On Saturday, September 26, 2026, Nagasaki University held a ceremony in Astana, Kazakhstan, to mark the establishment of the Kazakhstan Chapter of the Nagasaki University Global Alumni Network (NUGAN) and the appointment of a NUGAN Ambassador.
The ceremony brought together Nagasaki University alumni from across Kazakhstan, including Astana, Almaty, and Semey. Representing Nagasaki University were Trustee Yasutake (Student and International Affairs); Prof. Nakashima, Director of the Atomic Bomb Disease Institute; Prof. Iwashita, Director of the Center for Global Risk Research; Assistant Prof. Sartayev, Center for Global Risk Research; Assistant Prof. Moriyasu, Office for Global Affairs; and International Collaboration Coordinator Mr. Takahashi, Atomic Bomb Disease Institute, who served as a Russian-language interpreter.
Also attending from NASHIM (Nagasaki Association for Hibakushas’ Medical Care) were Director Osaki, who also serves as Director of Nagasaki University Hospital, and Secretary Fukuda, an official of Nagasaki Prefecture. Together, the participants celebrated the launch of the new network in Kazakhstan.
Prof. Ainur Akilzhanova, a former research scientist at Nagasaki University’s Atomic Bomb Disease Institute and currently Director of the Center for Life Sciences at Nazarbayev University, was appointed as a NUGAN Ambassador. With Prof. Akilzhanova playing a central role, the new chapter is expected to strengthen connections among alumni active in various areas of Kazakhstan and further promote sustained engagement with Nagasaki University.
In conjunction with the ceremony, the delegation paid courtesy visits to Nazarbayev University and Semey Medical University, both partner universities of Nagasaki University. The participants exchanged views on further developing existing collaborations and exploring possibilities for cooperation in new fields. The delegation also visited KazGASA (Kazakh Leading Academy of Architecture and Civil Engineering), whose representatives visited Nagasaki University in June this year, and discussed possibilities for future inter-university exchange.
The participation of NASHIM representatives also provided an opportunity to meet with members of the Abai Region Medical Association in Semey. Together with representatives of the association, the delegation visited a monument commemorating the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site and honoring victims of nuclear testing, where they laid flowers in remembrance. Nagasaki University and Kazakhstan have built a longstanding relationship through their shared history of confronting radiation exposure and its health effects. The delegation’s visit to the site provided an opportunity to reflect once again on the significance of these ties.
In addition to exchanges with universities and related institutions, one of the most memorable aspects of the visit was the opportunity to experience Kazakhstan’s natural landscapes and everyday life. Beyond the cities, the vast steppe stretched seemingly without end, offering a striking sense of the scale and beauty of Central Asia. In Semey, the Irtysh River flowing through the city and the sunset beyond it were particularly impressive. At the same time, the warm welcome extended to the delegation wherever they went offered a firsthand glimpse of Kazakhstan’s culture of hospitality toward guests, which is often associated with the country’s nomadic heritage.
Walking through the cities, the delegation also encountered many families and children, contributing to a youthful and vibrant atmosphere. Nagasaki University alumni whom the delegation met again during the visit warmly welcomed the group while continuing to play active roles in their respective communities, universities, and research institutions. Through these landscapes and encounters, the visit highlighted that the relationship between Nagasaki University and Kazakhstan is sustained not only by institutional agreements and research collaboration, but also, fundamentally, by strong person-to-person connections. The visit to Kazakhstan, including the establishment of the NUGAN Kazakhstan Chapter, exchanges with alumni active in the country, and discussions with partner universities and related institutions, provided an opportunity to reaffirm the longstanding ties between Nagasaki University and Kazakhstan and to lay the groundwork for further developing their collaboration in the years ahead.