Arab News Japan

TOKYO: A ceremony was held on Friday to mark the donation of books gifted by the government of the Sultanate of Oman to the Mohammed bin Saud Bahwan Library at the University of Tokyo Centre for Middle Eastern Studies (UTCMES).

The ceremony was attended by Omani Ambassador Dr. Mohamed Said Al Busaidi and Mana Al-Kathiri, the deputy head of mission, as well as staff from the University of Tokyo, including Dean Takumi Moriyama, and Prof. Hidemi Takahashi, the Director of UTCMES.

Ambassador Al Busaidi recalled how the late Sultan Qaboos prioritized education and knowledge and the importance of educating his people. “In his first speech, His Majesty spoke about the importance of education and the importance of knowledge. His majesty’s government has made this kind donation to this outstanding Centre to disseminate knowledge so that it continues the work we are doing here and to make it accessible to researchers in Japan.”

The ambassador added that he was honored to be part of the presentation of books to the university at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Dean Moriyama responded saying, “these precious books on Ibadism and Arab studies donated by the government of the Sultanate of Oman to the Mohammed bin Saud Bahwan Library will be invaluable additions to the existing 4,000 volumes housed by the institution. We feel very honored that the government of the Sultanate of Oman has bestowed such a significant collection of books on UTCMES.”

“UTCMES plans to hold several academic events this year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Building on this donation, I hope that active academic exchanges between our university, your national university (Sultan Qaboos University) and other Omani institutions will be further promoted during this time,” Dean Moriyama said.

The Mohammed bin Saud Bahwan Library for Middle Eastern Studies is the first dedicated Middle Eastern library to be established at the Komaba Campus. The library was funded with a donation by Omani businessman Mohammed Saud Bahwan and opened in 2018.

The Sultan Qaboos Chair in Middle Eastern Studies was inaugurated in April 2011 at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The establishment of the Chair was made possible by an endowment from the government of the Sultanate of Oman and aims to have a leading role in Japan as a center for education and research in the fields of cultural, literary, political, religious and historical studies of the Middle East.

The University of Tokyo Centre for Middle Eastern Studies was established simultaneously in April 2011.