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Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation: The Heart of the Partnership

If politics and economics can be viewed as the head and hands of a partnership, then cultural and humanitarian interaction is its heart. It is precisely in the sphere of culture that people’s genuine feelings toward one another are revealed.

Since 1999, the Uzbekistan – Japan Friendship Society has been established in partnership with the Japan – Uzbekistan and Fukushima – Uzbekistan friendship associations. In 2002, the Uzbek-Japanese Scientific and Creative Center “Caravanserai of Culture” was opened in Tashkent, specializing in the study of the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan, Japan, and other countries of the Silk Road. In March 2005, the Hiroshima Peace Stone was installed – a symbol of the aspiration for peace and reconciliation. In 2018, the Association of Uzbek Youth in Japan was established to serve as a platform for youth exchange and cross-cultural understanding.

An Unprecedented Surge in Cultural Events

In April 2022, to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the cultural event “The Spirit of the Silk Road – A Bridge of Friendship” was held in Tokyo. Japanese choreographer Akiko Kitamura, together with masters of the traditional art of bakhshichilik, presented the contemporary dance project Echo of Calling – a work in which Eastern tradition met modern choreography.

In August 2024, the premiere of the stage production “Aminov and the Soldier. The Blossoming of Sakura” took place at the Alisher Navoi State Academic Grand Theatre. The production marked a significant moment in the fusion of Uzbek literary classics with Japanese screenwriting craftsmanship.

November 2024. In Tokyo, the premiere of the first joint Uzbekistan – Japan feature film, “Invincible: The Road to Tokyo”, took place. The film is dedicated to Uzbek boxer Bakhromjon Jalolov’s achievements at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. It stands as a symbol of resilience, the greatness of the human spirit, and victories attained through perseverance.

In January 2025, the popular Japanese singer and performer on traditional instruments, Mashu Komazaki, was appointed Ambassador of Uzbek Culture in Japan for her contribution to the development of cultural and educational ties. This rare recognition testifies to the deep resonance of Uzbek culture within Japanese society.

EXPO in Osaka: The Uzbek Pavilion as a Symbol of Unity

In April 2025, during the World Expo in the city of Osaka, the Uzbekistan pavilion titled “Garden of Knowledge: A Laboratory for a Future Society” was opened. The pavilion was recognized as one of the most striking attractions of the exhibition, serving as a testament to Uzbekistan’s creative and innovative approach.

On May 18, 2025, the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan performed at the EXPO venue. The concert concluded with the world premiere of Celestial Dance, a piece explicitly composed in honor of the friendship between our countries. This musical composition is a universal language, understood by all peoples – a bridge between the hearts of two nations.

Education: 2,594 Students Shaping the Future

In 2001, the Uzbek-Japanese Center for Human Resources Development was established to provide courses in the Japanese language, ICT, business management, and cultural exchange.

Japanese language instruction is offered at six leading universities in Uzbekistan. At present, 2,594 students are studying Japanese, preparing to become ambassadors of mutual understanding between our peoples.

At Tashkent State Technical University, the project “Uzbek-Japanese Youth Innovation Center” is being implemented in partnership with the University of Tsukuba, Nagoya University, Keio University, Toyohashi University of Technology, and the Tokyo Institute of Technology – an incubator for the engineers of the future.

The JDS Scholarship Program (a grant aid program of the Government of Japan), implemented since 1999, has enabled more than 400 young people to earn master’s degrees at Japanese universities.

In 2010, a representative office of Nagoya University was established in Tashkent, a clear sign of Japan’s long-term educational plans.

On December 18, 2019, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, was awarded the title of Honorary Doctor of Nagoya University for his contribution to the development of education and science.

Five forums of rectors of higher education institutions from the two countries (2011, 2015, 2019, 2022, and 2025) have served as platforms for discussing strategic areas of cooperation.

Healthcare: Lives Saved and Expertise Shared

From 1995 to 2024, the Government of Japan provided grant assistance totaling $60 million for the supply of modern medical equipment and the provision of vaccines to maternal and child healthcare institutions – assistance measured in lives saved.

More than 100 Japanese volunteer specialists worked in Uzbekistan’s medical institutions as nurses, medical equipment maintenance experts, and infection prevention specialists. More than 200 Uzbek medical professionals completed training programs in Japan, gaining exposure to best practices.

Sister Cities: Networks of Friendship on the Map

Uzbekistan and Japan have established friendly ties between cities and regions:

Rishtan – Maizuru (2019)

Tashkent – Nagoya (2019)

Samarkand region – Nara prefecture (2021)

Samarkand – Nara (2022)

On July 1-2, 2023, Samarkand Days – a festival of Uzbek culture – were held in Nara. In June 2024, a cultural event marking the fifth anniversary of the Cooperation Agreement took place in Nagoya.

Uzbekistan hosted Japanese prefectural governors Hideaki Furuta (Gifu, 2024) and Masaki Yamashita (Nara, 2024). In 2025, the Mayor of Nara, Gen Nakagawa, visited Uzbekistan. In July 2025, a delegation from Samarkand region, led by Hokim Adiz Boboyev, participated in joint events with Nara representatives at Expo 2025 Osaka.

Tourism: A Renewed Interest in the Silk Road

Statistics on the arrival of Japanese citizens in Uzbekistan indicate a growing interest:

2019: 24,944 visitors

2020: 1,418 visitors (pandemic)

2021: 968 visitors

2022: 3,045 visitors

2023: 12,360 visitors

2024: 21,462 visitors

Tourist flows recovered in record time, with a nearly twofold increase between 2023 and 2024. Japanese travelers are once again rediscovering the treasures of the Silk Road.

In Memory of Japanese Internees: When Captivity Became a Lesson in Nobility

A particularly poignant chapter in the history of relations between Uzbekistan and Japan is the period following World War II. From 1947 to 1950, approximately 25,000 Japanese citizens were held in Uzbekistan as internees, placed in special camps and employed as labor for the restoration of industry.

These individuals, torn away from their homeland, made a significant contribution to the development of Uzbekistan’s economy by participating in the reconstruction and construction of facilities that continue to serve our people today.

In Tashkent: the Alisher Navoi State Academic Grand Theatre, the Tashkent Textile Company, administrative buildings, the Central Telegraph, the Muqimi Theatre, and hydraulic engineering facilities.

In Chirchiq: the Uzbekhimmash and Chirchiqsilmash plants.

In Bekabad: a high-voltage power transmission line and the Farhad Hydroelectric Power Plant.

A commemorative plaque at the Alisher Navoi State Academic Grand Theatre reads: “In 1945-1946, hundreds of Japanese citizens deported from the Far East took part in the construction of the A. Navoi Theatre building”.

The Human Dimension: Compassion Above All

The most remarkable aspect is the human one. During those difficult years, Japanese citizens encountered understanding, compassion, and nobility from the Uzbek people. Residents offered assistance, shared fruit, and treated them with dignity.

A total of 819 Japanese nationals (3 percent of those interned) did not survive this period, with tuberculosis being the primary cause of death. They are buried at ten cemeteries across the country:

Tashkent: 79

Bekabad: 146

Angren: 133

Kokand: 240

Kagan: 153

and other cities

It is unique that deceased Japanese were buried in Muslim cemeteries of Uzbekistan – testimony to the Islamic tolerance and universal compassion of our ancestors.

Preserving Memory: Sakura Over a Sacred Site

Over the past 20 years, with the assistance of the Embassy of Japan in Tashkent, burial sites have been carefully restored and maintained. At the Yakkasaray Cemetery, white stone grave markers with inscriptions in Japanese characters have been installed, along with a commemorative stele and a memorial complex. Sakura trees – the symbol of Japan – have been planted and bloom each year over this sacred place, linking the two nations through a bridge of memory.

The gravestones bear inscriptions in Japanese and Uzbek that read: “Eternal friendship between peoples, we vow never to wage war” – a philosophy that defines the development of our relations.

Heroes of Memory: Three Generations of Devotion

Miroqil Fozilov, a resident, recalls: “When the war ended, I was a child, but I clearly remember the Japanese soldiers building the road. There were about one hundred and fifty of them. They marched to work in formation. Gloomy gray clothing, wooden clogs… I will never forget the sound of their footsteps. My mother treated them to fruit from our garden. And our father, Fozil-ota, buried the deceased in the Muslim cemetery – he personally laid 79 people to rest”.

Mr. Miroqil continues his father’s work. His sons help care for this legacy. It is the story of three generations of Uzbeks faithful to the duty of remembrance.

In 1998, Jalil Sultanov, a Tashkent-based engineer, opened a private home museum dedicated to the memory of Japanese internees on his own initiative. The museum houses materials on the camps, photographs, Japanese-made cradles, portraits, and handicrafts. Mr. Sultanov also produces documentary films about the lives of the internees. This museum is listed in all Japanese reference guides on Central Asia.

In October 2015, the cemetery and the museum were visited by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was deeply moved by the respectful attitude of the Uzbek people toward the memory of Japanese soldiers.

On April 30, 2024, a ceremonial opening of the museum’s new building took place, designated as the “Memorial Exhibition on the Stay of Japanese Citizens in Uzbekistan in the 1940s”. This modernization demonstrates both sides’ commitment to preserving historical memory.

International Recognition

Emperor Akihito awarded:

Jalil Sultanov (2016) and Miroqil Fozilov (2017) received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays for their services in preserving memory and deepening mutual understanding. This represents a rare form of recognition at the highest level of the Japanese state.

Treaty and Legal Framework: The Foundation of Cooperation

186 signed documents confirm the solidity of the partnership between Uzbekistan and Japan:

85 intergovernmental and interstate agreements

34 interagency agreements

67 other documents (joint statements, declarations, protocols)

This figure reflects the meticulous work of diplomatic services that has established a solid legal foundation for cooperation.

Conclusion: The Voice of an International Expert

Amid a transforming geopolitical landscape, the partnership between Uzbekistan and Japan stands out as a vivid example of how historical memory and civilizational ties can serve as the foundation for constructive contemporary cooperation. This is not merely trade in goods – it is the revival of a millennia-old tradition of mutual cultural enrichment.

Japanese investment ($6.3 billion through JICA and $3.5 billion through JBIC) is based on a long-term strategy: the prosperity of Central Asia aligns with Japan’s interests, while regional stability ensures the security of Asia as a whole.

By supporting Japan more than 40 times within the United Nations framework, Uzbekistan demonstrates principled consistency and loyalty to its partners. This is an expression of genuine respect for a country that invests in our future.

Cultural cooperation demonstrates that what unites us is not strategic expediency, but a genuine closeness of values: respect for history, the pursuit of excellence, fidelity to duty, and nobility of spirit.

The upcoming visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Japan is not merely a diplomatic event. It is a historical milestone, underscoring both sides’ readiness to achieve a breakthrough. The trade turnover of $388.5 million is not a ceiling, but a starting point. Investments exceeding $13 billion are investments in a future that both sides envision together.

The Uzbekistan pavilion at EXPO in Osaka, the concert by the National Symphony Orchestra, and the world premiere of Celestial Dance symbolize a readiness to present not a clash of civilizations, but their harmonious convergence.

The partnership between Uzbekistan and Japan is a story of how two ancient civilizations, geographically distant, come together through respect, investment, and genuine human understanding. It is a story that continues to be written every day, with each new project and each cultural encounter.

As President Shavkat Mirziyoyev prepares for his visit to the Land of the Rising Sun, all of Uzbekistan can take pride: we have earned the friendship of a nation that eight centuries ago received from our ancestors the gift of Buddhism and culture and today generously returns this goodwill through investment, knowledge, and sincere respect.

“Eternal friendship between peoples, we vow never to wage war”. These words engraved on a memorial stone are not merely a slogan. They are the foundation upon which we are building a shared future.

Abduaziz Khidirov,

Master’s student,

Academy of Public Policy and Administration under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan,

UzA