Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Japan Forge Education and Cultural Partnership

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and Japan have launched a new international collaboration in education, research, human resource development, and cultural exchange.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Nukus, Uzbekistan, between Indonesia’s Sakuranesia Foundation, an organization active in promoting educational, artistic, and cultural exchanges with Japan, and Karakalpak State University.

“Educational and research exchanges linking Uzbekistan, Japan, and Indonesia have the potential to create new networks of knowledge and culture across Asia,” said Ken Ito, education adviser to the Sakuranesia Foundation, in Jakarta on Sunday, May 31, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The signing ceremony was attended by Sakuranesia founder Tovic Rustam, adviser Ken Ito, and Karakalpak State University Rector Jollibekov Berdiyar Bakhtiyarovich.

The partnership is also supported by visiting professor Satoshi Togashi and assistant professor Janbolat Akseytov of the Institute of Agriculture and Agrotechnologies of Karakalpakstan, who serve as coordinators for the initiative.

Sakuranesia’s network includes the Indonesian Islamic Organizations Friendship Institute (LPOI), Universitas Indonesia (UI), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, as well as Japan’s Bunkyo Gakuin University, Sanko Gakuin (Azalee Group), Weathernews, and Tsuzuki Education Group.

Through the MoU, the cooperation is expected to expand into student exchanges, joint research, human resource development, and multidisciplinary collaboration in agriculture, environment, arts, culture, and social innovation.

Sakuranesia chairman and founder Sakura Ijuin said the agreement underscores the foundation’s commitment to advancing education and cultural exchange as a bridge of friendship and civilizational harmony across Asia and beyond.

Rector Jollibekov Berdiyar Bakhtiyarovich expressed hope that the partnership will serve as a foundation for closer international ties. “Through this agreement, I hope cultural and academic exchanges between Indonesia, Japan, and Uzbekistan will continue to grow,” he said. ***