4.Bilateral
Relations
(4)Culture
As
a maritime country, the Sultanate of Oman has a long history of
exchanges with many countries, and the people of Oman are proud of
maintaining their own tradition and culture. In addition, as a country reigned
by the Royal Family, they feel close to Japan
which also has the Imperial Family. Furthermore, in the process of
rapid development of late years,
Oman
has regarded
Japan
as one of the model countries in its national building.
Hence the people of
Oman
have very positive feeling toward Japan.
Based
upon such a background, and our foreign policy aimed at enhancing the multi-layered relationships between the
Sultanate of Oman and
Japan, we are conducting various cultural activities in
Oman
to promote Omani understandings on Japanese culture.
With
the cooperation kindly extended by
Oman-Japan Friendship Association and the group of people who have
association with Japan, we provide opportunities to introduce Japanese culture by
showing Japanese movies, introducing Japanese foods and
demonstrating the tea ceremony, the traditional Japanese drum
performance and various seminars/ lectures. We also conduct the
exchange of people through various invitation schemes, the
promotion of scientific exchange between universities and the
support for those who visit
Japan
to study.
In 2010,
escecially, in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of
the accession of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the Embassy
of Japan organized various cultural events like a fashion show
“Hanae Mori Haute Couture”, a performance of Japanese Dance by
dance troupe “Kikunokai”, through the whole year.
"a
fashion show “Hanae Mori Haute Couture -East Meets West-"
(May 2010)"
“a performance of Japanese Dance by dance troupe
“Kikunokai” (December 2010)”
Based
on the Joint Announcement between
Japan
and the Sultanate of Oman, which was released at the successful
visit to
Japan
by His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tarik Al Said, Minister of
Heritage and Culture, April 2008, the Government of Japan and
Oman
are now jointly implementing concrete projects in such fields as
maintenance of national archives. Furthermore, the Government of
Japan presented 296 books which were exhibited in Muscat
International Book Fairs to the Government of Oman in March 2010.
“presented books to the undersecretary of the Ministry of
Heritage and Culture”
As
the glorious occasion in 2010, there is an establishment of the
Sultan Qaboos Chair at the
University
of Tokyo. The Chair was established by a generous endowment from His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, for the purpose of promoting
Middle Eastern studies in a broad sense. On October 6th,
a ceremony was held at the
University
of
Tokyo
and an agreement to this effect was signed by H. E. Dr. Rawya bint
Saud al Busaidiyah, Minister of Higher Education, who was visiting
Japan, and Prof. Junichi Hamada, President of the University of Tokyo.
This Chair has become the most tangible project commemorating the
40th anniversary of the accession of His Majesty for
bilateral relations between Japan
and Oman.
“a ceremony for establishment of the Sultan Qaboos Chair
at the
University
of
Tokyo
(October 2010)”
In
recent years, since more and more young people are interested in
Japanese manga (comics) and animation, we would like to
disseminate information on Japanese pop culture including them as
well as Japanese traditional culture, and conduct cultural
activities to introduce
Japan
with the various aspects.
Past
Main Cultural Events
(reference)
1.The
pop culture diplomacy of Japan
(International manga Award, Anime Ambassador, Trend Communicators
of Japanese Pop Culture) click
here
2.Web
sites related to Japanese culture
Web
Japan
Trends
in Japan
3.Websites
related to "Study in Japan
"
Gateway
to Study in Japan
Study
in Japan Comprehensive Guide
Japan
Student Services Organization
4.Recent
visits of culture leaders to Japan
by the invitation (The title is at the time of the visit)
(1)H.E.
Dr. Fawzia bint Nasser Al-Farsi, Undersecretary for Education
Curricula of Ministry of Education(2003)
(2)H.E.
Muna Mahfouz Salem
Al-Manthary, Member of the State Council(2007)
(3)Dr.
Samira bint Mohamed Al-Moosa, Member of the State
Council(2008)
5.Conferment
to Professor Haruo Endo
In
recognition of his distinguished contribution to strengthening
friendly relationship between Sultanate of Oman and Japan,
Professor Haruo Endo, who was a former exepert of JICA, was
conferred the Sultan Qaboos Order for Culture, Science and Arts
(First Class) in 9 September 2007. Click
here (Japanese only)
6.The
Oman-Japan Friendship Association
The
Oman-Japan Friendship Association (OJFA) was established to
promote relationship in the field of culture, society, economy,
arts and science between Oman and Japan in January 1974 and
started formally in March with the late Personal
Representative of His Majesty the Sultan H. H. Sayyid Thuwaini
Al-Said as Honorary Chairman of the Association, Special Advisor
to His Majesty the Sultan for External Liaison H. E. Dr. Omar Al-Zawawi
as Deputy Honorary Chairman & Chairman of the Board, Advisor
to His Majesty the Sultan for Economic Planning Affairs H. E.
Mohammed Al-Zubair as Deputy Honorary Chairman. It has the longest
history in international friendship associations. The Association
has reorganized in chance of the
40th anniversary of the accession of His Majesty,
enhanced the activity by inviting important businessmen in.
Hereafter, the association is expected to become active in the economic affairs
in addition to cultural affairs.
7.
The
Japan-Oman
Association
The
Japan-Oman
Association was formed by Masayuki Fujio, Chairman of the
Influential Policy
Research Council (the title at the time) in May
1986. It started a branch in the west of
Japan
in 1994, and it dispatched cultural groups to
Oman
several times. It was re-activated when H.E.
Dr.
Ahmed
bin Abdulnabi
Macki, the
then Minister
of National Economy
visited to
Japan
on 5 May 2007.
8.
The Japan-Oman Parliamentary Friendship League
The
Japan-Oman Parliamentary Friendship League was established in November 2001. When H.E.
Dr.
Ahmed
bin
Abdulnabi
Macki, the
then Minister
of National Economy
visited to Japan
on 5 May 2007, an establishment ceremony was held again to boost
the activities. Seishiro Eto, Vice-Speaker of the House of
Representatives serves as Chairman, Yasutoshi Nishimura, a member
of the House of Representatives serves as Secretary General. It
promotes the friendship and goodwill between
Japan
and
Oman
through the contact at members of congress level.
9.
The Hiroshima-Oman Friendship Association
When
the city of
Hiroshima
hosted the 12th Asian Games in 1994, each district of
the city supported one of the countries participating in the
Games. Since Asaminami town in
Hiroshima
Prefecture
cheered for the Omani teams, the Hiroshima-Oman Friendship
Association was established and it has actively continued
cultural-exchange with the Sultanate of Oman. On the occasion of
the
40th anniversary of the accession of His Majesty Sultan
Qaboos bin Said, 17
members visited
Oman
from November to December 2010.
Click
here for further details (Japanese only)
(renewal
in April 2011)
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