Republic of Tajikistan:
A Place of East-West Cultural Integration

Shinagawa City is home to 16 embassies and consulates, and we are introducing them one by one in this series. In this issue, we present the Republic of Tajikistan, whose culture began developing before the birth of Christ. Tajikistan is a nature-rich country, and has been a trading hub on the Silk Road connecting the East and West. We asked His Excellency Mr. Mirzosharif Jalolov of the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Japan about his country’s wonderful culture.

Info and photos provided by: Embassy of Tajikistan in Japan
Reference: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website

Inquiries: International Affairs, Community Promotion Section Tel: 03-5742-6691, Fax: 03-5742-6878

His Excellency
Mr. Mirzosharif Jalolov

What Type of Place Is Tajikistan?
Revealing the Country’s Hidden Charms

I just took over as ambassador here last November, but my first visit to Japan was in 2001. I acquired my Japanese-language skills while working as a trainee for 1 year. From 2002 I studied at the University of Tsukuba for 2 years as a scholar at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Tajikistan is located in Central Asia and is the country of the Tajik people, with the Sogdians and the Bactrians as our ancestors. The country originally flourished as a trading hub along the Silk Road. After the medieval to early modern age—an age of history marked by long invasions—Tajikistan gained its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, taking a new step forward as the Republic of Tajikistan.
Geographically speaking, 93 percent of the country is mountainous. Agriculture is a mainstay, thanks to abundant water resources, and the country boasts special products such as cotton, apples and dried fruit. We are also aiming to develop industry, so I would like to build a good relationship with Japan via technology exchanges.

Once Home to a City That Prospered Thanks to the Silk Road, Now a Country of Great Hospitality

Mountains have long been part of daily life for people in Tajikistan, and they are conscious of the potential danger of encountering wildlife at night, so there is a custom in which even strangers are invited inside one’s home for a stay. In addition, Tajik people love warm hospitality, and keep the best cuisine and sweets for visitors without eating them themselves.

Let’s Learn Some Basic Facts about Tajikistan!

Country: Republic of Tajikistan
Capital: Dushanbe
Population: 8.9 million (figure from the United Nations Population Fund, 2017)
Languages: Tajik (official language), Russian
Area of land: 143,100 km² (about 40 percent the land area of Japan) (figure from the Interstate Statistical Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States)
Currency: Somoni

Let’s Learn More about Tajikistan!

Tourism

Surrounded by China in the east, Kyrgyzstan in the north, Uzbekistan in the west and Afghanistan in the south, Tajikistan is very much at the heart of Central Asia. The country is mostly covered by mountains that rise as high as 3,000m on average. Visitors can enjoy the stunning scenery of a mountain landscape, including the world-famous Pamir Plateau. There are also spots where you can feel the local history that reaches back before the birth of Christ, along with the country’s modern museums, which are full of amazing things.

The capital: Dushanbe

Dushanbe has been modernizing rapidly since the beginning of the 21st century. The city is also home to some major structural attractions, such as the largest library in Central Asia, the national museum that opened in 2013, and the beautiful white Palace of Nations.


Garam Chashma It is a hot springs known to be effective for skin problems. It sits at an elevation of 2,325 m.	Hisor Located about 20 km from the capital of Dushanbe, the town of Hisor is famous for its fortress	Pamir Plateau Also known as the “Roof of the World,” this mountain range is a remote place whose peaks average 5,000 m in elevation. The highway running over the range allows you to get a close look at amazing natural views.

Traditional Tajik Culture

Tajikistan has long been the meeting point of various cultures, both geographically and historically. Over the course of thousands of years, these cultures matured with many facets and an attractive, bright charm under the influences of different religions and countries, such as Persia, China and Russia.


Suzani Traditional embroidery. Due to the influences of the worship of nature in this religion, the common design elements include the sun and moon and flowers.	Music Shashmaqam is a form of traditional music that developed in Central Asia. Since Tajikistan is located at the intersection of East and West, the sounds and musical instruments display exchanges of cultures.

Republic of Tajikistan: A Place of East-West Cultural Integration

Republic of Tajikistan:
A Place of East-West Cultural Integration