On June 18, 2016, at the 79th year of her life, Elgena Molodyakova, an outstanding orientalist, Doctor of Historical Sciences, a major specialist in the study of Japan, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, left us.

Modest, unfailingly correct and friendly, she was always persistent and courageous and always made plans for the future, which she had in life and in science, literally until the last minutes, was truly huge. She was going to live, work, travel and just be with us for a long time. After all, the very name Elgen, which she received from her parents in honor of the rapid and full-flowing Siberian river Elgen on the Kolyma, where she was born and where she spent her childhood, laid in her a Siberian indomitable character, for which we sometimes jokingly called her "iron lady".

Indeed, she was staunchly and resolutely - "ironclad" - fighting for purity in science, was intolerant of any manifestations of amateurism and violations of academic ethics. At the same time, Elgena Vasilyevna always remained a real lady - an amazing woman with fine taste, a love of beauty, fragile and always elegant, friendly.

She loved classical music, literature, painting, theater, and was a regular at all the exhibitions and concerts that took place in the capital. She was also an amazing mother who raised a talented son who continued her life's work of studying Japan.

Professor Elgena Vasilyevna Molodyakova has always held a special place among Russian Japanese scholars. She was one of the best experts on Japan in Russia and a talented organizer of Japanese studies. For 16 years, she headed the Center for Japanese Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies, which has remained not only the flagship of Russian Japanese studies, but also one of the most dynamically developing and productive divisions of the Institute.

She first joined the Institute of Oriental Studies in 1965 as a graduate student in the Japan Department, having studied at the Institute of Oriental Languages at Moscow State University and 6 years of practical experience in central Soviet organizations. And having passed all the stages of professional and scientific activity, starting from a junior researcher, in 2009 she became Deputy Director of the Institute of Information Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, realizing her exceptional organizational and administrative abilities in this post.

It is difficult to put in a few lines all that I would like to say about this amazing person and a well - known scientist-the author of a large number of books about the politics, history and culture of Japan, a huge number of articles about this country and its people. The name of E. V. Molodyakova has become an indispensable attribute of any authoritative publication that tells about the Land of the Rising Sun. Over the years, Elgena Vasilyevna has shown herself not only as a leading specialist in the field of modern Japan, but also as an authoritative author of works in the field of "traditional cycle", and, finally, as a talented popularizer of knowledge about traditional and modern Japan. And I think that for many years to come, not only specialists, but also a wide range of readers will turn to Molodyakova's works, which are marked by a deep knowledge of the problems of Japan, clarity of analysis, logic and a good, accessible style of presentation. For many years, Elgena Vasilyevna was the editor-in-chief of such a reputable publication as the yearbook "Japan", headed the editorial board of the popular science magazine"Meet Japan". On her initiative and under her scientific supervision, a whole series of collective scientific monographs on modern Japan and a number of other reputable academic publications were published.

Since 2011, E. V. Molodyakova has been a member of the editorial board of the journal "Asia and Africa Today". For a decade and a half, she taught at MGIMO, and today her many students can be found everywhere - from public service institutions to private businesses, but above all, of course, among scientists and diplomats.

Elgena Vasilyevna fought for life to the end. Alas, death cannot be defeated. But even death cannot overcome the memory of a person - it lives in his deeds, creative and scientific heritage, in students and colleagues, friends and relatives.

This means that Elgena Vasilyevna will always stay with us!

Staff of the Institute of Information Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, editorial board of the journal "Asia and Africa Today", friends and colleagues of E. V. Molodyakova

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