In need of energy resources due to the suspension of its nuclear power plants following the March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi power plant disaster, Japan welcomed Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov with a warm reception. On September 12, in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received Berdymukhamedov and signed several bilateral agreements that included a Joint Declaration on partnership between Turkmenistan and Japan, a credit agreement between Turkmenistan’s Foreign Relations Bank and the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the State Corporation Turkmengaz and the Japanese National Corporation for Oil, Gas, and Metals. During this visit, Japanese companies signed US $ 10 billion worth of contracts to work in Turkmenistan’s construction and gas processing industries, marking a significant step-up of Japanese engagement in Turkmenistan. As of June of this year, Japanese companies had 25 projects in Turkmenistan, totalling US $800 million, Berdymukhamedov said at the Turkmen-Japanese business forum “The Bright Future of Reliable Partnership.” During his Tokyo visit, Berdymukhamedov met with Japan’s Emperor Akihito, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Economy, Taro Aso, the Chairman of Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), Hiromasa Yonekura, and heads of major Japanese corporations such as ITOCHU, TOYO Engineering, Chiyoda, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi, among others. While in Japan, Berdymukhamedov also met with Turkmenistan’s long term partner, the Turkish Businessman and founder of Calik Holding, Ahmet Chalik, a shady character who has been considered by some observers to be Turkmenistan’s “grey cardinal” since the times of past dictator, Saparmurat Niyazov. Calik, whose company is heavily involved in Turkmenistan’s construction and textile industry, accompanied Berdymukhamedov to some of his meetings. Turkmenistan hosted its annual international exhibition and academic conference, “Major areas of development of the energy industry of Turkmenistan,” organized by the Ministry of Energy and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, hosting companies and firms from 20 countries, including Wood Group (United Kingdom), ABB (Switzerland), MR, Siemens, GE (Germany), Hyundai Engineering ( Korea), Alstom (France), Çalik Enerj and Cotam Enterprises (Turkey), and others. The Turkmen president’s visit also included a meeting with a professor, I. Sasaki, who lavished praise on the president, saying that the Japanese are particularly interested in Turkmenistan, as evidenced by the translation of Berdymukhamedov’s books into Japanese. However, in truth, it is unlikely that the compliment, nor the translation of these books reflects any genuine interest in them; this is a time-old tradition to appeal to the Turkmen president’s vanity, just as companies courting Turkmenistan for its energy riches had translated past-dictator Niyazov’s eccentric Rukhnoma or “Book of the Spirit.” Berdymukhamedov continues to embark on vanity publications, having released several publications already, announcing that he is working on a book of his childhood memories, since they are “clear and pure,” and because, “they help, inspire, and allow one to believe in pure intentions and sincere friendship.”

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