Tokyo meets the world: Oman

Japan is without a doubt one of the most beautiful countries I’ve visited. The first thing I look for in any country is the people, because they make the country what it is. The people of Japan have been so amazing, so friendly, and I’ve enjoyed my experience with them tremendously. The only barrier is the language, though I’m trying to learn Japanese and will never give up [laughs].

In Tokyo, one amazing thing is that though it’s the world’s largest metropolis, everything is very smooth. The city is beautiful with greenery and great places to visit, but you don’t get the huge traffic I’ve seen in other smaller cities because of the well-planned public transportation network. 

I’ve been in Japan for quite some time but am still learning new things every day. The culture is so rich, so there’s always something new. One of my goals is to visit all the prefectures, or at least as many as possible. One of the most significant prefectures I’ve visited is Yamanashi. The governor has been exceptionally effective in introducing foreign ambassadors to the beautiful prefecture of Yamanashi. I’ve been there many times since, for strawberry and cherry and peach picking. The scenery is amazing, and I’m looking forward to going back again and again.

Odaiba is one of my favourites because of its beautiful scenery, green spaces and the sea. The sea is very important for Omanis. You’ll find me in Odaiba on many weekends, looking at the beautiful trees and flowers and maybe having a meal in one of the many restaurants.

A special restaurant I visited recently – I took my wife there for lunch on our wedding anniversary – is called Carvaan. It’s a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant, but they have Omani seafood and other Omani dishes on the menu, which was quite surprising. It’s on the twelfth floor of the Shibuya Scramble Square building.

Not very many. It’s mostly us diplomats and our families, a few students, and some Omanis married to Japanese –16 in Tokyo, and maybe 23 or 24 in total in Japan.

Oman has a rich history and we have many World Heritage sites, from historical forts and cities to the ancient aflaj irrigation system, which is still in use today. Jebel Akhdar, the Green Mountain, is famous for its terraced orchards that are spread out along the mountainsides. In the cities, the souqs (bazaars) are colourful and bustling. Muscat, the capital, has the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and the Royal Opera House Muscat built in 2011, while the Wadi Shab gorge with its emerald green water pools is also nearby. Oman is not all sand and desert. Though Muscat can get very hot in summer, Salalah in the south is much cooler and greener. With over 3,000 kilometres of coastline, there are plenty of great beaches in Oman too.

Though relations between Oman and Japan were officially established in 1972, the first interaction between our two countries dates back to 1619. That was when Petro Kasui Kibe, a Japanese Christian, is thought to have visited Muscat on his way from Macau to Rome. Also of note is how the former Sultan of Oman Taimur bin Feisal, after abdicating the throne, moved to Japan in 1936. There he married Kiyoko Oyama, and they had a daughter together, Princess Buthaina. Both of their Majesties the previous and the current Sultan are also grandsons of Sultan Taimur.

As for learning more about Oman, the Oman-Japan Society and the Japan-Oman Club organise regular events and lectures. In 2019, they held a photo exhibition called ‘Oman through Japanese eyes’ at the embassy. It consisted of photos taken by Japanese people who had visited Oman from the 1970s to the present. There are also associations such as the Hiroshima-Oman and Nara-Oman Friendship Associations.

Whatever the Japanese decide regarding the Olympics, I trust their decision. I am also sure the Games can be held safely. If anybody can organise an Olympics under these circumstances, it’s Japan. I’m looking forward to what will be a historic moment, as it’s my first time being in an Olympic city when the Games take place.

[The Games] will also be significant for the world, as Japan is giving hope to the world – hope that we will survive and overcome difficulties. The moment the first Japanese athlete wins a gold medal, the entire country will be inspired and everything will change. I’m really looking forward to that moment.

The Olympics will show that if we follow certain procedures, we can keep everyone safe and go on with our lives. More and more people are getting inoculated, so there’s a lot of hope that things will start going back to normal. After the Olympics, hopefully by the end of the year, I think normalcy will be attained.

I am hoping to give Japan a platform to grow its economy and its investment, and am focusing on making Japan more competitive by bringing it closer to specific markets. Considering Oman’s location – at the edge of the Middle East and near both India and Africa – it offers huge market opportunities. Japan has always been a great friend and a trustworthy partner for Oman. Anything Japanese is recognised and respected; it’s associated with high quality and performance, and is something one can trust.

On the other hand, I’d like to see more Omani students coming to Japan. Traditionally, many of our students go to the Western countries for education, partly for language reasons, but we also have many exceptionally successful students who have come to Japan. Because of their wonderful experiences living in Japan, many of the students become unofficial ambassadors of friendship for Japan once they return to Oman, and many of them have reached high positions back home.

Many of the goals that were adopted by the United Nations as SDGs have been part of our culture and national aspirations for generations. Sustainability is a big deal in Oman, and our national vision for 2040 has been praised by the UN in this regard. This vision was outlined and spearheaded over several years by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, who ascended to the throne to become the Sultan of Oman in 2020. The SDGs appear frequently in the vision document and are an integral part of it.

Oman already has blanket medical coverage for all, as well as additional welfare coverage for mothers and children, which has been a huge success. In terms of diversifying the economy, affordable and clean energy is also very important for us, and we are focused on hydrogen and other green energy sources. On the other hand, recycling is something I would like to see adopted more in Oman. Interview by Masashi Takahashi, coordination by Hiroko M. Ohiwa