On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Japanese scientist Kyuzo Kato’s birth, an international conference was held in Termez on “Kyuzo Kato and the Heritage of Buddhism of the Ancient Surkhan Oasis”.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Heritage Aziz Abdukhakimov noted the fruitful work of the great scientist Kyuzo Kato, who devoted his life to studying the ancient land of the Surkhan oasis, which in the past was of great importance in the formation of Buddhism, as well as his great merits in strengthening friendship and cooperation between Japan and Uzbekistan.

The Ambassador of Uzbekistan Mukhsinkhoja Abdurakhmonov, in turn, dwelled on the invaluable merits of Professor Kyuzo Kato in popularizing the history of Uzbekistan, developing the science of archeology in the country and stressed that the scientist was a true friend of Uzbekistan.

The Embassy put forward an initiative to create a Center for the Study of Buddhism Heritage in Central Asia.

Counselor of the Japanese Embassy in Uzbekistan Shinsuke Toda emphasized the great contribution of Kyuzo Kato to the development of cultural and scientific cooperation between the two countries and expressed deep gratitude to the government of the country for its efforts to perpetuate the memory of the Japanese scientist.

Deputy Chairman of the Japan – Uzbekistan Friendship Association, former Japanese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Fumihiko Kato noted the great merits of Professor Kyuzo Kato in the development of the strategic partnership.

Sadako Kato, the spouse of the late Kyuzo Kato, expressed her gratitude for organizing a high-level event in memory of her husband. She emphasized that her husband devoted most of his life to archaeological excavations and scientific research in Uzbekistan, willingly did his job, and eventually died in his beloved country – Uzbekistan.

UzA