Japanese Ambassador Attends ‘japan Day’ Ceremony at Zayed University

Zayed University welcomed His Excellency Akihiko Nakajima, the Ambassador of Japan to the UAE, to the “Japan Day” event which was hosted on two separate days at the male and female students promenade at the University’s Abu Dhabi Campus.

The event commenced with warm remarks by Student Haleema Awadh, the Zayed University Japan Club “Risers” President and delivered in Japanese. Followed by the traditional Japanese Green Tea Ceremony, Matcha; a green powder mixed with hot water and supplemented by separate pieces of sugar, and a Japanese KOTO musical instrumental performance.

The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Mohsen Onsy, Associate Provost and Chief Academic Officer attended the ceremony, Fatima AlDarmaki, Dean, Student Affairs Deanship, professors, Japanese Club members and students.

The two-day event aimed at introducing various aspects of daily life, arts and culture in Japan. Attendees learnt about the basic difference seen between Yukata and Kimono, is in their fabric. Where Yukata comes in cotton fabric while a Kimono dress comes in silk fabric. As well as the fabric bright colors differ from dark ones, as women wearing dark clothes indicate they are married, and bright colors indicate being single.

Dr. Khadija Abdulrahman, the Japanese Club Adviser, said that, “The club works through encouraging Zayed University students to explore the Japanese culture that stands behind its overall excellence and its richness, depth and multi-faceted roots that have been established in history for thousands of years.”

Students were fascinated by the Origami workshop which tough viewers the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative shapes and figures, they also learnt their names in Japanese Calligraphy. While student artists from Zayed University displayed magnificent Japanese-inspired artworks and drawings.

As for the ‘Ikebana Space’ known as the ‘Japanese flower arrangement’, student Mohammed Batheeb, the Japan Club “Samurais” President, said, “Ikebana is a great startup opportunity, could be mostly used in local weddings, which enormously uses flowers for decorations and designs.” Adding, “Ikebana would make it even more lavish, as Japanese are renowned for their ability to shape up and form beautiful flower sculptures. This is a fresh idea to start wedding flowering business in the UAE,” he said.