Amin Abbas
AL AIN: A Japanese cultural day festival was held on Nov. 3 at Al Ain Aquaponics Farms, a newly established business focused on growing vegetables in the desert. The event featured various Japanese activities such as calligraphy, shogi, kimono wearing, and more.
Hosted by the Emirati organization HalaCultures, the event featured a Koi fish pool on the farm. Shaikha Al Hashmi, CEO of HalaCultures, told Arab News Japan that guests also had the chance to learn about Emirati culture through old antiques.
Jason Ishida, founder of the UAE-based community for Japanese culture lovers ‘Japan in Arabia’, told Arab News Japan that the event was a great introduction to Japanese culture and that the Koi fish ponds were a highlight for everyone.
“There were many other activities, including the chance to dress up in kimono, held by Al Dahlia Kimono. There are also other cultural activities, such as shogi and origami, run by Hala cultures. Japan in Arabia provided free calligraphy for guests,” he shared, adding that Japan in Arabia will host a Japanese quiz night on Dec. 8.
The event received positive feedback from visitors, according to HalaCulture. “The young Emirati youth had the chance to know more about their ancestor’s past while witnessing the Koi fish pools,” Al Hashmi shared. “The Japanese visitors loved the Emirati experience and the food. Both nationalities had the chance to find commonality and harmony with each other’s cultures during the experience.”
Al Hashmi mentioned that HalaCultures will have a lot of activities related to Japanese culture for the upcoming year, such as the Japanese Urban Legend Gameboard. “(It) will be a portable experience and activity delving into the urban legend side of Japan,” she said.
Motoko, founder of Al Dhalia Kimono, reflected on the event, saying, “I was so happy to see that there were so many people learning about and making an effort to understand Japanese culture. I love the way that this generation continues to strengthen the bridge between UAE and Japan by sharing our cultures and knowledge. It’s very admirable, and I hope we can continue to keep this kind of love for generations to come.”