On 6 November 2025, Representatives of the Embassy of Japan in the Russian Federation, headed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Akira Muto, visited the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. The diplomats got acquainted with JINR’s infractructure and research programme. Topping the agenda of a meeting with the Institute’s leadership were prospects for deepening cooperation between Japanese scientific centres and JINR.

The working visit started with an introduction to the scientific infrastructure of the Joint Institute. The delegates visited the site of the NICA Accelerator Complex at the Laboratory of High Energy Physics and the JINR Main Facilities interactive exhibition at the Mir Cultural Centre.

The meeting with the JINR leadership took place at the Directorate. The Joint Institute was represented by JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov, CP JINR Chair, Plenipotentiary of Georgia Arsen Khvedelidze, Chief Scientific Secretary Sergey Nedelko, Director of the Laboratory of Nuclear Problems Evgeny Yakushev, Head of the International Cooperation Department Otilia-Ana Culicov, and a DLNP Deputy Department Head Liudmila Kolupaeva took part in it.

JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov addressed the delegation with a welcome speech. He expressed gratitude for the visit and noted the long history of fruitful cooperation with Japanese organizations, which began in the 1970s. The Director shared his impressions of the recent visit of a JINR delegation to the KEK and J-PARC Scientific Centres to discuss the continuation of joint work as part of large-scale international experiments.

“Professional and at the same time cordial relations serve as a solid foundation, a real “scientific bridge” that helps us maintain collaboration with our Japanese colleagues regardless of circumstances,” Grigory Trubnikov emphasised. “I am confident that in the future, we will be able to expand our cooperation, as we have already established effective partnership among scientists and experiment heads”.

“It is a great honour for me to visit this wonderful institute,” the Ambassador noted in reply. “Despite not being a physics expert, I am well aware of how important fundamental research is for the humanity’s future”.

Akira Muto thanked the Institute for its long-term participation in JINR–Japan international projects, particularly the T2K Neutrino Experiment. In addition, he noted that the joint work with the RIKEN Institute in the first half of the 2000s on the synthesis of element 113, nihonium, served as a clear proof of the success of the scientific partnership.

CP JINR Chair Arsen Khvedelidze and DLNP Director Evgeny Yakushev emphasised the special role of the Joint Institute as an international organization. They highlighted that collaborating with JINR provides all Member and Partner States with opportunities to use the research infrastructure and acquire expert skills.

“JINR is always open to international dialogue and is ready to equally consider the interests of all parties involved. Developing scientific cooperation is of fundamental importance for all Member States of the Institute,” the Plenipotentiary of Georgia to JINR concluded.

“Modern science cannot develop in isolation and requires global cooperation,” Evgeny Yakushev said. “Partnership with Japan, which holds a leading position in world science, is especially important for JINR. We want to share our experience with colleagues, jointly creating new experimental facilities and conducting research both in Dubna and in Japanese scientific organizations”.

Deputy Head of the DLNP JINR Methodical Research Sector of the Scientific and Experimental Department of Particle Physics Liudmila Kolupaeva spoke about the specifics of fundamental particle physics studies. “The implementation of large-scale projects such as T2K in Japan or NICA in Dubna requires the concerted efforts of large international collaborations. No country in the world is capable of conducting such research alone,” she stressed. “JINR has unique experience in neutrino physics, which we are ready to share with our Japanese colleagues”.

Head of the JINR International Cooperation Department Otilia-Ana Culicov noted the well-developed social infrastructure of the Joint Institute and suggested holding the Days of Japanese Culture in Dubna with the Embassy’s support. “Such an event would allow introducing the rich cultural traditions of Japan not only to the Institute’s employees, but also to residents of the science city,” she said.

At the end of the meeting, Grigory Trubnikov stressed that the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research conducts exclusively peaceful fundamental and applied studies, the results of which are equally accessible to all JINR Member States. In addition, through representatives of the Embassy, the Director invited Japanese specialists to cooperate in such fields as particle physics, materials science, theoretical physics, and information technologies.

The visit of the delegation of the Embassy of Japan helped identify concrete steps for the further development of promising scientific and technical cooperation between JINR and Japanese institutions.