KUWAIT: On December 8, 2025, the Embassy of Japan in Kuwait held the 18th Japanese Speech Contest in Kuwait University in collaboration with the Center for Community Service & Continuing Education at Kuwait University and the Japanese Society in Kuwait to advance Japan-Kuwait cultural exchange and to support Japanese language education. In the contest, 6 participants made speeches in Japanese expressing their passion for Japanese language and culture.
In his opening remarks, Mukai Kenichiro, Ambassador of Japan to Kuwait, emphasized that language is a vital gateway to understanding and appreciating different cultures, noting his own journey from studying Modern Standard Arabic to learning the Kuwaiti dialect. Also, he encouraged participants to continue their language studies, fostering deeper cultural exchange and friendship between Japan and Kuwait. Additionally, he expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the longstanding cooperation of the Center for Community Service & Continuing Education at Kuwait University in supporting Japanese language.
In the event, Prof Oki Yutaroh, a representative of Study in Japan Global Network Project in Middle East & North Africa (J-MENA), which promotes academic linkage among universities in the Middle East and Japan, made a presentation about studying opportunities in Japan such as its advantages and ways. Attendees also enjoyed a demonstration of Kendo, a traditional Japanese martial art emphasizing etiquette and harmony of mind and body, performed by the Kuwait Kendo and Iaido Club.
