Saudis are more positive and better informed than most Arabs about different aspects of their relationship with Japan, an influential regional survey has revealed. The Arab News-YouGov poll commissioned by the Riyadh-based English language daily, Arab News, as part of the recent launch of its new Japan edition shows that Saudis are more likely than the average Arab to describe the relationship between Japan as positive. 83 percent of Saudi residents say that they would like to visit Japan – those aged over 40 are more likely at 89 percent. The survey also says the majority of Saudi residents associate positive characteristics with the Japanese. "Fifty-three percent say the Japanese are organized; 52 percent say hardworking and 42 percent say punctual." However, only 32 percent of Saudis know that the GCC supplies 85 percent of Japan's oil. While the awareness of this fact is higher among Saudis than the average Arab, it is still interestingly low given that Saudi Arabia is Japan's largest oil supplier and is responsible for 40 percent of Japan's oil import. The Saudi-specific findings of the Arab News/YouGov survey were presented at a hotel reception in Riyadh, where the Saudi-Japanese community was invited in addition to government officials, the media, and prominent business executives. Speaking at the reception, the Japanese ambassador highlighted the importance of the study, and congratulated Arab News for the launch of its japan edition. Japanese ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Tsukasa Uemura, said, "It makes me so happy and honored to stand in front of you on this auspicious occasion, marking the launch of Japanese edition of Arab News in Riyadh, and many of you may already know that it had been launched in Tokyo on 21 October, on the very eve of the enthronement ceremony of our new Emperor Naruhito. The timing of this magnificent launching adds more flavor when it coincides with the start of a new era in Japan that is "REIWA", officially translated as "beautiful harmony". I hope that the Japanese edition of Arab News will bridge between Japan and Arab region in general and Japan and Saudi Arabia in particular. I am sure that this launching may record the birth of another new era of people to people level understanding, sharing and caring in the days to come." He added, "For the last two days, I couldn't and cannot wait for the delivery of Arab News because of its special featuring of Japan-Arab relations, under the title of YouGov Poll "How Arabs view Japan". Arab News Editor in Chief Faisal J. Abbas said: "We at Arab News and in cooperation with our research partners, YouGov, are delighted to be contributing to a better understanding between Japan and the Arab World, and especially with Saudi Arabia." "The poll shows an overwhelmingly positive perception of Japan, but also a number of inaccurate ideas which we hope we can rectify with our online edition: Arab News Japan which was launched in Tokyo last week," he added Based on online interviews with 3,033 Arabic speakers from 18 countries, the poll was commissioned by Arab News as part of the recent launch of its Japan online edition. Arab News Japan was launched in Tokyo on 21 October in conjunction with the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito. The launch was done under the patronage of Tokyo's Governor Yuriko Koike, with keynote speeches delivered by Japan's Minister of Defense Taro Kono and Saudi Arabia's Commerce and Investment Minister Majed al-Qasabi.
