Scientific Workshop Dedicated to the Cinematography of Central Asia and Japan

On March 12, 2026, a joint scientific workshop dedicated to the cinema of Central Asia and Japan was held at Al‑Farabi Kazakh National University. The event aimed to promote academic dialogue and expand cultural and social interaction between the countries of Central Asia and Japan.

The event was organized by film scholar Гульнара Абикеева and Акира Мацумото. The co-organizers of the conference were the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the Slavic-Eurasian Research Center, Hokkaido University. The workshop brought together researchers, directors, producers, and students interested in studying and developing cinematic connections between the regions.

The opening of the event was accompanied by a mini-concert of dombra music performed by Japanese students Eko Ito and Aika Egami, which symbolized cultural dialogue between the countries. The project organizer Akira Matsumoto delivered a welcoming speech, explaining the idea behind the conference and emphasizing the importance of academic and cultural cooperation between Central Asia and Japan.

During the first session, the keynote presentation was delivered by Gulnara Abikeyeva. In her speech, she examined the historical and contemporary aspects of Kazakh–Japanese cultural relations in the field of cinema, paying particular attention to issues of influence and cooperation between filmmakers from the two regions.

The second session took place in the format of a professional discussion with the participation of prominent representatives of the film industry. The discussion included Kazakh film director Erlan Nurmuhambetov, Kazakh film producer Alia Uvalzhanova, and Kyrgyz film director Кубат Aktan Arym Kubat. Japanese director Shinju Sano joined the discussion online from Japan. The participants discussed the specifics of contemporary film production, the challenges of international cooperation, and the prospects for joint projects between Japan and the countries of Central Asia.

Special attention during the conference was given to student participation. In the third session, presentations were delivered by Adilkhan Danial, a student of the Department of the Far East at KazNU, and Momoka Nakazato, a Japanese student studying in Kazakhstan. Their presentations addressed issues of culture and society and were delivered in the languages they study, highlighting the educational and intercultural character of the event.

The event concluded with closing remarks by Gulnara Abikeyeva, who emphasized the importance of such academic meetings for the development of cultural dialogue, the strengthening of academic contacts, and the creation of new opportunities for cooperation in the field of cinema between Central Asia and Japan.

The workshop became an important step in the development of international scientific and cultural cooperation. Participants noted that cinema can serve as a universal language that allows a deeper understanding of history, cultural identity, and contemporary processes taking place in different societies. The conference demonstrated a strong interest among researchers and representatives of the film industry in further developing joint projects and strengthening cultural ties between Central Asia and Japan.