An exhibition of photos of Central Asia taken by 11 Diet members, including former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, opened Wednesday at the Parliamentary Museum in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward.
Hashimoto, Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama and nine other lawmakers took the pictures while visiting Uzbekistan and other countries as part of Japan's Silk Road diplomacy project, which started in 1997 to promote friendship between Japan and the region.
The photo exhibition, "Central Asia Pictures Taken by Diet Members -- Nostalgic Feelings Toward the Silk Road," was organized to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the independence of five nations in the region.
The three-day exhibition consists of about 90 photos showing scenes of daily life and cultural assets such as temples in the region.
Uzbekistan Ambassador to Japan Alisher Shaykhov attended the opening ceremony.