Kazakhstan and Japan: A History of Mutual Respect and Cooperation

On October 9, 2025, in Almaty, at the venue of the National Academy of Sciences under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, an international scientific conference entitled “The Contribution of Interned Japanese to the Industrialization of Kazakhstan in 1945–1951” was held.

The event was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the first train of Japanese prisoners of war at the Zharma station in the Semipalatinsk region and was accompanied by the presentation of the book and documentary film “The Warmth of Samurai Hands.”

The conference brought together representatives of academic and business circles from Kazakhstan and Japan, diplomats, public figures, and graduates of JICA programs. The welcoming address was delivered by Murat Karimsakov, Chairman of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan and Co-Chairman of the Kazakhstan–Japan Committee for Economic Cooperation from the Kazakh side.

In his remarks, he emphasized the symbolic importance of the conference, noting that the labor of Japanese citizens interned in Kazakhstan from 1945 to 1951 became an integral part of the country’s industrial formation and laid a solid foundation for the current partnership between Kazakhstan and Japan.

“Today’s conference carries deep symbolic significance. We pay tribute to the Japanese citizens who were interned in Kazakhstan in 1945–1951, whose selfless labor became an integral part of our country’s industrial development. The factories, roads, buildings, and social facilities they constructed stand as monuments to creation — symbols of friendship and mutual understanding. This page of history became a solid foundation on which modern partnership between Kazakhstan and Japan is being built,” — noted Murat Karimsakov.

The Chairman of the Chamber also emphasized that Kazakhstan–Japan relations today are of a strategic and long-term nature. Japan is among the top ten largest foreign investors in Kazakhstan, with total investments of about USD 8 billion and an annual trade turnover of around USD 2 billion.

Currently, more than 60 Japanese companies are successfully operating in Kazakhstan, which is clear evidence of the trust and long-term interest of Japanese business in cooperation.

In his speech, Mr. Karimsakov also spoke about the business mission of the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan and the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken” to Japan, which took place in April this year.

The Kazakh delegation held a number of productive meetings with representatives of Japanese government bodies and business associations, including JICA, JETRO, JCCI, METI, as well as major corporations such as Marubeni, Itochu, Sumitomo, Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Toyota Tsusho, Sojitz, and Inpex. As a result of the mission, a meeting of the Kazakhstan–Japan Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation was held, during which priority areas of future cooperation were identified and Co-Chairmen of the Committee from both sides were elected.

Following the negotiations, the parties reached agreements on expanding trade and economic cooperation, supporting joint projects in the fields of energy, transport, industry, and sustainable development, as well as developing small and medium-sized business cooperation.
The Japanese side proposed that the Chamber of International Commerce of Kazakhstan become a partner in identifying and attracting Kazakhstani companies for cooperation with Japanese SMEs.

Special attention was paid to introducing Japanese experience in supporting entrepreneurship, training personnel, and implementing the “One Village – One Product” program, aimed at developing regions and increasing the export potential of local producers.

In conclusion, Murat Karimsakov emphasized that Kazakhstan and Japan are united by common values — diligence, respect for history, and a commitment to peace and development — and that this conference became not only a tribute to memory but also an inspiration for new generations of entrepreneurs, scholars, and diplomats.