RIYADH: Japan will be the “guest of honor” at this year's Janadriya Festival that will be held from April 13 to 29 at the Janadriya Village, 43 kilometers from Riyadh. This was confirmed to Saudi Gazette by Iwai Fumio, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Japanese Embassy, who added that details would be released soon. “We have almost completed the preparation for our participation in the forthcoming Janadriya Festival, the details of which will be announced at a press conference in a week's time,” Fumio said Wednesday. Despite the natural disaster that has devastated parts of their country, the Japanese are determined to participate and demonstrate the country's traditions and its modern lifestyle, he said, referring to the earthquake that triggered a tsunami that killed more than 10,000. Fumio said through its participation in the Janadriya Festival, Japan wanted to show every aspect of Japanese lifestyle to the Saudi people and to entertain them with a number of cultural shows that include popular Japanese performing arts. Norihiro Ohara, General Manager of Panasonic, told Saudi Gazette, that his company along with leading Japanese companies such as Toyota, Nissan, Sony and Isuzu among others would participate in the Kingdom's annual national heritage and cultural event that attracts thousands of visitors from all walks of life. He said preparations are underway for setting up the Japanese pavilion at the Janadriya Festival, and that his company would install the world's largest television units - a 152-inch flat screen plasma and 103-inch 3D TV set. “Both TV sets are the world's largest and they will be installed at the Japanese pavilion at Janadriya and will screen a number of documentaries that highlight the cultural activities of Japan and its people,” said Ohara.
