Sheikh Zayed Book Award Launches Cultural Program in Japan to Enhance Knowledge Exchange

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA), organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center (ALC), has launched a comprehensive cultural program in Japan aimed at promoting cultural and literary exchange. The initiative is part of a broader international effort to promote the award and Arabic literature while fostering research on Arabic culture in various languages.

The program coincides with the second edition of the conference series “Arabian Nights: A Cultural Journey Across Continents and Centuries” held at the Mita Campus of Keio University in collaboration with the UAE Embassy in Tokyo. The aim of the series is to create dialogue that bridges cultures and fosters understanding.

The highlights of the program were the President of ALC and General Secretary of SZBA, Dr. Led by Ali bin Tamim, it included meetings with notable figures such as HE Shihab Ahmed Al Faheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan, and HE Saeed Hamdan. Al Tunaiji, Managing Director of ALC. The agenda emphasized cultural activities, discussions with notable cultural personalities and the establishment of cooperative relations between Abu Dhabi and Japanese cultural institutions.

Ambassador Shihab Al Fahim said the Arabian Nights Conference and related cultural events underscored Abu Dhabi’s commitment to creating inclusive platforms that bring different cultures together. He expressed the goal of fostering dialogue across borders to promote tolerance and respect, while stressing the importance of exposing Arabic literature and heritage to new audiences.

Dr. Ali bin Tamim added that the Sheikh Zayed Book Award is dedicated to enriching the global cultural landscape and promoting dialogue between different cultures. He noted that hosting the Arabian Nights Conference in Japan not only engages writers, researchers and students with Arabic culture, but also aims to strengthen cultural ties between the UAE and Japan.

Japan and the UAE have had a long history of cooperation dating back more than 50 years. A sizable Japanese population has established numerous partnerships and lives in the UAE. The cultural program featured talks with prominent Japanese writers and cultural personalities, trips to the University of Tokyo and the National Food Library, and gatherings with groups like the Japan Foundation and P.E.N. Club. The purpose of these interactions is to investigate potential for cross-cultural cooperation and exchange..

The program’s educational presentations delve into the many facets of the “Arabian Nights” and explain how it came to be recognized as a great work of literature worldwide. Talks about how the “Arabian Nights” have affected the world at large and analyses of creative interpretations are noteworthy sessions. Joseph-Charles Martress’s highly regarded translations were the subject of one special session, and Japanese artists’ interpretations of the text were the subject of another.

The Tokyo meeting is the second in a series of conferences that have already taken place in Madrid and will soon be held at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. This project not only advances Arabic literature and culture but also deepens mutual respect and understanding across many international populations.