2014 Culture relations

Japanese traditional music concert

　The Consulate-General of Japan held music concerts by "Wacocoro brothers & Akihito Obama"(Mr. Masahiro Nitta(Tsugaru Shamisen : Japanese guitar), Mr. shinta(Wadaiko : Japanese drums), Mr. Akihito Obama(Shakuhachi : Japanese flute)), organized exclusively for the Middle-East tour, through the Grant Program for Dispatching Artists and Cultural Specialists by Japan Foundation, at the garden of the Japanese Consul-General on 20th and 22nd February, 2014

On February 20th, the "Wacocoro brothers & Akihito Obama" played 13 pieces of Japanese traditional music. It appealed very much to the audience who is not familiar with Japanese traditional music. They received standing ovations from the audience. They were besieged with a barrage of questions from the audience and the Jeddah based journalists.

On February 22nd, the "Wacocoro brothers & Akihito Obama" performed the second concert at the garden of the Japanese Consul-General. The audience was impressed by the introduction of Japanese traditional musical instruments and their witty talks with full of fresh felling and lots of laughs. They moved their bodies to music enjoying the wonderful music.


From the left, Mr. Masahiro Nitta, Mr. Shinta, Mr. Akihito Obama	The audience is watching performance	The musicians and the audience

ACGC Film Festival 2014

　On March 10, 2014, 7th 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. Anwar Habibullah, Consul General of China, 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. Matahiro Yamaguchi, Japanese Consul-General made a welcome speech and a feature film "Fire works from the heart" was screened. Total number of 223 participants of Saudibusinessmen, former Saudi exchange students, Jeddah consular corps, journalists, university students and Japanese residents enjoyed the film which showed importance of family member's strong ties during their difficult predicament. The participants also enjoyed delicious Japanese foods prepared by chef of the Japanese Consul-General.


The unveiling ceremony	The audience watching the film	Audiences chatting

ACGC Asian Food Festival 2014

　The Asian Food Festival 2014 was held in the evening of March 31 at the Residence of the Consul-General of Indonesia as a finale of the 7th Asian Film Festival.
The 13 Asian Consulates General opened their own stalls for offering their typical food.
As for the Japanese Consulate, it served Japanese Sushi and fried chicken, which the visitors enjoyed to full extent.


Ribbon Cutting for Food Festival 2014i	Participants waiting for the Japanese food	Participants enjoying foods

SJAHI Ceremonies for Graduation of the 11th Batch Students

　A Graduation Ceremony for 208 students of the 11th batch was held at the Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI) in Jeddah on June 4, 2014.
Under the presence of H. R. H Prince Mishaal Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Makkah Province, Mr. Matahiro Yamaguchi, Consul-General of Japan in Jeddah, Mr. Yasunari Morino, Minister of the Japanese Embassy in Riyadh, and many other guests from Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE) attended the ceremony and celebrated their graduation. The Consul-General of Japan delivered a speech to the graduates in Arabic.


Speech by Mr. Yamaguchi	The 11th graduates with honorable guests


Graduation Ceremony	Commendation to the excellent student

Japanese Emperor's Birthday Reception

　In celebration of the 81st birthday of H. M. Akihito, Emperor of Japan, Mr. Matahiro Yamaguchi, Consul-General of Japan in Jeddah, hosted a reception at his residence on December 10th, 2014.　

　H. E. Mr. Jamal Bakor Balkhiour, Director General of Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region), Consul-Generals in Jeddah, Saudi Businessmen, and Japanese residents here attended the reception.

　At the outset of the reception, Mr. Yamaguchi made a speech in front of the guests, touching on exsiting scholarship and youth exchange program, bilateral trading, technical and academic cooperation based on friendly relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia. He also stated that Japan is ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia in the fields like recyclable energy, water resource, railway project, and infrastructure development.

　After the speech, all the attendants cheerfully enjoyed Japanese cuisine including Sushi cooked by the Japanese chef of the Consul-General in a friendly atmosphere.

　Saudi local distributors of Japanese automobiles displayed latest Japanese car models in the venue to advertise the Japanese products, which greatly attracted the attendants.


Mr. Yamaguchi with guests	Mr. Yamaguchi delivering a speech	Cake cutting


Attendants at the reception	Attendants at the reception	Japanese automobile