In March 1993, the delegation headed by the then President of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music HIRAYAMA Ikuo visited Kazakhstan. It initiated the promotion of cultural exchange between Japan and Kazakhstan.

Since then we have invited Kazakhstani key-persons who will contribute to the future cultural ties.

The Embassy organized a series of cultural events to introduce traditional and modern Japanese culture.

In March 1998, Japanese animators showed their films and delivered lectures about animation. The Embassy also organized lectures about "Japanese religion and culture" and "Ikebana performance". In October the world-famous violinist SENJU Mariko gave a concert and won great admiration from the audience. Kazakhstani people have a great interest in Japanese culture, especially traditional sports (judo, sumo, karate, etc). A delegation of aikido came to Kazakhstan and gave a performance in November 1998.

Japanese langugage teaching in Kazakstan began in 1992 with the estalishment of the first Japanese language course at the Kazakh State National University in the name of Al-Farabi.

According to the survey in 1996, the number of people learning Japanese language was 276, and 5 universities and 2 educational organizations had Japanese language courses.

Now 640 students are learning Japanese langugage at 7 universities, 4 elementary educational organizations, and 1 administrative organ (March 1999 survey). This fact shows the rapid growth of Japanese langugage teaching in Kazakhstan.