Uzbekistan, Tashkent, 5 November / Trend corr. T.Zhukov / Khojiakbar Rasulov, chief of the Civil Service Department of the Tashkent City Administration, was awarded higher Japanese Medal of Sun Rise with gold and silver rays, the information agency Zhakhon at the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported on 4 November.
"The Office of the Japanese Cabinet of Ministers publicized a list of foreign countries' representatives, awarded the Japanese Sun Rise Medal for their contribution in development of friendly relations with Japan in the fields of culture, science, art and economy," the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said. "The list includes 75 citizens of 40 countries of the world. Rasulov, the chief of the Civil Service Department of the Tashkent City Administration, is amongst the awarded people, as well."
Rasulov was awarded this medal for his activity on protective care and improvement of state of cemetery of the Japanese military servicemen, who died during the World War II in the territory of the Uzbek SSR., the Foreign Ministry said. This is the first case of awarding the Uzbek citizen Sun Rise Medal in this history of the Uzbek-Japanese relations.
According to official data, 817 Japanese servicemen were buried at separate cemeteries in the Uzbek territory. The Japanese burial place was in neglected condition by the beginning of 1990s. Then it was restored at the decision of the Uzbek authorities. Improvement of all Japanese cemeteries and separate burial places in Uzbekistan finished in 2002.