HE the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah holding talks with the Japanese Ambassador to Qatar Kenjiro Monji, yesterday in Doha. They discussed issues of common concern
As part of the Qatar-Japan 2012 project celebrating 40 years of bilateral relations between Japan and Qatar, lectures on Japanese kimonos and traditional Japanese dance performances by dance instructor Mako Hattori have been brought to a number of stages across Qatar.
The lectures shared some of the traditions and styles of kimono, a Japanese robe made from one large piece of cloth.
The style of kimono changes between seasons, each bearing different themes and motifs, as well as for different special occasions.
Hattori explained how one piece of cloth is wrapped around the wearer to suit their size, and tied with only three belts or strings. Hattori lamented that kimonos are slowly fading out of Japanese culture, although instructors like her are trying to keep the tradition alive.
In Qatar, these lectures on kimonos as well as the Japanese dance performances by Hattori and her colleagues were brought to Virginia Commonwealth University - Qatar, the Museum of Islamic Art as well as local schools.
HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and the Qatar Museums Authority launched Qatar-Japan 2012 in co-operation with the Japanese embassy and other relevant ministries and authorities to deepen the ties between the two nations and cultures.

Mako Hattori, a traditional Japanese dance instructor, performing at VCU-Q

Last month saw many meetings between officials of the two countries covering diplomacy, politics and economy, as well as culture and sports.
“We hope to bring something Japanese throughout the year,” said Kenjiro Monji, Ambassador of Japan to Qatar, explaining the year-long celebration.
On March 11, exactly one year after the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, a photographic exhibition of the reconstruction effort will open at the Qatar Photographic Society at Katara, with a reception held on March 13.
This year’s Doha Tribeca Film Festival will feature a number of Japanese films, and HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari has selected Japan as a guest of honour at the Doha International Book Fair in December, which will highlight contributions from Japan.
Ambassador Monji said that Qatar is also trying to organise a Qatari week in Japan, which is expected to commence in July, as well as a pearl exhibition. The ambassador has also encouraged the showing of Qatari films in Japanese film festivals.
A joint seminar on energy was also held yesterday, and a water forum is expected to be organised in April.
The ambassador also hopes that a Qatari delegation will travel to Tokyo to participate in a seminar on investment, as “we are ready and willing to contribute to the success of FIFA World Cup 2022 in Doha, and Japanese companies have lots of knowledge, technology and experiences. We hope to contribute to the development of this country as we have done before in the area of energy and liquid natural gas, where plants were built by Japanese companies.”