Maqsooda Sarfi Shiotani is a lady of Kashmiri origin, who has left an indelible mark on Indo-Japanese social and cultural ties.
Maqsooda Sarfi Shiotani has made her mark in academic, cultural and social manifestations of life in faraway Japan. Above all, as an Indian, she has excelled as the unofficial Indian ambassador to Japan, cementing India’s ties with land of the rising sun. Living in Kanazawa, Japan for nearly 40 years (since 1984), she has left an indelible mark on Indo-Japanese social and cultural ties.
Born and brought up in Kashmir, Maqsooda Sarfi earned a PhD from the Centre of Central Asian Studies, Kashmir University, in 1999. Her research thesis on the Mongolian history and culture was a positive point to win her a scholarship from the Union Ministry of Human Resources for joining the Mongolian National University for a two-year programme.
After relocating to Japan, inspired by the Japan-Indian Association, Tokyo, she soon found that there was a huge possibility of initiating an Indo-Japan Cultural Association in her spacious residence in Ishikawa. She took the initiative and the Ishikawa Indian Association was officially established in 1990.
As president of the Ishikawa Indian Association, she has continued to enhance India’s prestige through cultural events between India and Japan. Former PM, Mr. Yoshiro Mori and Ishikawa prefectural assembly members’ delegations to India was her dream come true in 2002 and 2008, respectively.
Under the banner of and as the President of Ishikawa Indian Association, she has continued to enhance India’s prestige through cultural, educational and business events between India and Japan with support from local government and the Indian embassy in Tokyo. For over 30 years, the association has become an integral part of all Indo-Japan cultural activities and the hub for a wide circle of members. She has to her credit a number of publications on India and its culture, history and social systems, and continues to promote Indo-Japan ties all over Japan.
Maqsooda Sarfi has the privilege of being the Professor, Komatsu University, and owner of Indian restaurant, ‘Rubina’. She has been teaching cross-cultural communication at universities within Ishikawa and introducing authentic Indian cuisine and saree in feminist fashion in Japan to help enhance academic, cultural and social manifestation of life as an icon of mixed Indo-Japanese cultural stream.
Asked about the founding of the Ishikawa Indian Association and its activities, Maqsooda says, “The association is involved in promotion of relations between India and Japan primarily in cultural, educational and economic fields. The association was initially established and inaugurated by then ambassador H.E. Mr. Arjun Asrani in 1990. Since then, numerous activities have taken place under the banner of this association, both in Japan and in India.”
Citing some instances of the events held, she said, “Some of the examples include arrangements and sponsorship of home stays for exchange students, provision of scholarship for higher education to deserving students from India and coordination of business between the two countries. The association also helps disseminate and exchange information about the culture of India, using a combination of talk activities and events featuring prominent Indians in arts, science and business. Through ongoing series of activities, events like yoga and saree parties have achieved a great success in bringing the two people very near to each other.”
She added, “Charity events have also been held to support social and humanitarian causes such as Gujarat earthquake and Kashmir earthquake.”
She has a number of publications to her credit like, Tara: life of a Kashmir girl in Japan (Japanese), Japan, seen by the eyes of an Indian girl (English), Folk tales of Kashmir (Japanese), Wonders of sari (Japanese and English) and 25 years of memory – Ishikawa Indian Association (Japanese), to name a few. She has been featured in different newspapers and magazines both locally and nationally, and had the honour of speaking on different aspects of Indian culture as she continues to promote Indo-Japan ties all over Japan through guest speaker invitations.
She was conferred, in 2022, Ishikawa Prefectural Governor’s Award by Ishikawa Prefectural Government, Japan, for significant contribution to social activities and cultural promotion. Among other awards, in 1998 she received Ishikawa Businesswoman’s Award by Ishikawa Businesswoman Association, Japan, for being an Inspirational Businesswoman with international influence.
