On strategic partnership
“Our partnership with Dubai contributes significantly to bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries. Dubai hosts around 3,000 Japanese residents and the Japanese community in the emirate is the largest in the Middle East and North Africa. Seventy thousand Japanese tourists visited the UAE in 2017 while 6,500 UAE nationals were recorded to have visited Japan as of last November. I foresee that the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and Dubai Expo 2020 will boost the bilateral cooperation based on such human exchange.”
On cultural initiatives
“Many UAE nationals have strong interests in the Japanese culture and we have noticed strong demand for our cultural activities. Last month, we held a Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) workshop at the Youth Hub and we also assisted in organising the Hokkaido Food Fair in Dubai. I am planning to hold cultural activities of both Japanese pop culture and the traditional ones. “Cultural exchange should be interactive. I had the chance to visit Sharjah Art Foundation and Hatta Honey Festival last year. I would like to continue such efforts to touch upon the UAE culture and people for further deepening my understanding in this country.”
On enhancing lives of Japanese expats
“Dubai Japanese Kindergarten (DJK), affiliated with Dubai Japanese School, was launched in 2016 and a new building for the DJK was inaugurated in December. Improving the preschool environment of Japanese children in Dubai is key for attracting young Japanese families to Dubai. The consulate general has a close partnership with the Japanese community for ensuring safety of Japanese nationals in the emirate. In 2017, we held a Security Consultation and Liaison Committee with the Japanese business community at my residence.”
