On Thursday, October 16, 2025, Vrboski Kyoko, President of the Japan-Central Asia Friendship Association (JACAFA), Vrboski Saso, CEO, and four JACAFA alumni (two from Kyrgyzstan, one from Uzbekistan, and one from Georgia) visited the University of Tsukuba.
On the first day of the visit, the Nippon Foundation and JACAFA co-hosted the “Japan Eurasia Exchange Forum: Human Resource Development and Innovation in Eurasia.” During the forum, four JACAFA alumni, along with two NipCA Fellows of the 6th cohort, Ms. Umirzakova Nazym and Ms. Smanova Nargiza, gave presentations on their research topics, followed by a lively exchange of ideas. After the forum, a networking reception was held at Tsukuba Demi on campus, where participants enjoyed informal discussions and strengthened mutual connections.
The next day, the group visited the CYBERDYNE Studio, which showcases advanced welfare equipment, robotics, and cybernics technologies, as well as the Tsukuba City Hall, to learn about the latest technologies and local administrative initiatives.
Through this visit, the ties among Central Asian students and alumni were further strengthened, with expectations that such connections will continue to develop into an active and sustainable network contributing to solving social issues in the Central Asian region.
The presentations delivered at the forum were as follows:
- “The Language of Security: A Comparative Discourse Analysis of State and Independent Media Coverage of Bloody January in Kazakhstan” Umirzakova Nazym (Kazakhstan, NipCA Fellow of the 6th cohort, University of Tsukuba)
- “Women Negotiating Kelin and Ene Roles in Kazakhstan” Smanova Nargiza (Kazakhstan, NipCA Fellow of the 6th cohort, University of Tsukuba)
- “Decentra: Decentralized Innovation for Inclusive Future” Farkatov Farukh (Kyrgyzstan)
- “Shifting Minds: How Marketing Shapes Human Behavior Over Time” Ananiashvili Tinatin (Georgia)
- “The growing Interest in Alternative Dispute Resolution in Eurasia” Kholmatov Dilmurod (Uzbekistan)
- “The Growth of Startup and Impact Investment in Central Asia” Emilbekova Salkynai (Kyrgyzstan)
