On 5 March 2026, Japan convened the 14th Tokyo Dialogue under the “Central Asia plus Japan” framework, bringing together cultural practitioners and experts from Japan and five Central Asian countries to discuss how traditional culture can be preserved while contributing to industrial development and international engagement.
The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the The Global Forum of Japan, and the The Japan Forum on International Relations. The dialogue forms part of the broader “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue (CA+JAD), an initiative designed to strengthen cooperation between Japan and the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The symposium centered on the theme “Preservation of Traditional Culture and Its Use for Industrial Development and International Activities.” Discussions aimed to explore how traditional cultural practices can be sustained while also contributing to economic growth and global cultural exchange.
The meeting also built on commitments outlined in the Tokyo Declaration adopted during the first CA+JAD summit held in Tokyo in December, where leaders from Japan and Central Asia pledged to expand cultural exchanges.
In her opening address, Eri Arfiya, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, emphasized that “we should preserve traditional culture in a way that keeps it alive in modern life, create value from it as an industry, and focus on contributing to international exchanges through global expansion.”
Arfiya expressed hope that discussions during the symposium would lead to concrete cultural exchange initiatives and deeper ties between Japan and Central Asia.
The first half of the dialogue featured presentations from Central Asian participants who had traveled to Japan, outlining the unique characteristics of their countries’ cultural traditions and ongoing efforts to safeguard them.
Cultural activists and practitioners from across Central Asia shared their unique approaches to preservation:
- Kazakhstan: Ulbossyn Daulenova, founder of ASSYMURA.
- Kyrgyz Republic: Nargiza Erkinbaeva, CEO of “One Village One Product +1”.
- Tajikistan: Olim Kamalov, Associate Professor, Department of Graphics and Miniature Painting, State Institute of Fine Arts and Design of Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan: Tajigul Kurbanova, head of the UNESCO-affiliated “Design Plus”
- Uzbekistan: Urazali Tashmatov, Professor of Department of Instrumental Performance of The Uzbekistan State Institute of Arts and Culture, and Nodira Aminova, Representative Director of Japan Uzbekistan Cultural Center
The second half focused on the opportunities and challenges involved in promoting Central Asian culture in Japan. Practitioners working to introduce Central Asian arts, crafts, and cultural activities to Japanese audiences shared their experiences and perspectives.
Closing the event, Ishikawa Masaki, Special Representative for Central Asia at the Japanese Foreign Ministry, welcomed the lively exchanges during the symposium. He stated that cultural exchanges will serve as the foundation for supporting long-term relationships of trust, and that the Government of Japan will utilize the CA+JAD framework to the fullest extent and support dialogue at multiple levels between Japan and Central Asia.
The Tokyo Dialogue series serves as an open forum bringing together scholars, artists, and policy experts, reflecting Japan’s growing engagement with Central Asia in fields ranging from culture to economic cooperation.///nCa, 11 March 2026