Japan Arts and Culture Foundation has, in a report issued this week, expressed appreciation for the recent Writers Exchange between the UAE and Japan launched under Dubai International Program for Writing initiative of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF). The report stated that MBRF has contributed to the dissemination of knowledge and promotion of cultural exchanges between the UAE and Japan. Under the recent Writers Exchange, four Japanese writers spent a month in the UAE, followed by a visit by three Emirati writers to Japan.

The report published in three languages Japanese, Arabic and English sheds light on the experiences of the Japanese writers in the UAE and Emirati writers in Japan which helped all of them to understand the culture and civilization of each country and enabled them to write books based on their journeys. During their three-week visit to Japan, the three Emirati writers Mohsin Suleiman, Alhonof Mohammed, and Talal Salem visited prominent locations, including historical monuments, theatres and parks, which reflect the social values and cultural heritage of this ancient country. The report highlights the topics chosen by the Emirati writers, which are related to balance of culture and work in Japan as well as the fields of theatre and poetry in the country. The report also includes the writers testimonies in which they have talked about their experiences after their visit to Japan.

His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, Managing Director of MBRF, thanked the Japan Arts and Culture Foundation, describing the report as an international appreciation of MBRFs efforts.

These commendations confirm that MBRF is aligned to the strategic vision set by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Foundation, to achieve regional and international leadership in the production and transfer of knowledge, HE Bin Huwaireb said.

HE Bin Huwaireb added: The Writers Exchange experience with Japan has been very successful, and has led to the start of work on a number of books describing details of life in the two communities of UAE and Japan. It was an opportunity to experience life realistically and transfer those experiences to creative expressions. More importantly, Writers Exchange has become an important platform to strengthen bonds of cultural cooperation between the UAE and the world, and offer an opportunity for young talents to gain experience and stimulate their creativity to take their literary efforts to new heights.

Under the Writers Exchange Category of Dubai International Program for Writing, MBRF in partnership with prominent cultural entities in the world nominates two teams of talented writers from each country. The selected teams make exchange visits to the other country for a specific period during which each team gets to experience the lifestyle of their host country and translate these experiences to works in their own languages.
MBRF has concluded the first and second phases of the Writers Exchange, with the first phase hosting four Japanese writers in the UAE. These writers are currently working on books narrating their experiences, which will then be translated into Arabic and English. In the second phase, three Emirati writers visited Japan, and they too are currently working on their books describing their experiences in that country.