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Science

Air Pollution Research Center Opens at Osh State University with Japanese Support

A new Inter-Institutional Research Center for Air Pollution Studies (IRCAPS) has been inaugurated at Osh State University in southern Kyrgyzstan. The center is part of a five-year joint project between Osh State University and the Tokyo University of Science. Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the $5 million initiative includes full provision of technical equipment for the facility. The opening ceremony, held on November 18, was attended by Professor Nobutoshi Nawa, a leading scientist from the Tokyo University of Science, and Nishigato Kotaro, JICA’s representative in Kyrgyzstan. Osh State University Rector Kudaiberdi Kojobekov stated that the center's establishment represents a new phase in scientific and educational collaboration between Kyrgyzstan and Japan. The center will focus on studying the health impacts of air pollution. Monitoring equipment will be installed both indoors and outdoors in residential areas to assess air quality in Osh, Bishkek, and other regions. Japanese scientists will collaborate directly with Kyrgyz researchers, and the resulting data will be used to formulate policy recommendations for relevant institutions and stakeholders. The project is being carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, the Hydrometeorological Service, the International Higher Medical School, the Osh City Administration, and various international partners. Air pollution remains a critical issue in Kyrgyzstan, particularly in its largest urban centers, Bishkek and Osh. Key sources include the widespread use of coal for heating and vehicle exhaust emissions.

Foreign Grants

Japanese Grant Program to Fund School Construction and Hospital Modernization in Tajikistan

Japan has committed around $230,000 in grant funding for two new social infrastructure projects in Tajikistan, aimed at enhancing education and healthcare in regions impacted by the April 2025 earthquake. A formal signing ceremony took place in Dushanbe, where Japanese Ambassador Keiko Furuta and representatives of the beneficiary organizations signed two grant agreements under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) program. The funding will support the following initiatives: Construction of a new school in Vahdat village, Tajikabad district - $128,739 Modernization of medical equipment at the Central Hospital in Istiklol - $99,960 Speaking at the event, Ambassador Furuta highlighted Japan’s long-standing partnership with Tajikistan. “Japan has supported the people of Tajikistan across various sectors for more than 30 years. We hope these projects will be implemented as planned and bring tangible benefits to the public, particularly those affected by the recent earthquake,” she said. Furuta emphasized that Japan’s development assistance aims to improve safety, infrastructure quality, and overall public well-being. Since 1996, Japan has implemented 470 humanitarian projects in Tajikistan under the GGP, with a cumulative value of $39.2 million.

Airports

Japan to Build Central Asia’s Largest Airport in Uzbekistan by 2028

Japan’s Sojitz Corporation is set to launch one of Central Asia’s most ambitious infrastructure projects: the construction of a new international airport in Tashkent. According to Express Asia, construction will begin in 2025 and is expected to be completed by 2028, with a total project cost estimated at $1 billion. The airport will be developed through a public-private partnership (PPP) with Saudi Arabia’s Vision Invest. Japan’s investment is projected to reach several hundred million dollars. Once completed, the airport will have a capacity of up to 20 million passengers annually and support more than 40 take-offs and landings per hour, making it the largest aviation hub in Central Asia. Sojitz brings experience in airport development from projects in Japan’s Kumamoto and Okinawa prefectures, as well as on the Pacific island of Palau. In Uzbekistan, its activities extend beyond aviation: in partnership with Turkey’s Rönesans International, the company is planning an 800-bed hospital in Samarkand, a 1 GW wind power plant, and a 1.6 GW thermal power plant. Driven by consistent GDP growth of around 6% per year, Uzbekistan continues to attract Japanese investment, bolstered by favorable tax policies and a 15% corporate tax rate. The number of Japanese companies operating in the country has doubled over the past five years to 54. Among them, Toyota Tsusho, through Eurus Energy Holdings, is developing a 500 MW wind power project, while Marubeni is collaborating with UAE firms on a wastewater treatment facility. In 2024, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with a Japanese delegation led by Tadashi Maeda, Chairman of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and representatives of Sojitz. The parties agreed on a three-year cooperation program with JBIC and a strategic roadmap with Sojitz for future projects in high-tech sectors. JBIC currently supports over $3.7 billion in joint ventures across Uzbekistan’s petrochemical, textile, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Sojitz also reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its footprint in the country, including its role in the Syrdarya II IPP project, one of Uzbekistan’s largest planned power generation facilities.

Japan

From Hydropower to Human Capital: Japarov Plans Strategic Visit to Japan

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov is preparing for a visit to Japan that underscores growing strategic ties between the two countries. Kyrgyz officials say they plan to sign energy and infrastructure agreements in Tokyo, including support for a training center for the national electric grid and upgrades at the Kurpsai hydropower plant, according to Trend, citing the Kyrgyz Energy Ministry. The same report notes that grant funding from Japan’s international cooperation programs will back grid training and modernization efforts. The timing reflects Tokyo’s recent step-up in activity vis-à-vis Central Asia. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, in late August 2025, Japan’s foreign minister undertook a multi-country tour that emphasized long-term engagement and connectivity across the region. Japanese officials framed their approach as trust-building, focused on people-to-people links, infrastructure, and practical cooperation. Energy cooperation is expected to feature prominently during the visit. Kyrgyz officials say the Japan-backed training center is moving through final approval, and modernization of the Kurpsai facility is planned with Japanese grant support. Bishkek has also invited Japanese participation in additional hydropower projects, positioning Japan as a technology and financing partner in Kyrgyzstan’s power sector. Labor mobility and skills are another focus. The authorities in Kyrgyzstan have been working with Japanese counterparts to create safe, legal pathways for Kyrgyz workers. In July, Kyrgyz officials met with Japan’s construction human-resources association to align training standards and prepare workers for job opportunities in Japan, and free Japanese-language courses were launched in Bishkek to improve employability for prospective migrants. Education and cultural exchange underpin the relationship. Over three decades, Japan has funded scholarships, exchanges, and language programs that connect Central Asian students to Japanese universities. An overview of these initiatives highlights how education has become a durable pillar of Japan’s regional engagement, building familiarity with Japanese business practices and technology among Kyrgyz graduates. For Bishkek, the visit is about turning ongoing cooperation into signed projects and new resources. Officials point to the grid training center and Kurpsai upgrades as near-term deliverables, while the broader agenda includes workforce programs and academic ties. The message from both sides is continuity: steady, practical steps rather than headline-grabbing announcements. Regionally, Japan’s approach offers Central Asian countries additional partners for finance, training, and technology. For Kyrgyzstan, deeper ties with Tokyo complement existing relationships while helping diversify investment sources and markets. The outcome to watch is whether the visit locks in concrete funding and timelines for priority energy and skills initiatives outlined by the Kyrgyz side.

Japan

Learning Across Borders: Education at the Heart of Central Asia–Japan Relations

For more than three decades, Japan has cultivated a distinctive partnership with the countries of Central Asia, one rooted not in geopolitics or grand strategy alone, but in human connection. Education has emerged as one of the strongest pillars of this relationship, as young people from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and beyond increasingly look to Japan for academic training, language study, and professional development. Tokyo’s support for scholarships, university exchanges, and Japanese language programs reflects a long-term vision: to invest in people-to-people ties that strengthen mutual understanding and prepare a new generation of leaders across the region. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Central Asian students at the International University of Japan to gauge their experiences. Ilyos from Uzbekistan: "As an international student, I found Japan to be a country of fascinating contrasts - deeply rooted in tradition, yet highly modern. I was struck by the coexistence of fast-paced, bustling cities and quiet, remote towns, each offering a very different atmosphere and way of life. "I chose Japan because I’d previously studied in South Korea at the undergraduate level. That experience made me curious about Japan, as I expected certain similarities but also wanted to explore the differences. I thought that if Japan were similar to Korea, the adjustment would be smooth, and if it offered something new, it would be an even greater opportunity to broaden my perspective and prepare for my career. "I’ve been truly impressed by how consistently Japanese people follow rules, respect social order, and demonstrate a high level of etiquette in everyday interactions. This has left a strong impression on me and has shaped the way I think about discipline, respect, and community values." Farrukh from Tajikistan: "I first visited Japan back in 2019. At that time, it was a business trip, and I spent a month here. I’d been thinking about studying in Japan for a long time, but I finally had the opportunity last year when the JICE JDS Scholarship in my home country was announced. "In the time I’ve been here, I’ve never felt I was treated differently from other people, even locals. There have been minor instances when Japanese people acted very strictly, but I guess that’s how they usually are. In terms of cultural differences, one thing I noticed was how hard they work; there is a lack of work-life balance." Azmat from Uzbekistan: "Most of my colleagues from work got their Master’s degrees in Japan, and we have some agreements between the Japanese government and our organization about studying here. My ex-director, my current deputy director, and the head of division are graduates of Japanese universities. So, listening to their stories, I ended up studying in Japan. "I find the people of Japan to be very polite and patient. The way they treat us as foreigners is really good. Of course, there are some difficulties - Japan is a country of rules - but they’re minor." As Central Asia deepens its educational links with Japan, the stories of...

Japan

Tokyo Steps Up: Iwaya’s Central Asia Tour Signals Japan’s Long-Term Commitment

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya made a landmark trip to Central Asia from August 24–28, 2025, holding talks in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Tokyo framed the visit as a bid to deepen bilateral ties and revive the Central Asia plus Japan leaders’ summits. The visit fulfilled commitments made by then-Prime Minister Kishida, who had planned a similar tour in 2024 before cancelling at the last minute due to a domestic earthquake alert. Strategic Engagement Iwaya’s visit reflects Tokyo’s long-standing, multifaceted approach to Central Asia. Analysts emphasized to The Times of Central Asia that Japan is pursuing “trust-building diplomacy” in the region, focusing on human capital, infrastructure, and governance rather than quick geopolitical wins. Tokyo inaugurated the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue format in 2004, making it the first outside power to group all five Central Asian republics within a single framework. As Professor Timur Dadabaev of Tsukuba University told The Times of Central Asia, Tokyo is seen “not as a competing hegemon, but as a partner that invests in the region’s human capital, infrastructure, and governance in ways that reinforce independence.” This approach contrasts with what has been characterized as the transactional models of other powers. On August 25, Iwaya met with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu in Astana, marking his first official visit to the country. The talks underscored both sides’ commitment to strengthening ties as strategic partners and in upholding a “free and open international order based on the rule of law.” The ministers welcomed active exchanges and pledged to expand cooperation in trade, investment, mineral resources, disaster prevention, and nuclear non-proliferation. They also announced plans to accelerate preparations for the long-delayed Central Asia plus Japan summit. [caption id="attachment_35524" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya with Kazakh Foreign Minister Nurtleu in Astana after their meeting on August 25, 2025; image Japan MOFA[/caption] In Tashkent, Iwaya echoed this message, calling Uzbekistan “an important strategic partner,” and highlighting the first-ever foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue held there. Japanese officials also stressed their policy does not aim to pressure Central Asian partners on sensitive issues. Characterizing Japan as a “catalyst to promote interconnectivity and inter-regional cooperation,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Toshihiro Kitamura stated that Tokyo does not see a zero-sum “competition between Japan and other countries. We would like to see Central Asian countries work together with other parts of the world.” In Tashkent, Kitamura explicitly noted that while Japan condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it will not pressure Uzbekistan or others to take the same stance. “The relationship between Russia and the Central Asian countries is a very delicate issue. Each country should take into account the relations it establishes with other countries. Even if it is with Russia, such relations do not affect the relations of other countries with Japan,” Kitamura stated. Bilateral Agreements In Kazakhstan, Iwaya held high-level talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Foreign Minister Nurtleu. Tokayev welcomed Japan as a “reliable and close partner in Asia” and said ties are “developing dynamically.” The sides agreed to...