Seminar Series to Understand the Middle East

November 24, 2005

A seminar in the series to understand the Middle East, co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saitama Prefecture, Saitama City and the Japan Foundation, will be held on November 25 (Fri) at the Japan Foundation Japanese Language Institute, in cooperation with the Saitama City Association for Global Awareness and the Middle East Institute of Japan.
At the seminar, H. E. Mr. Eli-Eliahu Cohen, Ambassador of the Republic of Israel to Japan, and Professor Hirokazu Oikawa of Kyorin University will give lectures, followed by question and answer sessions and discussion with the audience.
The 9-11 terrorist attacks in the United States, the situation in Iraq and other factors have heightened public interest in Japan toward the Middle Eastern countries.

In this context, it is important for the people of both Japan and the Middle Eastern countries to gain a correct understanding, from various viewpoints, of the relations of the two regions and the culture and philosophy of each Middle Eastern country, in order to foster the relationship between the two regions based on mutual understanding. In consideration of the significance of this issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been conducting a seminar series to understand the Middle East mainly in regional cities of Japan. It is also expected that through such occasions, interchanges between students from Middle Eastern countries studying in the cities and the local people will be further promoted.
The seminar series took place last year in Okayama on May 28, in Yamagata on July 25, in Osaka on September 27, in Hokkaido on November 29, and this year in Hiroshima on February 6 and in Miyagi on July 5. The upcoming event will be the seventh seminar of this series.

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