Amin Abbas

The Japan Oil Development Co (JODCO), a subsidiary of the Japanese upstream firm Inpex, participated in the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX) that took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) from September 27 to October 3.

The JODCO booth at the exhibition featured activities that aided in the representation of Japanese cultural traditions. The activities included Chado (Tradition of Tea), Koto and Niko (Harps), Judo, Taiko drumming, Ikebana (Flower Art) and Yabusame (Horseback Archery).

In an exclusive interview with Arab News Japan, the Corporate Affairs and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at JODCO, Tomomi Yoshida, commented on the event and provided details regarding the company’s participation in ADIHEX 2021.

“We have featured various Japanese activities at our booth such as: Chado (Tradition of Tea) by Urasenke Abu Dhabi Study Group; Koto and Niko, musicians that played harps; Judo demonstration by Mr. Koki Ashida, who is a Judo Coach at the UAE Judo Federation; Taiko drumming by an Emirati-Japanese Drumming Band called Kharsha; Ikebana (Flower Art) presented by Harue Oki, an Ikebana Professor, and Yabusame (Horseback Archery) by Mr. Ienobu Kaneko, Deputy Master of Takeda School (38th heir).”

“Panels of the Japanese falconry school SUWA were featured in memory of Mr. Zenjiro Tagomori, the 17th generation head of SUWA school and the 18th head of the school Ms. Noriko Otsuka was introduced,” she added.

Yoshida said that the main challenge faced during their participation at ADIHEX 2021 was the inability to bring the Japanese falconers to ADIHEX due to strict travel regulations implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Offering insight into JODCO’s upcoming plans, Yoshida mentioned that the company will be attending the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC), which is set to take place from November 15 to November 18.

This year’s edition of ADIHEX included 680 companies and brands from 44 countries, including 319 local exhibitors, 32 governmental entities and more than 20 local and international falconry clubs, associations and institutions that collectively took place in an area of approximately 50,000 square meters.