Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan Qo‘ng‘irotboy Sharipov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan Kenji Hirata, and Director of the Uzbekistan–Japan Center Hiro Iwasaki.

In his speech, Minister Sharipov emphasized the consistent development of cooperation between the two countries in education and science, noting the tangible outcomes achieved. In particular, he highlighted that joint degree programs, research projects, and student exchange initiatives established with Japanese universities in recent years have created broad opportunities for Uzbek youth.

It is worth noting that this year’s Japan Education Fair 2025 is being held in three cities for the first time — Samarkand, Tashkent, and Bukhara. The event started on November 1 at Samarkand State University, continues today in Tashkent, and will conclude on November 5 at Bukhara State University.

Eleven leading Japanese universities are participating in the exhibition, including the University of Tokyo, University of Tsukuba, Nagoya University, Nagoya University of Economics, Kyoto University of Advanced Science, Keio University (Shonan Fujisawa Campus), Osaka University, Nagasaki University, Toyo University, the Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU).

The main goal of the exhibition is to introduce Uzbek youth to educational opportunities in Japan and to further develop student and faculty exchange programs between higher education institutions of the two countries.

During today’s event in Tashkent, Japanese universities and research organizations presented their programs and academic opportunities. Additionally, graduates of Japanese universities shared their experiences of student life and living in Japan.

Japanese universities are offering various scholarship programs for Uzbek students. Among them are Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarships, educational fellowships provided by JICA and JASSO, as well as financial support programs offered directly by universities. These scholarships enable students to pursue master’s and doctoral studies free of charge, conduct research, and complete internships at Japanese companies.

Participants of the forum were also informed about the results of the recent Fifth Forum of Rectors of Uzbekistan and Japanese Universities held in Samarkand. Within the framework of that forum, direct cooperation was established between more than 30 Uzbek higher education institutions and over 15 Japanese universities, resulting in the signing of more than 10 joint agreements.

The education fair was open to a wide audience — including high school students, university students, their parents, teachers, and citizens interested in studying in Japan.

The Japan Education Fair 2025 plays an important role in further strengthening educational, scientific, and cultural cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan, as well as familiarizing young people with Japan’s advanced education system and international opportunities.