Faisal Khalaf, Riyadh

Every day I love Japan more and more, when I talk about it and about its community with some people, they say that I talk about it with love and that is true. I will visit Japan as soon as possible to work with my Japanese friends and to get to know more and more about this great country.

The Saudi Arabian Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan declared 2020 the Year of Arabic Calligraphy in Saudi Arabia. He stated in his comments to Arab News Japan, that all Japanese creatives are welcomed to the Kingdom on the occasion of our calligraphy year.

For me, I agreed with my friend from Japan Reo Ishikawa that this year will be a cultural mix between our countries. For example Japanese tea and Arabic coffee can connect us, also the Japanese kimono and Saudi thobe are also similar in style. I look forward to presenting an art work about Arabic Calligraphy in collaboration with my Japanese friend Nobu.

The recent visit of the Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo to my country, had very positive indications and significant cultural details such as meeting with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman in Al Ula, one of our major historical sites, and in a classic Bedouin tent sharing a traditional dinner.

The photographer Bander Al Jaloud took some great photos of both the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince that indicate our love to our traditions, our culture, and to our identity. So, we need to try hard to keep these traditions and introduce them to the world in all of its beauty.

Dr. Faisal Khalaf is a dentist, writer and a member of various charities, who is interested in culture and Art.