Demonstration of Tea Ceremony
A demonstration of tea ceremony was performed in front of the female invitees at Japanese Consul-General's residence on January 25, 2012.
In the beginning, Mrs. Yoshida, wife of the Consul-General, introduced the history of Japanese tea ceremony, and then a Japanese headmistress Ms. Yumi Kobayashi performed a demonstration of tea ceremony.
All invitees tasted powdered green tea, and some of them experienced tea serving manner.
The participants expressed their keen interest in the movements of tea serving manner and the meaning of ICHIGO-ICHIE, the spirit of the tea ceremony, which stands for "Every occasion of extending hospitality to another person is a particular occasion never to recur in one's life time (, so one should try to make the occasion perfect)". They enjoyed the demonstration in a relaxed mood from beginning to end.
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Ms. Kobayashi (Left) and Mrs.Yoshida (Right)
explaining ICHIGO-ICHIE, the spirit of the Tea Ceremony |
The demonstration hall |
A participant experiencing the procedure of making tea |
SJAHI 9th Skill Contest
On February 7, 2012, the 9th Skill Contest was held at Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI) in Jeddah. The students competed against each other in car maintenance technique.
In a ceremony of awarding an honour, Consul-General Mr. Jun Yoshida pointed out the importance of self-discipline along with car maintenance techniques in his speech.
Prior to the Contest, Mr. Yoshida invited Mr. Salim H. Al Asmarei, Director of SJAHI, as well as some officials from SJAHI and people from Japan International Cooperation Centre to his residence in order to exchange views between them concerning the future management of SJAHI.
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| Skill Contest |
H.E.Mr.Yoshida presented certificates at the awards ceremony |
Social gathering with officals from SJAHI and JICC |
ACGC Film Festival 2012
On February 19, 2012, 5th Asian Film Festival organized by ACGC (Asian Consuls General Club) was inaugurated. The opening ceremony as well as the Japanese film show was held at Japanese Consul-General's Residence.
At the opening ceremony, H.E. Mr. Sulaini Said, Consul General of Brunei Darussalam, delivered a kick-off speech as a coordinator of ACGC, then the festival's logo was unveiled in the presence of Asian Consuls-General.
After the opening ceremony, Mr. Jun Yoshida, Japanese Consul-General made a welcome speech and a feature film "Happy Flight" was screened following a short promotion video "Japan-Sense of Wonder".
Saudi Government officials, businessmen, former Saudi exchange students, Jeddah consular corps, journalists, university students and Japanese residents -in total around 282 participants- enjoyed the film. They gave their impressions by saying "enjoyable and amusing" afterward.
The participants also enjoyed delicious Japanese foods prepared by chef of the Japanese Consul-General.
The night of 4 hours was ended in a good success.
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| The unveiling ceremony |
The film show at the special theater |
Audiences chatting |
Participants enjoying the foods |
ACGC Food Festival 2012
On February 29, Asian Food Festival, which features distinctive cuisines from 13 Asian countries, was held at the residence of the Consul General of Indonesia as a finale of the Asian Film Festival 2012.
Japanese food including "Sushi" prepared by the Japanese Consulate-General enchanted all the participants.
The number of participants to the Festival this year established a new record. It seems that the Food Festival is getting firmly fixed as a special winter event in Jeddah.
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| The booth of Japan |
Japan Culture Night
On March 10, 2012, Consul-General Mr. Yoshida organized a Japan Culture Night at his residence inviting Saudi business men, people of culture and Jeddah consular corps. The Japanese performer this time was Mrs. Riho Miyamoto, headmistress of the KORYU-TOYOKAI school, one of the IKEBANA (Japanese flower arrangement) schools in Japan, who demonstrated IKEBANA and Japanese classical dance. The attendants enjoyed her excellent and authentic performances to full extent and gave her unstinting applause.
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| Demonstration of IKEBANA |
Mrs. Miyamoto presenting her work |
IKEBANA work 1 |
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| IKEBANA work 2, aside Japanese dalls |
IKEBANA work 3 |
Mrs. Miyamoto performing Japanese classical dance |
SJAHI Ceremonies for Graduation of the 9th Batch Students and the 10th Anniversary of its foundation
A Graduation Ceremony for 216 students of the 9th batch was held at Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI) in Jeddah on June 3, 2012. On the occasion of its 10th Anniversary of the foundation, H.R.H. Prince Misha'al bin Majid bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Jeddah, attended the ceremony acting for H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Governor of Makkah Province. H.E. Mr. Endo, Ambassador at the Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Miyamoto, Deputy Director-General, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Mr. Nagata, Chairman, International Committee, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), Mr. Matsuoka, President, Japan International Cooperation Centre (JICE) and their officials also attended the ceremony and celebrated the graduation with Consul-General Mr. Yoshida.
Before the ceremony, on June 2, 2012, Consul-General Mr. Yoshida invited officials from SJAHI, METI, JAMA, JICE and Saudi Automobile agents at his residence and had exchanged opinions on the prospective views of SJAHI.
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| Photograph with H.R.H. Prince Misha'al |
H.R.H. Prince Misha'al presented a grateful letter |
Meeting at the Residence |
Reception for the Japanese Emperor's Birthday
In celebration of the 79th birthday of H. M. Akihito, Emperor of Japan, Mr. Jun Yoshida, Consul-General of Japan at Jeddah, hosted a reception at his residence on December 4th, 2012. H. E. Ambassador. Muhammad Tayeb, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region), Consul-Generals in Jeddah, Saudi Businessmen, and many Japanese residents attended the reception.
In a speech at the beginning of the reception, Mr. Yoshida touched upon the existing friendly relationship between Saudi Arabia and Japan in the several fields including energy sector, Saudi students studying in Japan and "Khawater Program" broadcasted 3 years ago which introduced Japanese value and traditions to Saudi Arabia and helps school pupils to acquire the habit of putting in order around them by themselves.
Mr. Yoshida expressed his sincere appreciation for the aid from all over the world including Saudi Arabia after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The attendees enjoyed Japanese cuisine including Sushi.
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| Amb. Tayeb and Mr. Yoshida |
Mr. Yoshida delivering a speech |
Amb. Tayeb delivering a speech |
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| Cake cutting |
Attendees at the reception |
Attendees at the reception |
Karate Demonstration
As a part of Cultural Exchange Program by Japan Foundation, Karate experts Mr. Hideto Tsuchiya and Mr. Kiyohiko Tosa visited Jeddah and performed a demonstration at the residence of Consul-General on December 16. Members from Saudi Arabian Karate Federation, Consular Corps in Jeddah, Saudi Association of Japan Graduates and Associates (SAJGA), Jeddah Japanese Association and Jeddah Japanese Karate Club attended the event.
NIJUUSHIHO, one of the Karate pattern, was performed by Mr. Tsuchiya, KUMITE was also demonstrated by both experts with explanations. The Itawari, breaking seven (7) wooden boards of 3cm wide in a moment, won great admiration from the audience. After the demonstration, the experts and the audience enjoyed pleasant chatting.
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| NIJUUSHIHO by Mr. Tsuchiya |
Mr. Tsuchiya and Mr. Tosa performed KUMITE |
Mr. Tosa breaking seven (7) wooden boards |
