Manar Elbaz

DUBAI: Dubai’s kimono and art space CHI-KA, in collaboration with the Consulate-General of Japan, hosted a one-of-a-kind performance by Japanese VR artist Aimi Sekiguchi and koto player Mai Taniguchi on Wednesday, bridging Japanese and Arab culture in an innovative way.

The event purposely highlights the juxtaposition between the traditional instrument and virtual painting in the metaverse, reflecting Japan and the UAE’s appreciation of their heritage while embracing new changes.  

“Last Sunday, Expo 2025 just kicked off. At the time when Japan is in the spotlight, we are committed to exploring every opportunity to promote Japanese culture here in Dubai,” IMANISHI Jun, Consul-General of Japan in Dubai, said. 

The 13-minute performance began with Sekiguchi, who has been painting in the metaverse since 2016, gracefully painting orange strokes as she turned the art space into her own canvas. The view from her VR headset was projected behind her on the wall, teleporting guests to her majestic wonderland.

As the performance progressed, the artist gave her masterpiece depth through shadows and various colors, hooking guests in when she added Arabic calligraphy. She finalized the painting by adding Japan’s Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms as the background. 

“Arab and Japanese traditional cultures have a charm that transcends logic,” the artist told Arab News Japan regarding her painting, noting that she drew inspiration from nature, as it is something that plays a massive role in both cultures.

“By combining these cultures with technologies such as VR, AI, and 3D scanning, I explore new expressions that transcend dimensions,” she added, sharing that while AI is advancing, it cannot replace cultures. 

Moreover, Taniguchi’s koto added another element of immersion throughout the show. While Sekiguchi was painting, Taniguchi’s music took guests on a journey through various eras of Japanese and Arab music. 

Beginning with a classical Japanese music piece from the Edo period, the musician swiftly transitioned into ‘Lamma Bada Yatathanna’—one of the most iconic Arabic poems that was later performed by renowned Arab singers like Fairuz and Lena Chamamyan. 

The performance exceeded the guests’ expectations as they became intrigued to try the koto and VR painting after the show. 

“I feel great, and I’m thankful to have this opportunity to perform with an amazing artist like Sekiguchi, as this is not an opportunity that comes daily,” Taniguchi told Arab News Japan after the performance. 

“We wanted to blend the traditional elements with the futuristic art of Sekiguchi. We are both representing Japanese culture but we tried to put an Arabic element into it. I think ‘Lamma Bada Yatathanna’ is a melody that many people from this region would recognize, so that’s why I chose it.”

Sekiguchi and Taniguchi both performed in Abu Dhabi separately last week as part of the ‘Festival in the Park’ event. The former will be performing in Saudi Arabia next week and will be joining the popular Japanese children’s show ‘Oha Suta’ as a regular member, while the latter is performing at the Middle East Film & Comic Con in Abu Dhabi on the weekend.