Abu dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) is set to commemorate a century of Arabic language education in Japan with a conference scheduled for 21-22 September 2025. This significant event, organized under the auspices of UNESCO and in collaboration with The National Museum of Ethnology (Minpaku), aims to highlight the role of the Arabic language in strengthening Arab-Japanese cultural ties.
According to Emirates News Agency, the conference, titled "Exploring Intercultural Dialogue of Japan and the Arab World through the Arabic Language," is part of UNESCO's Intercultural Dialogue Programme. This initiative seeks to enhance communication across different cultures and identities. The collaboration between ALC and Minpaku has previously resulted in successful cultural exchanges, such as the "Arabian Nights: A Cultural Journey Across Continents" conference, which took place at Tokyo's Keio University in September 2024. These efforts underscore the strengthening Arab-Japanese cultural dialogue and open new avenues for future cooperation.
The event's first day, 21st September, featured a public program of talks and events showcasing art and culture inspired by the Arabic language, emphasizing its power to connect and inspire. On the following day, an academic symposium will delve into the history and current state of Arabic language education in Japan. In a world increasingly shaped by globalization and digital transformation, the symposium aims to reconsider the importance of language learning in building cultural bridges and to encourage more educational institutions in Japan to teach Arabic.
Prominent speakers at the symposium include Yosr Souai from UNESCO, Dr Akiko Sumi from Kyoto Notre Dame University, Dr Yoshiaki Fukuda from University of Osaka, Dr Abdalla Almoamen from Tokai University, and Masayuki Miyamoto, Former Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The conference began with opening remarks from Yuji Seki, Director-General of the National Museum of Ethnology, and Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre. Dr Ali bin Tamim emphasized the importance of cross-cultural exchange and the ALC's commitment to fostering mutual understanding between civilizations, guided by the leadership of the UAE and Abu Dhabi.
Arabic, as one of the six official languages of the United Nations, plays a crucial role in promoting cross-cultural understanding and global dialogue. This symposium aims to highlight Arabic's ongoing role as a bridge connecting different regions and communities through shared understanding.
Dr Tetsuo Nishio, Professor Emeritus at the National Museum of Ethnology, reflected on his nearly 50 years of learning Arabic and teaching it at Kyoto University for almost 30 years. He noted the profound changes in the world over the past century, accelerated by globalization and digitalization, and emphasized the importance of re-evaluating the role of the Arabic language in Japan-Arab world interactions. Dr Nishio expressed hope that the conference would further promote cultural exchanges between the UAE and Japan and foster new research collaborations through the partnership between ALC and Minpaku.