“Afghanistan on my mind”

Rivers

Lakes

Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

5,000 years of history

History

336-323 B.C. - Alexander the Great rules over parts of Afghanistan.

50-130 A.D. - The ‘Silk Route’ connects Rome to China through Balkh.

Buddhism comes to Afghanistan and Buddha’s human form is established.

Buddhism moves through Afghanistan to Central Asia, China, Korea, and Japan.

7th Century A.D. – Islam is introduced to Afghanistan

Land of Empires

998-1030 – The Ghaznavid Empire

1157 - Ghiyasuddin Ghori builds monuments such as the Minaret of Jam and the Great Mosque of Herat.

1220 - Genghis Khan conquers Afghanistan.

17th Century – Babur captures Kabul. Babur loved Kabul and its gardens. His last wish was to be buried in one of the gardens.

1747-1793 – Ahmad Shah Durrani creates a new empire and begins modernizing the nation.

18-19th Century: the Anglo-Afghan wars disrupt peace

1880s – Ahmad Sharari Khan rules, brings reforms – similar to the Meiji reforms in Japan

1907 – Sardar Ayub Khan visits Japan – the first Afghan to do so.

Rulers of the past

Amin Abdur Rahman – united AfghanistanAmir Habibulah Khan1919 – Amanullah Khan, make Afghanistan fully independent, he brought modernization and an era of peace

December 24, 1979, the Soviet Union invades Afghanistan

Late 2001, the Taliban fall and on November 27, 2001, an interim government is made in Bonn, Germany.

Achievements since 2001Over 1,700 health facilities nationwide.

7.5 million children (37% girls) go to 12,000 schools.

40 000 students (25% women) go to 16 Universities.

More than five million refugees have returned.

GDP increased from US$2 billion to US$15 billion

28% of parliamentarians are women;

26% of civil servants are women.

More than 82,000 landmines have been cleared and all may be removed by 2013.

Yama no Gakkou

Conceived in 2002 when Mr. Hiromi Nagakura came across a school in Parandeh in Panjshir, Yama no Gakkou is now supporting the education of the children of this village, through literacy programs, helping to support the library, and helping develop the school grounds

2000 years of relations – dating to the Silk Road.

Buddhism comes through Afghanistan to Japan

Afghanistan provided aid to Japan on two occasions. Japan is now returning this act of brotherhood.

In 1872, Afghanistan was first mentioned in Japanese newspapers and the first full story on Afghanistan was published in 1873 in the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun (the former name of Mainichi Shimbun).

1930 – Japan and Afghanistan signed a Treaty of Friendship establishing diplomatic relations

1969 – Their Majesties King Zahir Shah and Queen Homaira visited Japan.

1972 – The Emperor and Empress visited Kabul on their honeymoon.

Afghan-Japanese Relations

Multi-ethnic, multi-lingual

There are more than a dozen ethnic groups, including Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Aimak, Turkmen, and Baloch

Languages: Pashtu (official)

Afghan Persian or Dari (official)Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen)30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai)

Traditional music is a mix of indigenous styles and influences from Central Asia, India, China, and the Middle East

Culture

The national sport is Buzkashi , but traditional sports such as “Koshti,” a type of wrestling, and kite fighting, along with modern sports like Taekwondo and Cricket.

FoodAfghan food is among the world’s best. It has been influenced by Chinese, Indian, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Common ingredients are fresh yogurt, cilantro, garlic, onions, scallions, tomatoes and potatoes.

Beautiful People