DUBAI: The Consul-General of Japan in Dubai, IMANISHI Jun, hosted a Chief of Mission Award ceremony on Monday, during which Arab News Japan was recognized for its dedicated efforts in strengthening ties between Japan and the UAE.
The ceremony, held at the consul’s residence, highlighted Arab News Japan’s role in bridging cultural and business relationships between the GCC region and Japan.
Consul-General Imanishi explained that the Chief of Mission Award is granted to individuals and organizations that contribute to fostering mutual understanding and friendship between Japan, the UAE, and Dubai.
Other honorees included Yamanote Atelier Founder Sheikh Suhail bin Butti Al Maktoum and freelance journalist Amin Abbas.
“My motto is diplomacy is spinning of people-to-people relations,” the Consul-General noted. “People need to support each other.”
He continued by acknowledging the collective efforts that contributed to strengthening bilateral ties: “Sheikh Suhail, the Yamanote supporting team, the raw material supplier in Japan, Amin [Abbas], the Arab News team, editors, interpreters, and many others have been involved in raising the level of relations between Japan, the UAE, and Dubai.”
Speaking specifically about Arab News Japan, the Consul-General commended the platform for its work: “It has shown and brought the region closer to Japan in terms of mutual understanding.”
“We sincerely hope that Yamanote, through people’s stomachs, and Arab News Japan, through words and photos on social media, will contribute to build the bridge between our two countries,” he said.
During the ceremony, Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas expressed gratitude for the honor bestowed by the Consul-General. “Our mission is to bridge the gap between the Middle East and the Far East,” Abbas said.
“In all our international editions, be it in our Japanese edition, in our Pakistan edition, in our French edition and hopefully in our upcoming editions, we make sure it is not merely translation; we make sure that we adopt part of the culture and look for that cultural aspect that brings us together,” the Editor-in-Chief told guests.
Abbas explained that while the region is currently going through conflict, it is important to remember Japan.
“Japan is inspirational, because we should not forget that not a long time ago, this country was completely destroyed after the Second World War, yet look where it is today,” he said. “If I would like to leave you with one thought it’s that the night is darkest just before the dawn, there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
“If we look at Japan, we should be very inspired and hope to rebuild our region to be like Japan,” he added.
Abbas also acknowledged the contributions of Arab News Japan Regional Head, Ali Itani, for his efforts in developing the news platform.
“The team and I are humbled to be recognized for our role in bringing Japan and the Arab world closer through direct communication,” Itani said.
The event featured authentic Japanese cuisine and facilitated discussions on further enhancing the relationship between Japan and the UAE.
Founded in 2019 to coincide with the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito, Arab News Japan is a digital publication available in Japanese and English, symbolizing business and cultural ties between Saudi Arabia, the broader Arab world, and Japan.
Since its inception, the outlet has delivered accurate and timely coverage of topics such as business and culture, as well as conducting a YouGov survey that reflects the region’s understanding of Japan.
In 2022, the UAE and Japan celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations. In 2025, Saudi Arabia and Japan will mark their 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
* This article originally appeared on Arab News Japan, click here to read it.
