ShareKUWAIT: The Embassy of Japan to Kuwait held a reception on Tuesday to celebrate His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday. In his opening remarks, the Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait, Mukai Kenichiro hailed the deep-rooted relations between Japan and Kuwait, noting that the relations have developed in various fields. He stated “His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito, the 126th Emperor of Japan, will celebrate his 65th birthday on February 23. I am thrilled to be able to celebrate our national day here with the people of Kuwait, along with the 64th National Day of Kuwait and the 34th anniversary of its liberation next week.”
Japan’s Ambassador to Kuwait reflected on his first few months in the country, recalling his meeting with His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, noting “Since then, I have met with many people who have expressed their trust and friendship toward Japan and their love for Japanese culture. One of them said that strengthening relations between both cultures would lead to the development of Kuwait. I believe the same is true for Japan. The relationship that we are developing together is not limited to the economy but extends to various fields such as culture and education.”
The ambassador stated that on December 23, they held the 4th session of the Policy Dialogue between both Foreign Ministries in Kuwait to discuss ways of cooperation between the two countries in various fields. “Today and yesterday, the 5th session of the Japan-Kuwait Electricity & Water & Renewable Energy Policy Dialogue was held in Kuwait, with the visit of officials from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as well as Japanese companies from Japan. We would take these opportunities to develop concrete cooperation projects between the two countries,” he said.
The ambassador expressed hope that many Kuwaitis will visit the Kansai-Osaka Expo, which will open on April 13, saying “The venue will be filled with a variety of fascinating exhibits, all of which will showcase cutting-edge Japanese technology, culture, and history.” Ambassador Kenichiro encouraged the people of Kuwait to make the trip to Osaka, explaining “Whether you are a repeat Japan fan or a first-time visitor to Japan, it will be an experience of a lifetime. The Expo is also an opportunity to strengthen economic ties through increased direct investment.”
He continued “Japan is a large market and a very attractive investment destination, with capital investment in Japan topping around $700 billion in 2023, a record high. The Expo will showcase the most advanced Japanese technologies, including AI, advanced mobility, and healthcare technologies, and there will be opportunities for business meetings with Japanese companies. In addition, the venue of the Expo will be carbon neutral with the use of a hydrogen clean energy system and CO2 emission-reducing concrete. We hope that Kuwait will invest in Japan, and we also look forward to the development of cooperation between Japan and Kuwait through such technology.”
He concluded “I was also reminded of the immense popularity of Japanese pop culture here in Kuwait. “Figurama Collectors” has donated figures from the Japanese anime “Attack on Titan” and others for display here. “Attack on Titan” is a story that reminds us of the importance of peace and the beauty of human life through the dirty conflicts of mankind. I hope that human beings cooperate to bring the world as close to peace as possible this year.”
At the reception, sushi and other Japanese dishes cooked by the ambassador’s chef were served, and a corner was set up to promote agricultural and marine products from Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan and set a corner to experience traditional Japanese tea. The event was attended by Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs as the guest of honor and many representatives from government bodies, diplomatic corps, international organizations, businesses and media.
