Arab News Japan

OSAKA: Saudi Arabia’s Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth) highlighted the Kingdom’s traditional arts to a global audience during Saudi Culture Week at Expo 2025 Osaka.

The event, from July 12-15, highlighted the “Year of Handicrafts 2025” initiative and put the Kingdom’s creative industries and craftsmanship in the spotlight. It also coincided with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Wrth’s participation blended Saudi and Japanese culture in a way that highlighted each one and featured a live demonstration by Saudi artisan Salman Al-Hamad and Japan’s Yuho Ohkotaof, who applied the techniques of Al-Ahsa Bisht embroidery to a Japanese kimono design. 

Wrth also held a workshop dedicated to creating Japanese fans with patterns inspired by Saudi traditional arts, using a design by a Wrth student.