Hayy Matsuri celebrates Japanese, Saudi cultural traditions

The festival runs until Jan.11 at Hayy Jameel, and marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia. (Arab News)
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Updated 11 January 2025
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Hayy Matsuri celebrates Japanese, Saudi cultural traditions

  • Three-day festival features performances by Japanese and Saudi artists alongside a host of cultural-inspired activities 
  • Event coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Kingdom

JEDDAH: Art Jameel, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Japan in Jeddah and Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, has launched the second edition of Hayy Matsuri, a cultural festival celebrating the fusion of Japanese and Saudi traditions, arts, and innovation. 

The festival runs until Jan.11 at Hayy Jameel, and marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia.

This year’s event features exclusive performances by Japanese music project Electronicos Fantasticos! and sound artist Daisuke Tanabe, both making their Saudi debut. 

Their groundbreaking work, which transforms everyday objects and repurposed electronics into musical instruments, will be showcased in collaboration with Saudi artists such as DesertFish, Akram Ali, and Abstract Crew. Together, they explore memories of the past, present, and future through immersive audiovisual performances.

The festival has already garnered immense public interest, with more than 3,000 visitors attending on its opening day.




The festival runs until Jan.11 at Hayy Jameel, and marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia. (Arab News)

Antonia Carver, director of Art Jameel, highlighted the festival’s importance in fostering cultural exchange.  “Through the Jameel family’s great history of philanthropy and long-standing relationship with Japan through ALJ Motors and Toyota, we have a special cultural connection here to explore through Hayy Matsuri. 

“This year marks 70 years of Toyota in Saudi Arabia and 70 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia, making it a particularly significant year for us. 

“The enthusiasm for Japanese culture in Saudi Arabia is immense, as demonstrated by the overwhelming response we received during our open call for the Hayy Matsuri market and the crowds here tonight — the creativity and passion for Japan that exists here is truly remarkable. 

“This year’s highlight is a set of performances and workshops by Electronicos Fantasticos!, a groundbreaking band that transforms old technology into instruments. Their fusion performance with Saudi musicians is a perfect example of the cross-cultural exchange we aim to foster at Art Jameel, showcasing how music, cinema and the arts can unite and communicate across cultures in an exciting and compelling way.”

Daisuke Yamamoto, consul general of Japan in Jeddah, expressed his enthusiasm for the event and its role in strengthening Saudi-Japanese ties. “Hayy Matsuri, held in wonderful cooperation with Hayy Jameel for the second consecutive year, strengthens the bonds of friendship and cultural exchange between Japan and Saudi Arabia. 

“This festival showcases various forms of Japanese culture, introducing them to Saudi society, and we are excited to have welcomed over 5,000 visitors last year, with hopes of seeing even more this year. 




The festival runs until Jan.11 at Hayy Jameel, and marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia. (Arab News)

“As Saudi Arabia embraces cultural openness through its Saudi Vision 2030, Japan is proud to partner with the Kingdom in achieving these cultural goals, and Hayy Matsuri plays a vital role in this mission. 

“This year, as Japan and Saudi Arabia celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, we are reminded of the importance of cultural exchange, as demonstrated by the recent signing of an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s minister of culture and Japan’s minister of education, culture, sports, science, and technology.”

The festival offers an array of workshops, performances, and activities that reflect Japanese and Saudi cultural practices. Visitors can enjoy a traditional tea ceremony, Ikebana flower arrangements, Japanese calligraphy, and origami. 

Interactive sessions such as manga drawing, fan art illustration, a board games zone, printmaking activations and cosplay competitions provide creative outlets for all ages.

An open cultural market, supported by Monochrome Community, brings together over 30 vendors, celebrating a fusion of local and Japanese creativity. 

The market features brands and artisans, such as Taiyo Matcha, The Boba Bar, and Onigiri Bites, offering visitors a range of authentic and innovative cultural experiences. 

Founders of Taiyo Matcha, Anas Jeelani and Ai Nakamura, launched their products at the festival, aiming to elevate matcha standards in Saudi Arabia. 

“We noticed that the matcha sold in the Saudi market is not as authentic as we are used to in Japan. We thought if we could bring authentic matcha from Japan and sell it at competitive prices, it would raise the standard for matcha in Saudi Arabia,” Jeelani said.




An open cultural market, supported by Monochrome Community, brings together over 30 vendors, celebrating a fusion of local and Japanese creativity. (Arab News)

Workshops such as “Manga Drawing: The Hero’s Story” by Mohamed Almadan immerse participants in Japanese art techniques.

Almadan said: “In this workshop, we focused on creating a space-themed story where everyone had the chance to both write and draw their own manga. 

“My goal is to guide participants in building their unique stories and characters while making the process approachable and fun.”

Alliance Française Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with Hayy Cinema, presents Rendez-vous with French Cinema as part of the Hayy Matsuri 2025 festival. 

Larry Lamartiniere, managing director of Alliance Française, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, saying: “As the newest resident of Hayy Jameel, we are thrilled to partner on Hayy Matsuri 2025 to highlight the strong cultural ties between France and Japan.”

“Our collaboration features two key components: the screening of ‘The Truth,’ a French-Japanese film directed by Hirokazu Kore-Eda, and a workshop dedicated to exploring the influence of Japanese culture on French traditions. 

“France, now the second-largest market for Japanese animation and manga, has embraced various aspects of Japanese culture, from martial arts like judo to the growing popularity of sushi. 

“Through this partnership, we aim to showcase the cultural synergy between the two nations and emphasize France’s role as a global cultural powerhouse. 

“We hope to introduce audiences to the French perspective, encourage them to learn French, and offer them a deeper understanding of the fascinating world of manga, anime, and Japanese pop culture. 

“The workshop will provide a unique opportunity to explore these cultural connections, and attendees can also dive into our newly available French manga collection at the Alliance Francaise library.”


Smart tech aids lifesaving care for Hajj pilgrim

King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah. (SPA)
Updated 07 June 2025
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Smart tech aids lifesaving care for Hajj pilgrim

  • After stabilization, she was equipped with a smartwatch linked to the Seha Virtual Hospital system for remote monitoring, enabling her to complete her pilgrimage safely

MAKKAH: A Moroccan pilgrim who had suffered a “severe” heart attack was admitted to King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah, where she received “urgent care supported by smartwatch technology and continuous virtual monitoring,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

The hospital, part of the Makkah Health Cluster, reported that the patient also suffered from chronic conditions including hypertension and diabetes.

She “underwent cardiac catheterization, during which a drug-eluting stent was placed in the left anterior descending artery,” the SPA reported.

After stabilization, she was equipped with a smartwatch linked to the Seha Virtual Hospital system for remote monitoring, enabling her to complete her pilgrimage safely.

Later, in Mina, the smartwatch detected abnormal readings as the patient experienced chest pain again, triggering an alert. The virtual care team directed her to Mina Al-Jisr Hospital, where she was evaluated and admitted for observation. Once stable, she was discharged with a treatment plan and continued virtual follow-up.

This case “illustrates the strength of Saudi Arabia’s digital health infrastructure during Hajj and reflects the Ministry of Health’s progress toward Vision 2030, prioritizing high-quality, smart healthcare for pilgrims,” the SPA wrote.

 


Nusuk app guides more than 35k pilgrims on Eid Al-Adha

Updated 07 June 2025
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Nusuk app guides more than 35k pilgrims on Eid Al-Adha

  • Available in 10 languages, the app offers more than 120 digital services to support pilgrims’ arrival and rituals

MAKKAH: The Nusuk app — developed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, played a “key role” on the first day of Eid Al-Adha, helping to guide more than 35,000 Hajj pilgrims, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The app “highlights the ministry’s commitment to using technology for smooth pilgrim movement and effective crowd management at the holy sites, reflecting integrated technical and operational services during Hajj,” the SPA wrote.

Available in 10 languages, the app offers more than 120 digital services to support pilgrims’ arrival and rituals. With direct links to 25 government agencies and 10 private sector entities, Nusuk — a part of the ministry’s digital-transformation drive in line with Vision 2030 — “has become a comprehensive platform for the pilgrim journey,” the SPA reported.

For this year’s Hajj, the ministry added more than 30 new services to the app, including Nusuk AI — a digital assistant that provides guidance and responds to pilgrims’ inquiries via voice and text in multiple languages.

 


Saudi crown prince urges international community to end Israeli aggression in Gaza

Updated 7 min 11 sec ago
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Saudi crown prince urges international community to end Israeli aggression in Gaza

  • Prince Mohammed made the comments during a speech to dignitaries and officials marking Eid Al-Adha in Mina

MINA: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Saturday reaffirmed “the importance of the international community’s role in ending the disastrous consequences” of Israel’s “aggression” in Gaza.

He made the comments during a speech to dignitaries and officials marking Eid Al-Adha in Mina, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

“The suffering of our brothers in Palestine continues as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression, he said.

“We reaffirm the importance of the international community’s role in ending the disastrous consequences of this aggression, protecting innocent civilians, and working toward a new reality in which Palestine can enjoy peace in accordance with international legitimacy and relevant resolutions.”

The crown prince was speaking during a meeting with Eid Al-Adha well-wishers at the Royal Court in Mina Palace.

“God Almighty has honored this country with the service of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, including pilgrims, Umrah performers and other guests,” he said, emphasizing that Saudi Arabia places this sacred duty at the forefront of its priorities, harnessing all its capabilities to serve the guests of God and ensuring that they are able to perform their rituals with ease and comfort.

The crown prince reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to fulfilling this responsibility, recognizing both the great honor and the immense trust it entails.

“We ask God Almighty to perpetuate security and stability in our country, in all Muslim countries and across the world,” he said.

“May He accept the Hajj of the pilgrims to the House of God and return them safely to their families.”


MWL chief meets Syria’s Awqaf minister

Updated 07 June 2025
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MWL chief meets Syria’s Awqaf minister

  • They discussed a variety of topics of common interest

RIYADH: Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, met with the Syrian Arab Republic’s Minister of Awqaf Mohammad Abu Al-hair Shukri to discuss “a variety of topics of common interest,” the MWL wrote in a post on X on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Dr. Abdullatif Al-Alsheikh recently met with the Malaysian delegation of Islamic leaders participating in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

 

 


Saudi Crown Prince meets Maldivian, Mauritanian presidents to discuss partnership opportunities

Updated 07 June 2025
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Saudi Crown Prince meets Maldivian, Mauritanian presidents to discuss partnership opportunities

  • Two leaders exchanged Eid Al-Adha greetings and discussed ways to strengthen relations

MINA: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met on Saturday with President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives at the Royal Court in Mina Palace, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The two leaders exchanged Eid Al-Adha greetings and discussed ways to strengthen relations and expand cooperation between their countries across various fields, SPA added.

The meeting reflected ongoing efforts to bolster Saudi-Maldivian ties and explore new avenues for partnership.

A number of senior Saudi officials attended the meeting, including Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region; Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports; Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef, Minister of Interior; Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defense; and Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

From the Maldivian side, the delegation included several ministers including Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel.

The high-level talks come as Saudi Arabia continues to deepen engagement with nations across South Asia, in line with its broader diplomatic and economic outreach initiatives.

Also on Saturday, Prince Mohammed held talks with President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.

Prince Mohammed held talks with President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. (SPA)

They also exchanged congratulations on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, in addition to discussing overall relations and ways to enhance them in various fields, SPA reported.