Hayy Matsuri celebrates Japanese, Saudi cultural traditions

Hayy Matsuri celebrates Japanese, Saudi cultural traditions
The festival runs until Jan.11 at Hayy Jameel, and marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia. (Arab News)
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Updated 11 January 2025
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Hayy Matsuri celebrates Japanese, Saudi cultural traditions

Hayy Matsuri celebrates Japanese, Saudi cultural traditions
  • Three-day festival features performances by Japanese and Saudi artists alongside a host of cultural-inspired activities 
  • Event coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Kingdom

JEDDAH: Art Jameel, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Japan in Jeddah and Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, has launched the second edition of Hayy Matsuri, a cultural festival celebrating the fusion of Japanese and Saudi traditions, arts, and innovation. 

The festival runs until Jan.11 at Hayy Jameel, and marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia.

This year’s event features exclusive performances by Japanese music project Electronicos Fantasticos! and sound artist Daisuke Tanabe, both making their Saudi debut. 

Their groundbreaking work, which transforms everyday objects and repurposed electronics into musical instruments, will be showcased in collaboration with Saudi artists such as DesertFish, Akram Ali, and Abstract Crew. Together, they explore memories of the past, present, and future through immersive audiovisual performances.

The festival has already garnered immense public interest, with more than 3,000 visitors attending on its opening day.




The festival runs until Jan.11 at Hayy Jameel, and marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia. (Arab News)

Antonia Carver, director of Art Jameel, highlighted the festival’s importance in fostering cultural exchange.  “Through the Jameel family’s great history of philanthropy and long-standing relationship with Japan through ALJ Motors and Toyota, we have a special cultural connection here to explore through Hayy Matsuri. 

“This year marks 70 years of Toyota in Saudi Arabia and 70 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia, making it a particularly significant year for us. 

“The enthusiasm for Japanese culture in Saudi Arabia is immense, as demonstrated by the overwhelming response we received during our open call for the Hayy Matsuri market and the crowds here tonight — the creativity and passion for Japan that exists here is truly remarkable. 

“This year’s highlight is a set of performances and workshops by Electronicos Fantasticos!, a groundbreaking band that transforms old technology into instruments. Their fusion performance with Saudi musicians is a perfect example of the cross-cultural exchange we aim to foster at Art Jameel, showcasing how music, cinema and the arts can unite and communicate across cultures in an exciting and compelling way.”

Daisuke Yamamoto, consul general of Japan in Jeddah, expressed his enthusiasm for the event and its role in strengthening Saudi-Japanese ties. “Hayy Matsuri, held in wonderful cooperation with Hayy Jameel for the second consecutive year, strengthens the bonds of friendship and cultural exchange between Japan and Saudi Arabia. 

“This festival showcases various forms of Japanese culture, introducing them to Saudi society, and we are excited to have welcomed over 5,000 visitors last year, with hopes of seeing even more this year. 




The festival runs until Jan.11 at Hayy Jameel, and marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia. (Arab News)

“As Saudi Arabia embraces cultural openness through its Saudi Vision 2030, Japan is proud to partner with the Kingdom in achieving these cultural goals, and Hayy Matsuri plays a vital role in this mission. 

“This year, as Japan and Saudi Arabia celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, we are reminded of the importance of cultural exchange, as demonstrated by the recent signing of an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s minister of culture and Japan’s minister of education, culture, sports, science, and technology.”

The festival offers an array of workshops, performances, and activities that reflect Japanese and Saudi cultural practices. Visitors can enjoy a traditional tea ceremony, Ikebana flower arrangements, Japanese calligraphy, and origami. 

Interactive sessions such as manga drawing, fan art illustration, a board games zone, printmaking activations and cosplay competitions provide creative outlets for all ages.

An open cultural market, supported by Monochrome Community, brings together over 30 vendors, celebrating a fusion of local and Japanese creativity. 

The market features brands and artisans, such as Taiyo Matcha, The Boba Bar, and Onigiri Bites, offering visitors a range of authentic and innovative cultural experiences. 

Founders of Taiyo Matcha, Anas Jeelani and Ai Nakamura, launched their products at the festival, aiming to elevate matcha standards in Saudi Arabia. 

“We noticed that the matcha sold in the Saudi market is not as authentic as we are used to in Japan. We thought if we could bring authentic matcha from Japan and sell it at competitive prices, it would raise the standard for matcha in Saudi Arabia,” Jeelani said.




An open cultural market, supported by Monochrome Community, brings together over 30 vendors, celebrating a fusion of local and Japanese creativity. (Arab News)

Workshops such as “Manga Drawing: The Hero’s Story” by Mohamed Almadan immerse participants in Japanese art techniques.

Almadan said: “In this workshop, we focused on creating a space-themed story where everyone had the chance to both write and draw their own manga. 

“My goal is to guide participants in building their unique stories and characters while making the process approachable and fun.”

Alliance Française Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with Hayy Cinema, presents Rendez-vous with French Cinema as part of the Hayy Matsuri 2025 festival. 

Larry Lamartiniere, managing director of Alliance Française, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, saying: “As the newest resident of Hayy Jameel, we are thrilled to partner on Hayy Matsuri 2025 to highlight the strong cultural ties between France and Japan.”

“Our collaboration features two key components: the screening of ‘The Truth,’ a French-Japanese film directed by Hirokazu Kore-Eda, and a workshop dedicated to exploring the influence of Japanese culture on French traditions. 

“France, now the second-largest market for Japanese animation and manga, has embraced various aspects of Japanese culture, from martial arts like judo to the growing popularity of sushi. 

“Through this partnership, we aim to showcase the cultural synergy between the two nations and emphasize France’s role as a global cultural powerhouse. 

“We hope to introduce audiences to the French perspective, encourage them to learn French, and offer them a deeper understanding of the fascinating world of manga, anime, and Japanese pop culture. 

“The workshop will provide a unique opportunity to explore these cultural connections, and attendees can also dive into our newly available French manga collection at the Alliance Francaise library.”


Slow food movement has a new home in AlUla

Slow food movement has a new home in AlUla
Updated 17 January 2025
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Slow food movement has a new home in AlUla

Slow food movement has a new home in AlUla
  • Dadan Culinary Arts Centre serves as a hub for eco-gastronomy, blending heritage with a sustainable food system

RIYADH: The slow food movement has a new home in the city of AlUla thanks to the opening of the Dadan Culinary Art Centre, which celebrates sustainable agriculture, local food traditions and mindful dining.

The global movement aims to foster a deeper connection between consumers and their food sources, advocating for the use of seasonal and local ingredients, and supporting all members of the community — values that have guided AlUla’s evolution as a sustainable destination.

The Dadan Culinary Arts Centre serves as a global hub for eco-gastronomy, blending the heritage of AlUla’s verdant oasis with the contemporary values of a fair and sustainable food system.

Located near the historic site of Dadan, the center offers dining, interactive workshops and a chance to meet AlUla’s farmers, all amid stunning natural landscapes.

A highlight is Dadan Farmers Market, which highlights the city’s agricultural riches every weekend with an array of fresh, seasonal produce.

Local families, whose livelihoods are deeply tied to oasis agriculture, show off their goods and invite guests to enjoy AlUla’s authentic flavors. Visitors can savor dishes prepared using traditional methods or select fresh foods to enjoy in the picnic area, embracing the oasis-to-table philosophy that is the heart of the center’s mission. Every purchase directly supports local farmers.

The Diyar Restaurant within the center, named after the Arabic word for “home,” offers an unforgettable dining experience. Overlooking the majestic mountains, it is warm and inviting, serving dishes prepared with sustainably sourced, locally grown ingredients. Under the guidance of award-winning chef Sergio Rama, it redefines hospitality by transforming simple meals into a celebration of community and heritage.

Another way to learn about AlUla and its people is through the center’s workshops, which teach participants about sustainable practices and local traditions. 

Whether learning the fundamentals of farm-to-table cooking, mastering the arts of pickling and fermentation, or exploring the versatile uses of moringa in oils and soaps, guests gain hands-on insights into multiple crafts and food practices.

Through the Dadan Culinary Arts Centre, AlUla invites the world to rediscover the pleasure of wholesome, traditional dining against the backdrop of its timeless oasis.


KSrelief continues aid for Syrians in their country, refugees in Jordan

KSrelief continues aid for Syrians in their country, refugees in Jordan
Updated 17 January 2025
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KSrelief continues aid for Syrians in their country, refugees in Jordan

KSrelief continues aid for Syrians in their country, refugees in Jordan

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief continues to provide support for Syrians in their country, and for those who had sought refuge in Jordan, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

In Idlib’s Sarmada city, 1,047 food parcels and 1,047 health kits were distributed under the second phase of KSrelief’s 2025 aid project for the Syrian people.

In As-Suwayda, KSrelief handed out 600 food and shelter kits to families.

And in Jindires of Aleppo province, shopping vouchers were given to 932 people to buy winter clothing from approved stores.

The assistance is a part of this year’s Kanaf winter clothing distribution project in Syria.

KSrelief also handed out shopping vouchers to Syrian refugee families and host communities in Maan, Irbid and Madaba under the third phase of the Kanaf project.

The beneficiaries – about of 2,200 individuals from 365 families – can purchase winter clothes from designated stores in the three Jordan governorates.


How AI is transforming the fashion retail experience in the Middle East

How AI is transforming the fashion retail experience in the Middle East
Updated 17 January 2025
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How AI is transforming the fashion retail experience in the Middle East

How AI is transforming the fashion retail experience in the Middle East
  • AI innovations in fashion promise smarter inventory management, sustainability, virtual try-ons, and enhanced sales
  • Billed as a virtual personal stylist, Amira by Taffi Inc. offers search assistance, outfit pairing, and conversational commerce

RIYADH: Once the preserve of the rich and famous, personal styling services are now accessible to everyone thanks to strides in generative artificial intelligence, helping shoppers find the look best suited to their body or special occasion.

With its latest creation, Amira, Riyadh-based AI-powered fashion marketplace Taffi is revolutionizing the shopping experience across the Middle East and North Africa, while showcasing how AI is redefining consumer engagement.

A personal stylist powered by generative AI and machine learning, Amira’s advanced algorithms, trained on a comprehensive dataset inspired by the Middle East’s latest fashion trends, delivers personalized and trend-driven styling recommendations.

Launched in September, Amira has been trained by a network of more than 180 expert fashion stylists from across the region. These professionals have contributed tens of thousands of recommendations, reflecting local tastes and cultural preferences.

Taffi co-founder and CEO Shahad Geoffrey described Amira as “the best friend who knows your style better than you do, eliminating all the guesswork in shopping.”

The AI stylist “engages users at every relevant touchpoint along their shopping journey to help them make better and faster decisions,” she added.

Amira’s search assistant allows users to find complete styles directly from the store’s search box, eliminating the need to sift through irrelevant items. The AI stylist’s discovery assistant recommends relevant new products, while the product stylist pairs items with complementary upsell suggestions.

Geoffrey said that Taffi’s AI stylist “is available through a floating chat widget for conversational commerce,” providing “real-time expert advice and tailored shoppable style recommendations based on individual profiles and preferences to help customers quickly find their best styles via their natural language.”

The AI technology customizes the shopping experience to each customer’s individual needs and preferences, turning it into an assisted commerce journey.

This innovation is revolutionizing how shoppers discover new products, find purpose-driven outfits and complete tasks more efficiently — saving time, offering trusted recommendations and providing access to great deals.

“AI delivers real-time, hyper-personalized suggestions based on style preferences, lifestyle, size, physical attributes, budgets and existing wardrobe,” Geoffrey said. “It also inspires shoppers by offering ideas for mixing and matching outfits and exploring new trends.

“By reducing choice overload and creating customized product bundles based on user queries, AI ensures a more enjoyable, efficient and seamless shopping journey.”

Opinion

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Saudi Arabia’s fashion industry is expected to see cumulative annual growth of 48 percent from 2021 to 2025 as the Kingdom diversifies its economy, according to a 2024 report by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority.

The report also highlighted that the total value of the fashion sector in Saudi Arabia, including international brands, was $24.6 billion in 2022.

Taffi’s Amira was born from Geoffrey’s own frustration with the endless sea of fashion choices and the “static, impersonal shopping experiences.

“I always dreamed of having a virtual fashion assistant that truly understood my needs and preferences, finding personalized clothing effortlessly,” she said.

“Taffi was born to bring that vision to life, empowering shoppers with an AI fashion assistant that simplifies the shopping journey, making it seamless to discover and find outfits and tailor experiences to their unique preferences.”

Founded in 2021 by Geoffrey and Pradeep Bisht, the AI-powered fashion-focused shopping platform uses machine-learning, ChatGPT-4 and generative AI to provide users with styling recommendations based on their preferences, occasion and budget.

According to the company’s figures, users who engaged with Taffi had a 15 percent sales conversion rate — compared to just 0.67 percent for those who did not. This resulted in a 22-fold increase in sales conversions.

Additionally, Geoffrey highlighted that the average order value for purchases made through Taffi was 55 percent higher than those made without the platform

Taffi co-founder and CEO Shahad Geoffrey

This success underscores the challenges in today’s e-commerce landscape. Originally designed decades ago to sell books, e-commerce has become an outdated experience.

Fashion e-commerce, in particular, has struggled to evolve beyond a generic shopping journey filled with impersonal choices, causing 75 percent of shoppers to leave sites without making a purchase. In fact, just 1-2 percent of visitors ever convert into buyers.

Frustrated customers often receive no response from overwhelmed customer support teams and return items at alarming rates. This creates a cycle of dissatisfaction for consumers while putting businesses under strain.

Amira, however, has received positive feedback from brands that have integrated the widget into their platforms.

Geoffrey said customers have described Amira as an innovative and highly useful feature for e-commerce, noting that it has significantly uplifted their brand image and dramatically enhanced the customer experience.

(Illustration courtesy of taffi.com)

She predicts that AI will reshape the fashion industry by designing garments, streamlining manufacturing processes, enabling smarter inventory management and driving greater sustainability in fashion.

“AI will also transform the shopping experience — from discovery to checkout — empowering brands to cater to diverse markets, optimize supply chains, and elevate the retail experience with innovations like virtual try-ons and real-time fashion assistants,” she said.

Moreover, “AI enables brands to drive higher revenue, significantly reduce costs and enhance key business performance metrics, paving the way for a more prosperous, inclusive and efficient fashion industry.

“AI has immense potential to shape and revolutionize the fashion industry, spanning from retail to supply chain and manufacturing. What we see in AI today is just the beginning — a mere drop in the ocean.”
 

 


Carved in stone: Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium returns to Riyadh for sixth year

Carved in stone: Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium returns to Riyadh for sixth year
Updated 16 January 2025
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Carved in stone: Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium returns to Riyadh for sixth year

Carved in stone: Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium returns to Riyadh for sixth year
  • 30 sculptors from 23 countries to display work at Roshn Front
  • Event place will provide forum to ‘share, produce knowledge,’ curator says

RIYADH: Roshn Front is set to be the focus for all things artistic over the coming weeks as the sixth annual Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium opened on Wednesday under the theme “From Then to Now: Joy in the Struggle of Making.”

According its curators, Sebastian Betancur-Montoya and Dr. Manal Al-Harbi, the event, which runs until Feb. 8, is a celebration of the artist’s journey — the joy, struggle and fulfillment that comes with the act of creation.

“I approach the curation from a place of exploration and understanding the idea of the symposium as a place to share knowledge and to produce knowledge,” Betancur-Montoya told Arab News.

“We are working with artists. They work with their hands, with their forms, with their shapes and (these are) the type of experiences and knowledge and things we’re producing here from that perspective.

“I’m interested in the processes of how things and ideas come about. Stone requires a technique and each artist approaches the boulder or the block of stone in a different way, so one of the first things that came to mind was ‘how do we make this visible?’”

Tuwaiq Sculpture focuses not only on the final creations but the creative, physical and intellectual process behind them.

Betancur-Montoya draws inspiration from Albert Camus’ “The Myth of Sisyphus,” an essay which ends with the line: “one must imagine Sisyphus happy.”

Instead of the traditional understanding of the myth as Sisyphus being punished by rolling the boulder up a hill just to see it roll back down over and over, Camus proposed that there was a meditative purpose in the aim for perfection.

“I connect that idea of this endless Sisyphean task of pushing the boulder to the labor of an artist, creating their works and then letting them go before they are ever completed, because it’s an impossibility. Projects are not completed. Projects are abandoned or let go or freed,” Betancur-Montoya said.

Over the coming weeks, Roshn Front will be transformed into a vibrant artistic playground where 30 sculptors from 23 countries will sculpt public artworks in real time. For visitors this is a rare opportunity to witness the magic of sculpture from the ground up, as raw materials slowly take form under the hands of craftspeople.

This year’s event also includes an apprenticeship program for young artists who aspire to be the next Tuwaiq participants.

Sarah Alruwayti, director of the symposium, said: “We were actually surprised to receive more than 400 applicants for the apprenticeship program.

“I think this was a huge milestone for us and we’re very proud of everyone who participated and who applied.”

Visitors will also have the chance to meet the artists and ask questions. The event features 11 panel discussions that will explore the role of public art in urban spaces, and 10 interactive workshops where people can try their hand at crafts like natural dyeing and sustainable art practices.

For those with a deeper curiosity, six masterclasses will dive into advanced sculptural techniques, including kinetic sculptures.

Guided tours and educational trips will also be available, offering insights into both the artists’ creative processes and Riyadh’s blossoming cultural landscape.

The finished sculptures will be unveiled at an exhibition from Feb. 12-24, giving visitors the chance to experience the completed works up close.

“Once the artists are done with the sculptures they are then relocated to different areas and we’ve already started this process (with creations from earlier events). Very soon, you will be able to actually witness these sculptures in their public areas,” Alruwayti said.
 


Centennial of iconic book that described King Abdulaziz as ‘crowning jewel’ of Arab leaders

Centennial of iconic book that described King Abdulaziz as ‘crowning jewel’ of Arab leaders
Updated 16 January 2025
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Centennial of iconic book that described King Abdulaziz as ‘crowning jewel’ of Arab leaders

Centennial of iconic book that described King Abdulaziz as ‘crowning jewel’ of Arab leaders
  • Celebration in capital to mark 1925 publication of ‘Kings of Arabia’
  • Event held on anniversary of monarch’s triumphant Riyadh return

RIYADH: On Jan. 15, 1902, King Abdulaziz Al-Saud returned in triumph to Riyadh after a period of exile in Kuwait, and consolidated control over both the political and religious powers of Arabia.

The event marked the beginning of a new era for the Arabian Peninsula and the wider Islamic world.

This year on Jan. 15, to mark the monarch’s return 123 years ago, the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh celebrated the centennial of an iconic book, “Kings of Arabia,” one of Lebanese-American writer and political activist Amin Rihani’s most notable books.

Published in 1925, it follows the writer’s journey across the Arabian Peninsula and his encounters with its most prominent Arab leaders.

Upon meeting King Abdulaziz, known at the time as the Sultan of Najd and its dependencies, Rihani famously had this to say about the late ruler: “Now that I have met all the Arab leaders. None of them (is) greater than this man.

Centennial celebration of Kings of Arabia book at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh. (AN photo by Jafar AlSaleh)

“And I am not hastily judging nor am I exaggerating. As he is truly great. Great in his handshake and smile. Great in his words and his gaze.

“Great at stomping the Earth with his staff. He speaks his mind in the first meeting fearing no man. He reveals his secret and what a great secret it is.

“A man who knows his worth and believes only in Allah and himself. The man in him is greater than the Sultan. And he earned his people’s leadership with merits, not titles.

“I came to Ibn Saud with a heart that carries neither love nor hate as I told him. Neither the British’s nor the Hejaz’s opinions, neither the praises nor the condemnations had affected me, and the heart was filled with love in the first meeting between us.

“Even though this love might not be a result of admiration. I am delighted to have visited Ibn Saud after having visited them all. Truly, he is the crowning jewel.”

Prince Faisal bin Salman, special advisor to King Salman and chairman of the board of directors of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, spoke at the event which was hosted jointly by the foundation and the Amin Rihani Organization.

Prince Faisal bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud speaks during the centennial celebration of Kings of Arabia book at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh. (AN photo by Jafar AlSaleh)

Prince Faisal spoke about how Rihani came to Saudi Arabia with the preconceived notions common among many people who “did not have the opportunity to get to know the Arabian Peninsula up close.”

“At that time, the Arabian Peninsula and its neighboring countries were wary of the other, and looked at it with suspicion,” he said.

“King Abdulaziz in his wisdom adopted an open and welcoming dialect for all, believing that living authentic Islamic and Arab values ​​such as faith, trust in Allah, generosity, courage, and chivalry would change understanding and break barriers and distances.”

Prince Faisal also saluted the progress made in the Kingdom since the establishment of the First Saudi State in 1932.

“This scene pictured by Rihani in his book, conveyed ... the building of a contemporary state that combines authenticity, modernity, and ambitious fruits for the future.

Centennial celebration of Kings of Arabia book at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh. (AN photo by Jafar AlSaleh)

“The success established by King Abdulaziz was continued in his sons, the kings after him, arriving at Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman.”

Prince Faisal added that “they too walk on the same path of preserving the Islamic principles and authentic Arab values ​​of Abdulaziz, the spirit of growth and opening up to the world, which made the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today one of the most important models globally in development, progress and innovation.”

Prince Faisal said that he has never encountered anyone who had previously held a negative image of the Kingdom and who had not reevaluated their misconceptions after visiting and meeting its people.

Rihani’s nephew, president of the Amin Rihani Organization and professor at Notre Dame University in Lebanon, Amin Albert Rihani, delivered a speech remotely.

“Those interested in Middle Eastern studies around the world will find it difficult to understand the developments and current events in the Middle East at the beginning of the 21st century unless they read the book ‘Kings of Arabia,’ because it constitutes the cornerstone of the history of the Near East in general and the Arab world in particular, and it also constitutes the gateway to contemporary Arab history,” he said.

Centennial celebration of Kings of Arabia book at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh. (AN photo by Jafar AlSaleh)

Rihani spoke about the rich history and affection that connects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

“How did (Rihani’s) historical journey build, at the last of its stations, the first bridge of affection between the first two newly emerging Arab countries, between Lebanon, which was officially established in 1920, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose unification was announced in 1932?

“It is a bridge of affection, love, and appreciation between Sultan Abdulaziz and Amin Rihani.

“It is the first bridge between the small homeland with the big heart and the large homeland with the vast and wide vision, ready to keep up with the times and keep up with the model that is to be emulated in every poverty and victory.”

Rihani’s family also attended the event as the prince’s guests of honor.

Thought sessions at the Centennial celebration of Kings of Arabia book at the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh. (AN photo by Jafar AlSaleh)

Following the presentation, the event concluded with two panel discussions on the prominence of King Abdulaziz in “Kings of Arabia” and on the book’s history.

The celebration also featured a short clip of a newly released documentary film detailing Rihani’s journey and its significance in the birth of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.