Ceremony was held at the University of Tokyo for book donation (9th June 2022)

On Thursday, June 9, 2022, Prof. Takumi Moriyama, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of the University of Tokyo, and Prof. Fumitaka Mafune and Prof. Tatsuhiko Tsukiashi, vice deans of the Graduate School, welcomed H.E. Dr. Mohamed Said Al Busaidi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sultanate of Oman, and counselor Mana Al-Kathiri to the Komaba Campus for a ceremony to mark the donation of books to the Mohammed Bin Saud Bahwan Library for Middle Eastern Studies, affiliated with the University of Tokyo Centre for Middle Eastern Studies (UTCMES).

Prof. Moriyama expressed his gratitude to the government of the Sultanate of Oman for its kind support of the university’s educational and research initiatives, such as the Sultan Qaboos Chair in Middle Eastern Studies, and said that the donation of the books would further boost the university’s research and educational endeavors. The significance of having this ceremony on the 50th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Sultanate of Oman was also brought up, and Prof. Moriyama expressed his hope for continued development of academic exchange between the universities of the two countries.

In response, H. E. Dr. Mohamed Said Al Busaidi recalled that the late H.M. Sultan Qaboos had mentioned the importance of education and research in his inaugural address, and H.M. Sultan Haitham too emphasized on education and knowledge in his first speech. The ambassador said he was looking forward to continued academic collaboration between Oman and Japan. He also spoke about his June 6 visit to the University of Tokyo’s Kashiwa Campus to inspect the supercomputer. He expressed his hope that more Omani students would enroll at the University and more Japanese students would in turn travel to the Sultanate of Oman.

The donated books are related to the history, culture, and beliefs of the Sultanate of Oman, especially the Ibadism. The volumes will be housed at the UTCMES Bahwan Library, and widely used for research and educational activities of the university.

This text was translated into English by UTCMES staff.
For the original text in Japanese, please visit the University’s website.