Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - On 16 December 2019, the international scientific conference “Uzbekistan and Japan on the Great Silk Road” was held in Tokyo.

The purpose of the event is to discuss further cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan on the conservation, study and popularization of the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan.

The event was organized by the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan, the National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan (NAEMMI), the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Japan, and the State Committee for Tourism Development.

The conference presented the work of the international multimedia project “The Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan in the collections of the world” related to the study by Japanese specialists of Uzbek artifacts stored in museums in Japan. Its results have already been reflected in the book-album "The Art of Central Asia in the Collections of Japan", published in four languages - Japanese, Uzbek, English and Russian. In addition to the publishing part, a documentary film on the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan in Japanese collections was prepared together with the Japanese side.

Despite the long-standing scientific contacts of our countries, the participation of Uzbek specialists in congresses, conferences and creative meetings organized by the Japanese side, this is the first large-scale event held in Japan by the Republic of Uzbekistan.

This event is of particular importance as a demonstration of the reforms carried out by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aimed at broad international cooperation in various spheres of public life, the desire to popularize and present the richest traditions of Uzbek culture in the international arena. Proof of this is the message of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, published in an album-book and read to the conference participants in Japanese by a member of the board of the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Promotion of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan Sergey Laptev.

Another goal of the conference was to strengthen ties with Japanese scientific circles, to tell and show to journalists, public figures, potential investors and a wide circle of people interested in the history of the Great Silk Road the rich cultural potential of our country.

- I cannot but notice how your country is changing rapidly, especially the last 3 years. Today it is a modern state that has its own recognizable image on the world stage,” said Director of the Hayashibara Museum Taniichi Takashi in an interview. - The organization of such a level of a scientific conference is an unprecedented fact. This is another successful demonstration of the changes that are taking place in your country thanks to the support and attention of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Attention to the cultural heritage and its popularization is a very important and characteristic feature of the new Uzbekistan. The study of Uzbek art in Japanese museums, the creation of documentaries, the organization of scientific conferences is a completely new stage in the knowledge of not only Uzbek, but also world heritage.

As Yoneda Yusuke, former director of the Shoshoin Imperial Treasury of the Office of the Imperial Court of Japan, noted, “I would like to express deep gratitude to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev for his interest in the history and culture of his country, efforts and efforts to preserve the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan. Your country has unprecedented scientific potential and a rich heritage, and the fact that our cultural ties, laid down in antiquity, today receive a new breath - the merit of your country. Summarizing the work of Uzbek and Japanese researchers, it is possible to deepen and expand the studies of the Great Silk Road.

The ex-deputy director of the museum at the Archaeological Institute in Kashihara Kinoshita Wataru, noted the level of the presented book-albums of the series “Cultural heritage of Uzbekistan in the collections of the world”:

- The magnificent publications presented at the event tell in detail about the collections of Uzbek art in Japanese museums. Their study is of great importance and we need to continue research and scientific work in this direction. I sincerely believe that under the leadership of the President of Uzbekistan, work will continue in the direction of supporting cultural and scientific projects, thanks to which we, together with our Uzbek colleagues, will be able to implement our scientific plans.

According to Tenri Museum’s chief advisor Matsuda Shinichi, such initiatives are a great experience for Japan. “Your country’s vast and important experience in preserving cultural heritage is undoubtedly an excellent example for Japanese researchers. We Japanese need to learn from you. We are united by many things, including the fact that Japan, like Uzbekistan, positions culture as its visiting card. But the way and with what scale the President of Uzbekistan promotes the popularization of his country’s culture deserves great respect and study.

 “I’m sure that if you add the latest information technologies to your experience of exploring and popularizing your cultural heritage, Uzbekistan will occupy a leading position in the world in the field of heritage conservation,” said Hamaguchi Mitinari, director of the Agency for Scientific and Technical Cooperation of Japan. - It is impossible not to notice what large-scale reforms began in your country 3 years ago. Uzbekistan is changing rapidly, becoming an open country. This is the great merit of your President. The fact that Uzbekistan makes culture a pillar of its politics is truly a matter of pride for all of your people. For us, the culture of Uzbekistan is no less interesting. After all, the themes of the Great Silk Road, the transfer of ideas, technologies, cultural traditions, or the invention of Samarkand paper, which is now being studied by experts of Aichi Prefecture, are all our common heritage. The combination of innovation with tradition is what modern science needs, and I hope that our joint work in this direction will be more active.