The Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has hosted “Al-Majlis Al-Yabani” (Japanese Speakers’ Gathering) at the ambassador’s residence in Riyadh. The event brought together a large group of participants, including Japanese language learners, students and teachers at the Japanese Language Program at King Saud University, alumni of Japanese universities, professionals, other individuals with a strong interest in Japan, as well as Japanese citizens residing in Saudi Arabia. The embassy organized the gathering to promote the learning and use of the Japanese language in Saudi Arabia, strengthen networks among Japanese speakers, and further deepen mutual understanding and cultural ties between Japan and Saudi Arabia. Participants had the opportunity to engage in conversations in Japanese, exchange experiences related to language learning, and build new connections in a welcoming and culturally rich environment, SPA reported. The evening was opened with welcoming remarks by Ambassador of Japan to Saudi Arabia Yasunari Morino, who highlighted the significant interest in Japanese language and culture across Saudi Arabia. He expressed his hope that the group of Japanese-language speakers will continue to grow and become one of the cornerstones of the friendship between the people of Japan and Saudi Arabia. Following the ambassador’s remarks, winners of the 16th Riyadh Japanese Speech Contest, which was held in November 2025, delivered inspiring speeches in Japanese. Their presentations demonstrated not only a high level of linguistic proficiency but also a deep understanding of Japanese society, culture, and values. The Embassy of Japan remains committed to supporting Japanese language education and cultural engagement in Saudi Arabia and looks forward to continuing similar initiatives to further enhance bilateral friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
