Come Get to Know Japan : Iraqi Treated to Japanese Tea and Kimono

An International trade fair is ongoing in Bagdad and the Embassy of Japan and business circles arranged an event to get more Iraqi to know Japan, November 6.

A number of Iraqi families came to the event to feel firsthand the essence of Japanese culture. Children found calligraphy amusing, trying to write their names in Kanji with the brush. An Iraqi woman told to NHK:

"It's so wonderful that we can get acquainted with Japan this way. Nice if we could have more of these from now on".

Iraqi women had their pictures taken with kimonos on. Kendo and Karate performances attracted men folks.

Ambassador Fumio Iwai commented:

"The political situation in Iraq is far from stable and we are under various restrictions. We have to make the best of what we have at our disposal to promote Japan".

The Bagdad International Trade Fair is Iraq's biggest trade fair where Japanese set up Japan Pavilion for the first time in 23 years.The fair is held annually and this is the 39th participated by 1500 companies from 20 countries and regions. Over 100 thousand have already visited the fair. National pavilions are set up by Japan, the United States, France, Iran, Egypt and Turkey.

The Iraqi side opened separate pavilions for the ministries of oil, water, electric power, National Investment commission, etc. to introduce national projects currently in progress. Prime Minister Kāmil al-Mālikī and Trade Minister Bakbir made speeches calling for stepping up economic relations with Iraq.

Japan set up a large-scale  national pavilion to exhibit electric products, office machine, medical equipment, transport equipment, etc.

Visitors showed keen interest in things Japanese. A visitor recalled that Japanese products used to be around a lot but these days more products come from Turkey, South Korea and China. "I personally hope to see more Japanese products".

The Japan Pavilion was award the Best Pavilion Prize.