During his visit to the National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku) in Osaka, Zon asserted that Indonesia is more than just a source of world cultural heritage; it is a center of knowledge contributing significantly to global cultural and humanities studies.
“Indonesia has extraordinary cultural wealth. Through research and academic cooperation, we deepen our understanding of humanity, history, and civilization,” he said in a press statement on Sunday.
The meeting at Minpaku brought together prominent Japanese cultural academics who have long focused on Indonesian studies, including ethnomusicologist Prof. Shota Fukuoka, maritime archaeologist Prof. Rintaro Ono, pencak silat researcher Dr. Hiroyuki Imamura, and Javanese culture researcher Dr. Masami Okabe.
Discussions centered on establishing research collaboration in fields like ethnomusicology, dance, maritime anthropology, traditional martial arts, and Nusantara ethnography.
The goal is to solidify Indonesia-Japan cultural research networks and interdisciplinary studies.
“This research cooperation is the best way to expand global understanding of Indonesia and to make our culture a living source of knowledge,” Zon stated.
He highlighted ongoing projects demonstrating Indonesia’s commitment to cultural preservation and development, such as the restoration of Gunung Padang, studies on wayang theatre, Nusantara bead documentation, and the recent efforts to secure the repatriation of 28,131 fossils from the Dubois collection of the Netherlands.
During his visit, Minister Zon also toured the exhibit “Humans and Boats: Maritime Life in Asia and Oceania,” which showcases maritime collections, including traditional boats, Bajau tribe artifacts, and ancient boat paintings found in the Maros and Muna caves.
He concluded by underscoring the importance of Indonesia's oceanic heritage: “For Indonesia, the sea is not just a resource but a cultural and knowledge space that shapes our identity.”
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Translator: Farhan, Kenzu
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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