Follow up Seminar for PREX Global Network

The Follow-up Seminar Scheme is a program in which, once a year, all staff members are encouraged to raise their hand and propose a seminar they would like to organize. After a screening process, plans with strong content or those aligned with PREX’s future direction are selected.

Fortunately, this year, a seminar focusing on Central Asian countries was chosen. I decided to propose this seminar because the colleague who had long been in charge of this region had recently left PREX. I strongly felt that I wanted to continue and cherish the good relationship that PREX has built with Central Asian countries over many years.

Until then, I had mainly worked with other regions and countries, so I honestly lacked even very basic knowledge about Central Asia. For example, I did not know something as simple as the most appropriate time to hold an online seminar. Should it be during working hours, or after work? I had no clear idea.

I decided to reach out to as many people as I could. I contacted those whose business cards I had and asked for their advice, patiently gathering information step by step.

In addition, we were very fortunate to receive a great deal of valuable advice from Professor Belov of Fukui Prefectural University, which helped us significantly improve the quality of the seminar.

As a result, the number of participants was six. It was not a large group. However, what we gained was truly meaningful. We had an excellent lecture by Professor Belov on the Japanese economy and we were also able to introduce PREX’s current activities during the seminar.

 

The Q&A session was particularly lively. Every participant had the opportunity to share their thoughts and ask questions, and they received thoughtful feedback not only from the professor but also from other participants. The exchange of ideas was open and inspiring, and the atmosphere was warm and engaging.

For me, this seminar was my first challenge related to Central Asia. However, for PREX, exchanges such as seminars in Japan and in Central Asia represent a long and valuable history of human resource development and mutual understanding. This story should never be lost.

Although the seminar was small on scale, it was a truly enjoyable and rewarding experience. It reminded me that meaningful exchange is not measured by the number of participants, but by the depth of communication and the trust we share.

 

I would like to continue organizing similar events and strengthen this relationship even more. My hope is that when my junior colleagues visit these countries in the future, their first words will not be a polite “Nice to meet you,” but rather, “Finally, we can meet,” or “It feels like we have known each other for a long time.”

With this hope in mind, I will continue to work hard and create more opportunities for exchange with Central Asian countries.