RIYADH — The Embassy of Japan organized a cultural event “Japan Day 4” at Embassy of Japan in Riyadh on 11th and 12th September. A lecture on Japanese literature and demonstrations of Ikebana (Japanese traditional flower arrangement) was held during the event. Addressing the audience, the Japanese Ambassador to Kingdom, Shigeru Endo, said: “Literature shows the unique history and spiritual background of each cultures and attempts to identify universal values. The lecture by Dr. Karam Khalil is expected to teach us an aspect of Japanese history and spiritual background. And Ikebana represents one of the graceful and sensitive aspects of Japanese culture by showing how to bring together nature and human being. I hope the Saudi people enjoy them.” In the lecture entitled “Universality of Japanese Literature: Yasunari Kawabata and Kenzaburo Oe as a model”, Dr. Khalil Karam, dean of department of Japanese Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University introduced the history and transformation of Japanese literature. Later Dr. Karam and Dr. Faris Shihab, associate professor of Japanese language at King Saud University discussed Japanese society. In demonstrations of Ikebana, Tenkei Nomura, a Japanese artist of French residence, used flowers and branches from the local market and created very beautiful works. There was also a screening of the Japanese film “Eclair” which covered the life of the orphaned in Japan after the World War II. “Japan Day 3” was held at King Fahd Culture Center in last March. The Ambassador Endo, also said, the Embassy of Japan will continue to organize the events introducing Japanese cultures in the future. — SG
