Leveraging
on my tenure as the editor-in-chief of the journal of the East Asian Economic Association, I
extended invitations to members, while Bhanupong reciprocated through his association, thus

assembling a formidable cadre of talents that propelled the project to prominence. The fruition of
our efforts materialized in the publication of our research findings in 2008, courtesy of a publishing
grant, resulting in the seminal work “East Asian Economies and New Regionalism” under the
auspices of Kyoto University Press.
Even after the project’s culmination, our paths intertwined biannually at the Asian Economic

Panel, where Bhanupong’s insights, steeped in his expertise as a leading macroeconomist, never
failed to captivate me with their incisive acumen. His camaraderie was evident in his consistent
encouragement of my contributions, reciprocated by my admiration for his astute observations.

Fond memories encompass our exploration of New York, wherein his unassuming demeanor off
the conference floor juxtaposed his fervent engagement in scholarly discourse. One particular
image, etched indelibly in my mind, encapsulates his essence against the backdrop of a New York
street corner.

Bhanupong Nidhiprabha 95