TOKYO, February 10. /Dunyo IA/. As part of the large-scale celebrations marking the 585th anniversary of the birth of the great poet and thinker Alisher Navoi, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the monument dedicated to Navoi on the campus of Soka University, Tokyo, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of “Soka Gakkai”, the administration of Soka University, professors and lecturers, staff of the Research Institute of Eastern Philosophy, members of the Japanese media, as well as Uzbek students studying in Japan.

Wreaths were laid at the monument to Alisher Navoi, which was established on the university campus in 2004. During the event, speakers emphasized that the rich and multifaceted oeuvre of the great Uzbek poet holds an important place not only in Uzbek literature, but also in world literature. The monument was highlighted as a symbol of the close friendship between Uzbekistan and Japan, reinforcing cultural ties and mutual appreciation between the two nations.

Mukhsinhuja Abdurakhmanov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan emphasized that Alisher Navoi is not only a great literary figure, but also a profound thinker who reflected deeply on the meaning of human life and the spiritual foundations of society. His words transcend both time and borders and continue to inspire people today to act with kindness, honesty and concern for the welfare of others.

The ambassador noted that these humanistic values in Navoi’s legacy resonate with the spiritual traditions of Japanese culture and highlighted that Uzbekistan and Japan share common values, including the celebration of human dignity and respect for knowledge and culture.

It was stressed that the monument to Alisher Navoi at Soka University serves as a symbol of this shared spirit and the enduring friendship between the peoples of Uzbekistan and Japan.

Speaking to the audience, Soka University President Mika Suzuki said:

-  For us, it is always a great source of pride that the monument to Alisher Navoi stands at our university. He is one of the greatest figures in world literature. The intellectual path of this thinker, who championed humanistic values, justice, kindness, peace, friendship and love for one’s homeland, is highly respected by the Japanese people.

This monument serves as a symbol of the revival of dialogue between the cultures of these two great nations. The inscription on the stone plaque at the monument – “O people of the world, know that enmity is no good; be friends to one another, be ready to die for each other, for work and friendship are what truly matter” - carries profound meaning, calling on humanity to live in friendship, peace, harmony and mutual prosperity.

During the ceremony, Uzbek students studying at Soka University read aloud ghazals by the great poet, paying tribute to the enduring legacy of Alisher Navoi.

Following the ceremony, a meeting was held with the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Soka University, Yoshihide Akiya, to discuss the current state and future prospects of bilateral academic cooperation.

Yoshihide expressed satisfaction that the Japanese higher education institution currently maintains cooperative relations with several universities in Uzbekistan. He highlighted that the admission of Uzbek students began in 2022, and noted that around ten Uzbek students are currently enrolled in exchange and specialized programs, reflecting a growing commitment to academic and cultural exchange between the two countries.

The Ambassador expressed gratitude to the university leadership for their long-standing collaboration in the study of Buddhist monuments and the history of Uzbekistan. The Uzbek side also reaffirmed its readiness to cooperate with Japanese partners in developing a program for archaeological excavations at cultural heritage sites in the Surkhandarya region and in organizing joint expeditions.

During the meeting, an agreement was reached to expand the number of Uzbek partner universities with Soka University and to organize a delegation visit to Uzbekistan. Further cooperation will include supporting the implementation of Japanese educational methodologies, currently applied in Fergana Region, in the Namangan and Andijan regions as well as the creation of teacher retraining programs, strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two countries.