Chantal Fouad
DUBAI: An exhibition that showcases Dubai in the year 1962 taken by KAWASHIMA Yoshio, a Japanese photojournalist during his visit to the Middle East, took place at al safa art and design library.
A collection of black and white photographs that portray the old Dubai showing its dynamic heritage and civilizations.
Pictures showed people going on with their daily lives around the Dubai creek showing multiple activities such as trading around the souk, children attending classes in schools, and even Dubai’s first public library was captured being built.
"دبي للثقافة" بالتعاون مع القنصلية العامة لليابان في دبي، تنظم في مكتبة الصفا للفنون والتصميم معرض صور "دبي في عام 1962" ، ذلك احتفاءً بالذكرى الـ 50 لتأسيس العلاقات الإماراتية اليابانية. pic.twitter.com/ep9DlUTjct
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 31, 2023
KAWASHIMA was working under the Sankei Shimbun newspaper, a daily newspaper in Japan that has one of the highest regional newspaper circulations in the country, and was accompanied by his journalist colleague KATO Hiroshi.
When the two journalists arrived to Dubai they were fascinated by its authenticity and culture and decided to create a resonating collection that captured authentic scenes whilst happening.
Pictures of the former ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, in his majlis, the Arabic term for sitting room that hosts special types of gatherings, was also captured by KAWASHIMA.
The pictures caught the attention of the public eye when one of the pictures was presented to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, a member of Dubai’s ruling Al Maktoum family.
The picture was presented by MAKISHIMA-AKAI Kimi in 2008; she met with KAWASHIMA and KATO during her time in Tokyo working for Dubai’s department of tourism and commerce.
This exhibition significantly acts as a solidifying factor for the Japan-UAE relations; the year 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of successful bilateral cooperations and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
A collaboration between the consul general of Japan in Dubai and the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority led to the presentation of the exhibition; with the help of Sankei Shimbun newspaper and MAKISHIMA-AKAI Kimi, led to a well-valued depiction of the solid long-lasting relationships between Japan and the UAE.