


DUBAI: Hobby Nation, a community based in the UAE dedicated to manga and video game enthusiasts, celebrated its 10th anniversary with an event that featured various activities such as Japanese calligraphy, origami, and gaming at Dubai’s Rove Hotel.
The event started with a buffet in a relaxing pajama-themed setting, where members also enjoyed playing video games followed by board game sessions, according to Hobby Nation’s founder, Faisal Al Qassim.
Hobby Nation’s partner community, Gulf Roleplaying Community, led a thrilling tabletop role-playing game session. The event concluded with a karaoke session and a cake-cutting ceremony.
“The event was truly a celebration of community and shared passions,” Al Qassim shared. “The cake-cutting ceremony was a symbolic moment, marking a decade of friendships, memories, and shared experiences.”
Reflecting on the 10th anniversary, the founder said, “Reaching our 10th anniversary is both humbling and exhilarating. From our humble beginnings as a small Facebook group, Hobby Nation has grown into a thriving community that truly lives and breathes the idea of shared passions. Our achievements are not just in numbers but in the lasting connections and memories we’ve created together.”
He added, “This anniversary marks the beginning of a new chapter, one where we continue to embrace our love for hobbies, support one another, and welcome even more people into our ever-growing family.”
The event received positive reviews from guests, as they enjoyed the activities in a welcoming atmosphere.
“The karaoke was a particular hit, with everyone coming together to share in the fun. Many members expressed their enthusiasm for the event and have asked for more similar events in the future. It’s clear that our community values these opportunities to connect, relax, and share in their passions, and we’re excited to plan more experiences like this moving forward,” Al Qassim said.
Japan in Arabia, a UAE-based community that promotes Japanese culture and arranged the Japanese calligraphy and origami activities at the event, told Arab News Japan that the event made them feel grateful for the community that Hobby Nation fostered throughout the years.
“The anniversary made me feel like a kid again,” Japan in Arabia founder Jason Ishida told Arab News Japan. “From the cabinet arcade games to the board games and everyone dressed in their pajamas, it was a welcome dose of nostalgia. We are grateful to share authentic Japanese culture through origami and Japanese calligraphy with so many excited guests.”
Japanese artist Hiromi Fyfe shared with Arab News Japan her experience participating in the event, saying, “I was happy to see people enjoying Japanese culture, especially when I was teaching origami. It was nice to see their smiles after they made their own origami creations.”
Hobby Nation is planning a series of online and offline events that are catered to fostering their community further. “We are looking at hosting more themed meetups, gaming tournaments, and collaborative events with our partner communities,” Al Qassim shared.
“Our goal is to keep the momentum going, providing our community with more opportunities to explore their passions, make new friends, and deepen their engagement with Hobby Nation,” he concluded.