On 21 April 2026, the OSCE Academy in Bishkek was pleased to welcome Ms. Hisako Ishizaki, First Secretary at the Embassy of Japan to Austria, accompanied by Ms. Haruki Watanabe, Third Secretary at the Embassy of Japan to the Kyrgyz Republic. Japan has been the first Asian partner for co-operation of the OSCE since 1992.
The distinguished guests were received by Dr. Pal Dunay, Director of the OSCE Academy, Dr. Emilbek Dzhuraev, Senior Lecturer in the Politics and Security Programme (MAPS), Dr. Sebastian Mayer, DAAD Associate Professor, and Ms. Victoria Orazova, Head of the International Department, alongside Mr. Colin McCullough, Senior Planning and Coordination Officer at the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.
This was the first time Ms. Ishizaki had visited the Academy. Her visit’s purpose was to learn more about the OSCE Academy and its activities and to potentially expand Japan’s support, which has been ongoing since 2024. Cooperation in research, hosting seminars, lecturers and eventually students from Japan was also on the agenda.
After meeting the staff, the Japanese delegation met with students from various academic programmes. It allowed students to gain insights into Japan’s engagement with the OSCE and broader international cooperation efforts. In turn, students shared their academic experiences and their future goals after completing their studies.
The discussion also provided an opportunity for students to receive valuable advice on career development in the fields of diplomacy and other areas of international relations.
