Arab News Japan

DUBAI: The second edition of the UAE-Japan Falconry Program concluded in Japan’s Ichihara in February, continuing with the support of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, chairman of the Emirates Falconers Club.

This initiative is part of the agreement signed between the club and Japan’s INPEX-JODCO Foundation, aimed at enhancing and supporting friendship programs.

The camp saw participation from Emirati and Japanese falconers, along with students from Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys and Japan’s Suwa School of Falconry, the oldest and most renowned falconry school in Japan, established approximately 1,650 years ago.

Falconry remains one of the most traditional hunting methods in Japan.

At the conclusion of the program, participants were honored and presented with certificates of appreciation by the Japanese side in recognition of their efforts in preserving authentic traditions, safeguarding falconry practices and ensuring their sustainability while strengthening the foundations of shared cultural heritage.

Majid Ali Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of the Emirates Falconers Club, extended his deepest gratitude to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Falconers Club, for their support for the sustainable preservation of falconry, both within and beyond the UAE.

He also thanked them for their commitment to passing down this heritage to future generations and supporting the joint falconry camp with Japan.

He expressed his happiness over the continuity of this unique cultural exchange between two nations known for their deep-rooted falconry traditions.

He also extended his appreciation to the Japanese side and all participants who contributed to the success of the program’s second edition. He emphasized that this cultural exchange enriches cooperation and strengthens the historic friendship between the two countries, where culture plays a fundamental role.

Participants visited the Mayor of Ichihara, who welcomed them and praised the program’s significance.

They also attended a workshop on the traditional Japanese art of “Amezaiku,” or candy sculpting, where they created various shapes inspired by Japanese culture, including animals and plants.

They also explored Ichihara’s natural and cultural landmarks, visiting its key museums.

The program included workshops on the history of falconry in Japan, traditional techniques and training activities focused on tracking prey, training birds of prey and hunting with falcons.

Japanese falconer Noriko Otsuka, President of the Suwa Association for the Preservation of Falconry, expressed her hope that falconry would serve as a gateway to Japan’s rich cultural heritage.

She said that a common bond between young falconers in Japan and the UAE is their early training, which allows them to gain experience before joining professional hunting expeditions.

Otsuka stated: “Through falconry, one can learn noble values such as courage, pride, and honor, along with respect for nature, the preservation of traditions, and the legacy of our ancestors.”

Otsuka also mentioned that thanks to the Emirates Falconers Club and her participation in the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition since its early editions, she became determined to act as an ambassador for Japanese falconry, sharing her expertise with the world and fostering a new generation of Japanese falconers familiar with Arab falconry traditions.

Mohammed Saeed Al Suwaidi, a participant from Sheikh Zayed Private Academy for Boys, expressed his excitement about the rare opportunity to experience falconry in Japan, describing it as a culturally enriching and unique journey.

Mohammed Ahmed bin Nawi Al Mazrouei extended his heartfelt gratitude to the UAE’s leadership for making this visit possible, emphasizing the historical significance of falconry in Japan.

He said that he learned valuable lessons about bird handling in Japan, discovering that training methods are quite similar in both countries, with knowledge passed down through generations.