- ARAB NEWS
- 03 May 2024
Since 1975
Dubai’s Consul-General IMANISHI Jun hosted a special reception in honor of Emperor Naruhito’s 64th birthday on Feb. 14.
At Raffles Hotel in Dubai, guests were invited on behalf of Japan’s Consul-General Imanishi to celebrate the occasion with traditional Japanese foods and performances.
The Consul-General said in a speech at the reception that Japan can learn a lot from the UAE in terms of “tolerance, diversity and family ties.”
Imanishi explained that Japan and the UAE are working together to deepen their ties by “working on the next young generation.”
“In January, high school students from Tokyo visited the UAE and had cultural exchange with high school students in Sharjah who are learning Japanese,” he said. “The students discussed creating a sustainable society and learned from each other.”
“It is very encouraging to witness the cultural exchange between the youths, I believe this will strengthen the bond,” Imanishi added.
The Consul-General told guests that he had served as the Assistant Chief of Protocol for Emperor Naruhito from 2017 to 2019, and served at his enthronement ceremony.
“The cordial relation between Japan’s imperial family and the UAE’s royal family has been instrumental in the development of friendly relations between the two nations for the last 50 years,” he said. “In 1995, His Majesty the Emperor visited the UAE and attended the opening ceremony of the Consulate General of Japan.”
Imanishi said the relationship goes beyond cultural exchange, with many of Dubai’s technological advancements such as the Dubai Metro and the Dubai Mall fountains using Japanese technology.
The Consul-General expressed his “deep sympathies and condolences to the victims of the Noto peninsula earthquake on the Jan. 1.”
The UAE’s Ambassador to Japan Shihab Al Faheem attended the ceremony on Wednesday in honor of Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, along with other officials.
Many companies were also showcasing their products and services at the event, including Crown Melon, Daikin, JETRO, JNTO, Daiso Japan, Olympus, Yakult, Yoku Moku, Kawasaki and more.
Authentic Japanese cuisine was served to the guests with sushi and wagyu beef on the menu.
To showcase AI’s capabilities, one artist wore a Virtual Reality headset and painted a virtual painting live on stage, honoring the UAE and Japan’s close ties.
