Arab News Japan

The Consulate-General of Japan in Dubai hosted an online lecture Feb. 1 in collaboration with the American University in Dubai (AUD) about Mega Events and Urban Development in Japan.

The webinar was moderated by Dr. MARUYAMA Takeshi, Assistant Professor of Architecture at AUD and Dr. SETA Fumihiko, Assistant Professor of Department of Urban Engineering at the University of Tokyo.

Consul General of Japan in Dubai Noboru Sekiguchi made the opening remarks and said that the UAE and Japan will have the world’s attention together for few years to come as they are both hosting the upcoming Expo events. 

The lecture introduced the recent trend and advanced features of urban development in Tokyo and Osaka, which can be applicable to other cities and regions. Not only the installation of new technologies like IoT (Internet of Things), smart city, TOD (Transit Oriented Development), environmental-friendly techniques but also advanced ways of planning, processing and management involving various stakeholders are picked up.

Mega events such as the Tokyo Olympic Games 1964 and the former Osaka Expo held in 1968 stimulated technical innovation of the whole Japan.

Dr. Seta will also be giving a lecture on Urban Development in Japan in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan in Saudi Arabia and King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic studies on Feb. 16.

The webinar will have opening remarks by MIYAKE Hirofumi, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan in KSA, and Dr. Heidi Alaskary, Chief Executive Officer for the Special Olympics Saudi Arabia will be speaking alongside Dr. SETA.

Dr. Mark C. Thompson, Head of Socioeconomics Unit at King Faisal Center will be moderating the webinar.