Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 8 October, a ceremony was held in Tashkent to award Ganisher Nazirov, the founder of the Japanese language club "Noriko Gakkyu" in the Rishtan district and the director of the "Cultural and Economic Center of Rishtan-Japan," with an Honorary Certificate from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

The solemn event took place at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to Uzbekistan, where students, friends, and relatives of Ganisher Nazirov gathered to support this project, which operates purely on enthusiasm. Since 1998, the "Noriko Gakkyu" Japanese language club in Rishtan has provided children the opportunity to study the Japanese language for free and learn about Japanese culture.

Japanese Ambassador Takashi Hatori, while presenting the Honorary Certificate, expressed gratitude to Ganisher Nazirov for his many years of contribution to strengthening friendly relations between Japan and Uzbekistan in the educational sphere. He noted that over 200 graduates of the school have continued their studies in Japan, with more than 100 currently working there. Students from the school regularly win competitions, including one graduate who took first place at the 30th Republican Public Speaking Contest in Japanese in 2024.

The Ambassador emphasized that the Honorary Certificate from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to strengthening international ties between Japan and other countries.

The ceremony also featured remarks from Boqodirjon Holikov, the khokim (governor) of the Rishtan district, who noted that thanks to enthusiasts like Ganisher Nazirov, the reputation of Rishtan, known for its ceramics, is strengthened, and the Japanese language school facilitates direct connections with Japan.

The history of the "Noriko Gakkyu" school is impressive. As Nazirov recounted, it all began with his acquaintance with Japanese specialist Shigikatsu Osaki, who came to Uzbekistan to build a car factory. During their collaboration, Nazirov learned Japanese "on the go." In 1998, after retiring, Osaki returned to Uzbekistan to realize his dream of creating a free Japanese language school for children. In 2001, after Osaki left for treatment, Nazirov continued the project independently.

The school’s successes caught the attention of the Japanese Embassy, which provided a grant for building expansion. Nazirov was also awarded the Order of Friendship of Uzbekistan in 2018 for his contributions.

Today, graduates of the school return from Japan with new knowledge, contributing to the development of the country. For instance, Nurullo Abdulazizov moved to Rishtan to study Japanese and has already reached the JLPT N3 level. Similarly, Nazira Khudjanazarova has been learning Japanese since she was eight and dreams of receiving a musical education in Japan.

Since 2001, Ganisher Nazirov has headed the "Cultural and Economic Center of Rishtan-Japan," which develops cultural, economic, and educational ties with Japan.