Japan guest of honour at book fair
EVENT IN SHARJAH TO SHOWCASE THE COUNTRY’S CULTURE AND ITS AUTHORS
Japan has been announced as this year’s guest of honour at Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), which will run from October 31 to November 10 at Expo Centre Sharjah.
SIBF organiser, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), said the selection aligns with its goal of introducing Arab readers and intellectuals to the Far East’s culture. Japan’s selection celebrates its cultural achievements, with books playing a key role in building culture and fostering social ethics, SBA said.
Japan has a history of cultural achievements and a host of renowned intellectuals, authors and artists across its cultural scene, including cinema, music and literature.
SBA said Japan has nurtured the cultural sector with many titles — translated into Arabic — written by a host of critically-acclaimed Japanese novelists, such as Yukio Mishima, Kazuo Ishiguro, a Nobel Laureate, and Haruki Murakami, among other creative authors.
Many events and workshops will be organised in ■ celebration of Japan’s selection as guest of honour. The Japanese pavilion will also host seminars, panel discussions and related sessions conducted by Japanese authors and artists.
Ahmad Al Ameri, the SBA chairperson, said: “SIBF is a cultural incubator that brings together nations from around the world, focuses on their cultural achievements and develops a collective memory — the core of which is creativity and knowledge for all nations.”
Dr Akima Umezawa, Consul-General of Japan in Dubai, said: “It is our utmost pleasure and great honour to be invited as a guest of honour at the 37th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair.”