JAPAN Bilateral ties Built on trust | Technology Welcome the robots | Art Renewal of interest
SPECIAL REPORT | FEBRUARY 25, 2015
STEP INSIDE As the Asian superpower turns on the charm, travellers are lining up to discover its secrets
A GULF NEWS PUBLICATION EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Abdul Hamid Ahmad Technology: PUBLISHING DIRECTOR, 12 MAGAZINE 2015 is shaping James Hewes up to be the year EDITOR — GN FOCUS of the robot Keith J. Fernandez
EDITOR — COUNTRY GUIDES AP Eduan R. Maggo CHIEF SUBEDITOR Victoria Etherington PAGES EDITOR Priya Mathew SUBEDITORS Riaz Naqvi, Tania Bhattacharya CONTENTS DEPUTY ART EDITOR Giovan Anthony Paz HEAD OF ADVERTISING Tripti Singh 6 Big Picture: Spring is sprung 21 Tourism: Foreigners warm up with cherry blossom season to the Land of the Rising Sun SALES MANAGER — COUNTRY GUIDES Sundar Ghosh 9 Bilateral Ties: United with the 23 Travel: Say konnichiwa to P. O. Box 6519, Dubai UAE against Daesh a beautiful world (Editorial) Tel: 04 406 7392, Fax: 04 344 9139 (Advertising Sales) Electronics: Smartphone firms Art: Wherein lies the appeal Tel: 04 406 7336, Fax: 04 344 9139 15 26 Email: [email protected] innovate to stay relevant of the Japanese aesthetic? P. O. Box 7441, Abu Dhabi Tel: 02 634 5144, Fax: 02 634 5443 18 Economy: The biggest 29 Food: There’s more to it than Printed and published by Al Nisr Publishing LLC, challenge for Abenomics just sushi P. O. Box 6519, Dubai, UAE Distributed by Al Nisr Distribution LLC Cover picture: Shutterstock ONLINE: www.gulfnews.com/GN-Focus Facebook.com/GN-Focus Twitter.com/GN-Focus Instagram/@GNFocus
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SHARP MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA P.O.Box 17115 Dubai, Jebel Ali Free Zone, UAE | Phone: +971 4 8815311, Fax:+971 4 8816692 e-Mail: [email protected] | www.sharpmea.com 0 2 weeks 3,000 7th 200+ 1,000+ Japan’s cherry trees don’t The start of the blooming Trees Japan gave the US The century since which The number of sakura Trees around Tokyo’s bear fruit. They’re season can vary this much in 1912. Other recipients hanami, the act of cultivars in the country Yasukuni Jinja Shrine, the appreciated solely for from year to year. include China, Turkey, watching the blooming, site used to announce the their beauty. Brazil and Germany. has been a custom. start of the festival.
Pretty Japan Japan Big Picture in pink Big Picture A geisha in Gion, Kyoto. The season of the cherry blossoms brings with it hope and happiness
By Eduan R. Maggo | Editor — Country Guides
herry blossoms, or sakura, are a cues are popular, and a host of delicacies visual representation of spring are prepared specially for this period. Ear- in Japan. It is a signifier of new lier this month Starbucks even changed its beginnings and renewal, of hope. menu in Japan to include cherry-flavoured CStarting roughly at the end of March in items such as piping-hot caramel sakura the south, the blossoms sweep across the chocolate latte, icy caramel sakura choco- country as the climate becomes milder and late frappuccino and sakura chiffon cake to reaches Hokkaido in May, although hana- have it with. mi — the act of watching the blooming — The first written record of the sakura can begin as early as January. — the country’s de facto national flower Cherry blossom festivals attract both — and hanami is said to date back to 712, locals and tourists, with parks and public in an entry in the Kojiki, the oldest extant spaces coming alive with activity as people chronicle in Japan. Also called An Account feast in big and small groups under bloom- of Ancient Matters, it describes what’s now ing trees in celebration. Picnics and barbe- known as the Japanese spirit. Rex Features ALL ABOUT Area 377,873 sq km Official languages: Japanese, English Currency: Yen JPY1 = Dh0.0308367 JAPAN GDP per capita (PPP): $37,100 (2013 est.) Population: 127,103,388 million (July 2014 est.) Capital: Tokyo Constitution Day: May 17
Akio Toyoda, the head of the world’s largest automaker and Kei Nishikori, the only Japanese tennis player ever to be ranked in the top the grandson of Toyota Motors’ founder, has steered the ten in ATP singles ranking, ended the 2014 season at No. 5 — the highest- company through recession, recalls and natural disasters, ranked Asian in ATP World Tour history — after registering a career-high winning back consumers to retain its prime position. Forbes 54 wins. Born in Shimane, Nishikori began playing tennis at the age of ranked Toyoda the auto world’s most powerful person five. He moved to Florida in the US to train at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis in 2014 and Toyota, worth $31.3 billion (Dh114.9 Academy at the age of 14 and broke into the top 100 in 2008, also winning billion), the most valuable in the business. His career the ATP Newcomer of the Year award — the first Asian player to win has comprised postings in every phase of the accolade. He has won seven singles titles and was runner-up automotive operation, including production, at the 2014 US Open, making him the first-ever male marketing and product development. player from an Asian country to reach a Grand Slam singles final. Last year, Forbes ranked Nishikori the ninth highest- Masayoshi Son has become paid tennis player, estimating the country’s most his earnings at $11 million, influential CEO, turning including endorsements.Time SoftBank — Japan’s put him on the cover of its Asian biggest mobile internet edition last month. provider — into a world- conquering tech business. Pictures: Rex Features and Corbis In July 2013, he acquired Ayumi Hamasaki is Sprint Nextel to form a popular recording the world’s sixth-biggest artist, lyricist, model telecommunications company. and actress, dubbed Son is now Japan’s second- the Empress of J-pop. richest man, with a net worth Lady Gaga before the of $12.3 billion, according world knew of Lady to Bloomberg. Gaga, Hamasaki is known for her creative outfits. With widespread influence The first Japanese prime minister born throughout Asia, she writes all after the Second World War, Shinzo Abe was her lyrical content and produces re-elected to the position in December 2012. her own music. She even co- Launched in 2013, his raft of measures — known composed on albums such as as Abenomics — were designed to help pull Japan Duty, I Am… and Rainbow. Born out of two decades of deflation and kick-start in Fukuoka, Hamasaki released its stagnant economy. After an initial burst of growth, the her debut single Poker Face and million-selling record A Song for XX in country slipped back into recession in the second half of last 1998. She is among the highest-earning Japanese performers, and all her year. But the two-third majority win by the ruling coalition in albums are in the top five, selling more than 53 million copies. Hamasaki parliamentary elections in December is seen as a referendum is also the first female recording artist to have eight studio albums top on Abe’s economic policies. Born into a prominent political the Oricon and the first artist to have a No. 1 album for 13 consecutive family, Abe ranked No. 63 in Forbes’ 2014 list of the world’s years. Her second remix album, Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix, is most powerful people. Called Asia’s bold reformer, he was considered one of the all-time bestselling remix albums and remains her in Time magazine’s 2014 list of 100 most influential leaders. only collection to be recognised in a worldwide accreditation.
— Compiled by D. Hari Nair/Special to GN Focus
Embassy of Japan P.O. Box 2430, Abu Dhabi. Tel: 02 443 5696; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uae.emb-japan.go.jp Consulate of Japan P.O. Box 9336, Dubai. Tel: 04 331 9191; Website: www.dubai.uae.emb-japan.go.jp
GN Focus 8| February 25, 2015 Gulf News Archives LOOKING AHEAD: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, with Tokai University student Salem Rashid Omran Taryam in Tokyo last year Partners through Japan thick and thin Bilateral Ties UAE-Japan relations have stood the test of time, and the countries are determined to stand by each other By Eduan R. Maggo | Editor — Country Guides
apan and the UAE have a sheltering refugees from the af- supplies more than 80 per cent of strong, stable relationship fected region, raised the group’s ire. Japan’s oil and gas. He also spoke to dating back more than The country’s refusal to give in to high-level delegates to sell his coun- four decades. The Asian a demand for the same amount try’s nuclear power technology. Jsuperpower was one of the first to preceded the hostage killing. AFP Promoting stability recognise the UAE by opening an reports that Japan is demonstrat- embassy in Abu Dhabi, and this ing its resolve not to cave into ter- “We want to make our due con- year sees the 20th anniversary of its rorism by providing an additional tribution to a stable Middle East. consulate in Dubai. $15 million in aid to various hu- The conflict is unfortunate, but by While that relationship has manitarian organisations. helping the refugees we are doing mainly been characterised by trade, “We are committed to the region, our best to ameliorate the environ- last month’s killing of two Japanese which is of vital importance for ment here,” says Kamo. hostages by Daesh has added an- trade relations,” Yoshihiko Kamo, Since 1945 Japan’s constitu- other dimension. Japanese Ambassador to the UAE, tion limits its military to domestic Japan has stepped up its in- tells GN Focus. “Turmoil in the re- defence. “The threat of terror and volvement in the region in recent gion will affect our economy nega- extremism is being felt all over, but months to protect its energy stake tively, as it is the most important we will never give in to terrorism,” here. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s supplier of energy sources, includ- Kamo says, reiterating Abe’s stand- pledge of $200 million (Dh734 ing oil and gas.” point. “There’s enough scope to be million) to countries struggling Abe, who travelled to the UAE involved in a non-military manner. with the fallout from the conflict in 2013, recently visited several We extend our cooperation and with Daesh extremists, including countries in the Middle East, which want to be involved in international>
GN Focus February 25, 2015|9 of Finance, trade between the two serve a growing body of Japanese countries grew to $54.1 billion last SMEs in the UAE, spanning vari- year, 8.7 per cent higher than in ous industries such as machinery, 2013. Japanese exports increased construction materials, electron- by 21 per cent to $10.1 billion, ics, food and beverage, textiles and while imports surged by 6 per cent. jewellery. The Ministry of Econo- Hisashi Michigami, Japanese Con- my, Trade and Industry’s agency sul General in Dubai, says transport for SMEs calls Japan’s 4.2 million equipment including cars accounts enterprises its wealth generators. for more than 50 per cent of Japan’s The sector is said to represent exports, while mineral fuel includ- 99.7 per cent of the nation’s compa- ing crude makes up more than nies, 70 per cent of the workforce, 90 per cent of imports. and more than 50 per cent of its “Japan mainly exports automo- manufacturing industry. biles, steel and engines or turbines “The UAE is Japan’s strate- to the UAE, and imports crude gic trading partner and a natural oil and non-ferrous metal,” says springboard for its SMEs to enter Fuminori Takaoka, Consul at the regional markets,” says Shogo Ishi- Economic Section of the Consulate da, Director of JTC DWC. Pictures: Gulf News Archives General of Japan in Dubai. High-level visits SIDE BY SIDE: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President Kamo says the UAE is the coun- and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe try’s second-largest supplier of There have also been a number at the signing of an agreement for cooperation in nuclear energy in 2013 crude oil, after Saudi Arabia, con- of high-level visits between the stituting more than 20 per cent of two countries. Shaikh Mohammad efforts to work towards peace and mad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown oil imports. “Japan is the biggest bin Zayed received Abe in 2013, at security in the region. We are in Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy buyer of UAE oil. which time the two agreed to co- complete agreement with the UAE Supreme Commander of the UAE “We are good partners through operate on nuclear energy among Government on this.” Armed Forces, earlier this month thick and thin. It’s a relationship other matters. Abe returned the The UAE is actively engaged to “review the historical relations built over more than 40 years, and favour last April when Shaikh Mo- Japan in the fight against the extremist of friendship and cooperation” based on trust and confidence in hammad visited various cities and Bilateral Ties group and has carried out a num- between the two countries in vari- being a stable supplier and buyer. institutions including Tokyo’s Tokai ber of raids on Daesh-controlled oil ous fields and the importance of This forms the very strong back- University, where a number of UAE refineries, sites, and command and strengthening bilateral relations. bone of our bilateral ties.” students are based. control systems. This includes partnerships in eco- Masayoshi Watanabe, Manag- Moreover, last month Yoichi Mi- nomic relations, education and en- ing Director of the Japan External yazawa, Minister of Economy, Trade Reinforcing ties ergy, as well as ways of developing Trade Organisation for Dubai and and Industry, and Yasuhide Nakay- The UAE’s national news agen- these areas to serve the interests of the Middle East and North Africa, ama, State Minister for Foreign Af- cy WAM reports that Abe called both countries and their people. tells GN Focus Japan Customs sta- fairs, chaired the Fifth Assembly of His Highness Shaikh Moham- According to Japan’s Ministry tistics show the value of imports, the Abu-Dhabi based International mainly fuel oils, fell by 1.75 per Renewable Energy Agency. cent because of the influence of the Kamo says as of October, there > Supporting each other fallen crude oil price. However, he were 3,543 Japanese nationals liv- adds that Japan’s exports show a ing in the UAE. “Dubai is the big- Hisashi Michigami, the quality of Japanese products is not represented strong tendency of firming up, not gest Japanese village in the Middle new Japanese Consul only by cars. We have many other products only in traditional sectors such as East,” he says. There are also 50 General in Dubai, speaks contributing to Dubai’s smart city initiative, automotive, iron and steel, machin- UAE students studying at universi- to GN Focus about his role. and the environmental, health-care and safety ery and equipment but also in sec- ties in Japan. “Increasing exchang- It’s been five months sectors. I also hope Japanese companies will tors such as foodstuff and services. es between young people is a prior- since you started play active roles continuously in more fields “I can say with certainty the ity for the leaders of both countries. your tenure as Consul including infrastructure, public transport, port UAE is still one of the most impor- We’d like to see this increase to 500 General. What’s your and road facilities, etc. tant countries for Japan,” he says. in five years.” $ impression of Japan- How do you foresee the relationship Kamo, who is nearing the end of Better business UAE relations? between the two countries developing? his tenure after two and a half years Prime In recent years, Japanese people have come We’ll have a great year in 2020, when Tokyo January also saw the opening in the UAE, says there’s scope to Minister to know Dubai as a dynamic and safe city. It is hosts the Summer Olympic Games and Dubai of the Japan Trade Centre (JTC) in diversify Japan’s involvement here. Shinzo Abe also an important regional business hub as well hosts the World Expo. It will be a very important Dubai World Central (DWC). The “We are a nation rich in culture, gave as a gateway to the Middle East. Japanese cars year for both countries, and we can mutually private sector business-to-business tradition and discipline, and strong $200 million and sushi are very popular in Dubai; support each other. I’m sure both will be great platform is dedicated to promoting on science and technology; there to countries I am very happy about this. successes. Until then, we can and should the country’s small to medium-size are many ways we can contribute struggling What other fields hold promise? develop tourism and business in both directions. enterprises (SMEs) abroad. Accord- further to the development of this against Daesh My country’s technological prowess or the — E.R.M. ing to a statement, JTC DWC will country.” n extremism.
GN Focus GN Focus 10| February 25, 2015 February 25, 2015|11 > They just want love not world domination
Embrace the In the West, popular culture and movies generally tend to portray advanced robots as mean, ruthless machines out to overrun humanity. But move over to Japan, and robots don a gentle and precocious shell. They are cute and cuddly, not cut-throat or ugly. Here are a few worth going robolution “aww” over. Pepper With hotels, banks and shops using them, Those big round eyes are to die for! When you look at Pepper, you’ll want to rush over and hug him (her?) 2015 could be the tipping year for robots tightly. Apart from being cute, Pepper also cracks jokes
EPA and is designed to be “powered by love”.
HE’S A TALKER: The 34-centimeter tall Robi can recognise and Geminoid F By Deepak Karambelkar | Special to GN Focus respond to more than 200 words and phrases She has mastered the art of listening attentively. Geminoid can pick up cues from your body language and vestment of at least ¥100 billion 32 years old, though technically gestures, blink appreciatively and encourage you to talk t is called the Henn-na Ho- for the development of the indus- she was born in late 2014. Yes, further. It also helps that she’s one of the most beautiful tel, and the name trans- try by 2020. This year is a turn- she is a humanoid and has been robots ever created. lates into strange. The ing point for Japanese robots — designed as a health-care robot. strangest bit is it will be from expensive tech demos, they Aico also revealed her dream to ASIMO I He has been around for 15 years, has attended many staffed by robots, making up are set to morph into affordable her new fans — she hopes that an estimated 90 per cent of its tools people can actually buy off in the future, she can become a global conferences, and is in many employees. Opening in July, the shelf. “counsellor, newscaster, cheer- ways the torchbearer for Japanese the hotel in the Huis Ten Bosch At the forefront of this change leader, entertainer” among many robots. While you cannot take him CountryJapan theme park in Nagasaki will is SoftBank Corp, which has other things. home, the 130cm-tall 48kg ASIMO CountryJapan SectionRobotics Name boast multilingual robotic re- announced it will start selling remains one of the cuddliest robots SectionRobotics Name Banking on robots ceptionists, robo porters and “human-like robots for personal around. And he’s smart enough to tell cleaner bots. It should also make use”. These bots, named Pepper, It is not just homes and fac- you he knows it. a new buzzword popular — Ac- will serve as “baby-sitters, nurs- tories that will be ably assisted GREETINGS: troids. These are robots that es, emergency medical workers by robots. Japan’s humanoids Kirobo His Highness are almost human in looks and, or even party companions”, re- can be found in offices and even This 34cm-tall humanoid is a “robotic spokesperson” Shaikh if not in emotions, in how they ports news agency Reuters. The banks. Japan’s biggest bank, Mit- for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. His biggest Mohammad emote. This may cause guests to robot will sell for ¥198,000 and subishi UFJ Financial Group, bragging point? In August, he flew to the International Bin Rashid ponder how much to tip the ac- is capable of learning and ex- has welcomed a new employee Space Station to meet Japanese astronaut, Koichi Wakata. Al Maktoum, troid who brought up their lug- pressing emotions. to one of its branches — Nao, a — D.K. Vice- gage. Pepper will use cloud comput- 58cm camera-equipped customer President and Strange Hotel will also be, as ing and tap into a growing online service robot who speaks 19 lan- Prime per theme park President Hideo pool of data to progressively be- guages. He’s also smart enough to Minister of Sawada, “the most efficient ho- come smarter. And by the end of analyse a customer’s mood based POWERED the UAE and tel in the world”. this year, it will also be peddling on their facial expression and BY LOVE: Ruler of coffee machines at around 1,000 tone of voice. If the pilot project Pepper can Ageing in Japan Dubai, shakes high-tech, make it a perfect Nestlé Japan outlets. Reuters goes well, Nao will start working learn and hands with Having robots for staff makes breeding ground for advanced quotes SoftBank CEO Masayoshi in branches across the country. express Reuters ASIMO, great sense in Japan, which is robots that can do human jobs Son as saying, “People describe Robots are not just getting emotions a robot the world’s fastest-ageing soci- in factories and homes. others as being robots because good at entertaining or giving developed by ety — more than 40 per cent of they have no emotions, no heart. company. They can also play Testing ground Honda, at the its population is above 55. Un- in agri- For the first time in human his- with you and help improve your Government like other Asian giants, it has a Japan has only 1.8 per cent of culture is likely to tory, we’re giving a robot a heart game. At CES 2015, Omron Corp Summit shrinking workforce that is af- the world population, but had grow 20 times, while doubling and emotions.” demoed a ping-pong robot that fecting farming, manufacturing 25 per cent of the world’s opera- in manufacturing. Prime Minis- At CES 2015, held in Las Vegas analyses the human player’s pos- and other labour-intensive in- tional industrial robots in 2013. ter Shinzo Abe has called it the last month, Chihira Aico chat- ture, angle of the racket and tra- dustries. There are also health- Its robotics market was pegged “robot revolution”, and says it ted with visitors to the Toshiba jectory of the ball to figure out the care challenges — who will tend at ¥860 billion (about Dh26.5 will be the backbone of the coun- booth. She smiled, blinked her best return shot. And since it is to the elderly and sick? billion) in 2012, estimated to try’s future economic growth. eyes, waved her hands, and a robot, it can go on playing day Japan’s ground realities, reach ¥2.85 trillion by 2020. In January, the government even turned out to be a compe- and night. AP combined with its love for things Meanwhile, the use of robots thrashed out a plan that sees in- tent singer. Aico claimed to be According to its creators,
GNGN Focus Focus GNGN Focus Focus 12|12February| Month 25,00, 20150000 MonthJanuary 00, 25,0000 2015|13|13 pan have started > Konnichiwa, Watson! grappling with the difficult job Remember Watson, the computer that won Jeopardy! of framing legal in 2011 and made us all worry about the impending rights for robots. obsolescence of the human race? Have you ever Parallels are be- wondered what it’s been up to since then? ing drawn to Well, like many sudden celebrities, Watson has dabbled animal rights — in several interests. It visited Capitol Hill. It penned its what works for own celebrity cookbook. And now, in partnership with dogs might work Japanese tech firm Softbank, Watson is going to lend for future hu- its brain power to robots and take on one of the greatest manoids too. challenges of its development cycle: learning Japanese. Or perhaps It’s a test of Watson’s technology, which, simply put, the other way is designed to take in huge amounts of information, and around. As Row- process and learn from them in the same way the human an Hooper, News brain does. It has already spent years picking up the Editor at New weird phrases, nuances and quirks of English. But this is Scientist, writes, the first time IBM, which is developing the robot, has tried “Although Japan to teach it a language that doesn’t use the Latin alphabet. may lag behind “This is a major step for us,” says John Gordon, IBM’s the US and Eu- Vice-President for the Watson Division. IBM has fed it text rope [when it translated from Japanese before. Gordon says it’s been Rex Features Rex comes to] animal hard to capture the “richness and depth” of the language, ethics, it doesn’t a process made even more difficult because Japanese HUMANOID ANDROID: Chihira Aico is 32 years lag behind in has three different alphabets and thousands old and her many ambitions include TV stardom its integration of of characters. robots into hu- To accomplish the task, Watson will have to work such robots are man society. to improve itself using essentially the same process a symbol of > “That should be an area Ja- that students learning foreign languages have for years, Japan cooperation be- pan could excel in. And it would though on a much larger scale. It will get a bank of Robots tween humans be pleasing if an appreciation of 250,000 words, and turn them into 10,000 diagrammed and machines. the rights of robots generated the sentences to identify the subject, object and verb. But if it’s too same for animals.” Then, native speakers — yes, human — will read its first dangerous or Also, as The Japan Times staff attempts at translations, correct them and feed the inaccessible for humans, well, writer Masami Ito observes, “So right sentences back into the system. Over time, Watson let the robots take care of it. ubiquitous are robots in today’s should be able to learn the language. Hitachi has developed a society that we’ve reached a point “You give it homework problems, grade it, and it figures 60-cm-long snake-like robot that where we cannot live without out what’s right,” Gordon says. can slither in deep and send back them, which raises a question: — Washington Post data to its controllers. In April, it will crawl through a 10cm-wide pipe and inspect the damages to one of the three nuclear reactors at Fukushima, where radiation levels are still high enough to kill humans. Since the robot will end up highly radioactive, it cannot be reused. Instead, similar ro- bots will be built to examine the other reactors. Robo rights How far should the law go to protect robots, especially the future wave of highly complex and autonomous humanoids
that learn, interact, emote and Post Washington
even feel pain? Is it okay for the Robotics Aldebaran of Courtesy owner to destroy the robot in a WILLING LEARNER: Watson will begin fit of rage, or accidentally run THE TIME IS NAO: He can studying Japanese, starting with 250,000 words a car over it? Lawmakers in Ja- gauge customer expressions
GNGN Focus Focus 14|14February| Month 25,00, 20150000 New wave of phones incoming
What are the former powerhouses doing to stay relevant in the highly competitive smartphone market?
By Deepak Karambelkar | Special to GN Focus Pictures: Courtesy of Sharp, Sony and Panasonic Sony Sharp, of Courtesy Pictures:
t a valuation of $46 bil- with a glass lion (Dh169 billion), it front and claims to be the world’s back and most valuable tech an alumini- Astart-up. Last year, it sold more um trim. Japan than 61 million smartphones. Meet The com- Technology China’s hottest star, Xiaomi, which pany has also is shaking up the smartphone mar- crammed the phones ket and its entrenched players. with tech and marketing jar- Especially hard hit are the Japa- gon from its TV business — you nese icons that, after fighting a los- get X-Reality and the Bravia ing battle against Korean brands engine. And Sony’s optics from COMEBACK such as Samsung and LG, now have its reputed camera division IS ON: Sharp, to contend with the Chinese, too. give you a 20.7MP Sony Exmor Sony and And Apple recently closed a huge RS sensor that produces excellent tech — the entire display vibrates Panasonic feature gap it had with Android — images and 4K video recording. and acts as an earpiece. are launching phones with big screens. Review website CNet.com calls the Critics’ reviews have been large- a fresh assault How can Japanese brands stand flagship Xperia Z3 “Sony’s most for- ly positive so far. with a new apart and sell, especially at the pre- midable phone to date”. range of Say cheese mium end where profit margins are premium Borders no more highest? The answer has been to fo- The last big Japanese phone smartphones cus around some core features. Sharp, best known for its dis- maker to still make heads turn play panels, has incorporated a globally is Panasonic. While it has Water wonderful world “breakthrough mobile design” in its seen a resurgence with low-cost In many markets, Sony is the Aquos Crystal range. The standout smartphones in markets such as only Japanese phone brand still feature — the phones have no vis- India, it’s at the high end that Pana- duking it out. It recently returned ible bezel on three sides. sonic has been making headlines. from the brink of irrelevance with The crystal display is a frame- Its Lumix DMC-CM1 boasts a the Xperia line-up. Its flagship Z- less LCD screen that incorporates camera sensor that is seven times series went where few phones had two Sharp innovations: a thin bezel larger than in most current smart- ventured before — underwater. LCD panel and an optical lens ef- phones. The phone has a massive Apart from IP58 waterproof ratings, fect on the front panel to eliminate 1-inch, 20MP sensor with an f/2.8 the brand is also differentiating its the edges. Leica lens and offers users full phones with a premium design. Un- Since there’s no room for a manual control when shooting like Samsung’s plastic fetish, Sony standard earpiece, Sharp has stills or videos. No wonder Pana- has endowed its flagship phones switched to Direct Wave Receiver sonic is calling it a cameraphone. n
GN Focus February 25, 2015|15
Asia, Japan is expected to enjoy the biggest economic benefit from SITTING PRETTY: Japan imports 80 per Signs of recovery, cheap crude. The country’s imports cent of its crude oil from the GCC, and of oil and its related products were accounts for about 12 per cent of GCC trade valued at $210 billion (Dh771.3 bil- lion) last year — around 4 per cent but outlook subdued of the country’s GDP — a huge fi- nancial relief for the state budget. The manufacturing sector is set The world’s third-largest economy looks to be improving after to experience a significant boost a decade of stagnation. But is Abenomics sustainable? from lower raw material and elec- tricity costs, especially the power- By Arno Maierbrugger | Special to GN Focus hungry steel, tyre, glass, paper and automotive industries. “Most countries in East Asia, he upward trend in Ja- 1 per cent compared with the previ- in January, with the sentiment in- including Japan, benefit from the pan’s economy from De- ous month — while unemployment dex rising to 39.1, up from 38.8 in price decline because they are oil cember last year is a sur- edged down to 3.4 per cent from 3.5 the previous month. importers. They can expect more prise to many. per cent in the period, hitting its rapid economic growth, lower infla- What happened? TWhile the yen hovered around lowest level since mid-1997. tion and improved current account multi-year lows against the dollar This followed two consecutive It seems like a long-awaited re- balances,” said Axel van Trotsen-
and the euro, data showed manu- quarters of contraction. Moreover, bound in the country’s long history burg, the World Bank’s Vice-Pres- Corbis facturing output increasing 0.3 per Japanese consumer confidence im- of economic stagnation, mainly ident for East Asia-Pacific, in an cent year-on-year in December — proved for a second straight month boosted by low oil prices. Within opinion piece for The Japan Times > Among the GCC’s biggest trade partners last month. Trotsenburg added that the As Japan depends on the Middle East, countries, Saudi Arabia is Japan’s largest trading World Bank’s latest Global Eco- particularly the GCC countries, for around partner in the Gulf and the nomic Prospects re- 80 per cent of its crude oil imports, it has top supplier of crude oil, at port projects that become an important trading partner for the around $65 billion worth of Japan Japan’s growth Gulf and the economic relationship has become bilateral trade. It is followed Japan Economy will recover to highly interdependent. by the UAE at around Economy about 1.2 per cent Annual bilateral trade between Japan and $53 billion and Qatar at in the country’s the GCC is around $185 billion (Dh679.5 billion). around $38 billion. fiscal year 2015- Japan accounted for 12 per cent of the total Qatar is the largest Axel van 16 (April-March) GCC trade, but contributed roughly 28 per cent supplier of natural gas to Japan and its largest Trotsenburg and 1.6 per cent of the surplus. export market in the GCC. Japanese companies World Bank in the following Apart from oil and natural gas, GCC exports incorporated in Qatar are mostly active in the fiscal year ending to Japan mainly consist of aluminium, chemicals energy business and construction. the disappointing and seafood. In turn, the biggest category Japanese construction firms have been performance for of goods the GCC imports from Japan is awarded contracts worth more than $2.1 billion much of 2014, with machinery and transport equipment, more than over the past ten years and are involved in declining oil prices half of which is cars and other vehicles, as well large infrastructure projects such as stadiums, boosting consumer as electronics. railways and sewage systems ahead of the 2022 purchasing power The value of most other categories of goods World Cup. Haruhiko to compensate pales in comparison to these. In terms of — A.M. Kuroda for weak wage Bank of Japan growth and rising import costs. stagnation rather than the lasting the coming fiscal year would come That is a solid turnaround from end to deflation the government in at 1 per cent, well below the the likely 0.6 per cent decline for seeks. Despite improving consumer 1.7 per cent forecast despite expec- the current fiscal year ending in confidence, household spending is tations that cheaper energy would March and especially robust for a still lacklustre as consumers con- give the wider economy a shot in country with a shrinking working- tinued to hold on to their cash in the arm and generate higher prices. + age population, whose long-term the wake of a 3 per cent increase “We now expect that Japan will average growth has been lower. in sales tax in April last year while fall back into deflation from March Japan is wages remained largely stagnant to November,” said Masamichi expected to Temporary reprieve throughout 2014. Adding to that, Adachi, senior economist at JPMor- benefit more However, Trotsenburg joins Japan’s inflation rate is still below gan Securities Japan, in a recent re- than any Reuters economists in saying that this de- the government’s 2 per cent target. port, adding that he expects anoth- other Asian FARMING SECTOR: Agriculture accounts for only about 1 per cent of Japan’s economy, but it will test Prime Minister Shinzo velopment suggests only a short Haruhiko Kuroda, Governor of er round of quantitative easing by country from Abe’s resolve to move forward with reforms in negotiations that would cut huge import tariffs shielding domestic farmers respite from Japan’s long-term the Bank of Japan, says inflation for the Bank of Japan starting in July. > low oil prices.
GN Focus GN Focus 18| February 25, 2015 February 25, 2015|19 SMOOTHERImportant, RIDE: The automotive industry,remember among others in the wider manufacturingthat Top icon sector, has benefited from lowerneeds raw to material be and electricity costs centralised so base line shift is required
Rex Features This development does not indicate plant disaster in 2011 and the fall of that Shinzo Abe’s reformist eco- the yen are seen as the root cause of > Why is the job Japan nomic programme, dubbed Abe- this problem despite the easing of Economy nomics, is actually working. Under oil prices. market so tight? the strategy, the Bank of Japan em- In fact, the weakening of the Japan’s unemployment rate is lower barked on a course of ultra-loose yen is the most significant outcome than it has been for 17 years, and monetary policy, injecting trillions of Abenomics so far. It has slowly there are more jobs than there of yen into the financial system boosted exports as it makes Japa- are people looking for them. each month to stoke growth. nese goods and services cheaper However, base pay remained However, the currency dropped for the rest of the world. However, unchanged in the most recent to historic lows and Japan’s debt has Japanese companies, despite better monthly data and, if you account become the biggest in the industri- earnings, are still cautious to invest for rising consumer prices, real alised world. It exceeded one quad- or adjust wages to inflation. incomes are actually falling. rillion yen (about Dh31 trillion) in That said, Reuters reports that That’s partly why consumers are 2013, more than 220 per cent of the Japan’s core machinery orders rose “uneasy” in the words of Finance country’s GDP or more than three in December at their fastest pace Minister Taro Aso, even with an times that of the ten-member bloc of for six months, and companies ex- unemployment rate of 3.4 per cent. the Association of Southeast Asian pect orders to increase in the cur- The key to the puzzle — Nations — a figure that exceeds the rent quarter in a positive sign that employers are relying on part-time economies of the UK, Germany and business investment will underpin workers like never before, steering France combined. a firm recovery. The 8.3 per cent clear of more expensive full-time month-on-month gain in core ma- hires. Almost 38 per cent of the Deepening deficit chinery orders, a highly volatile labour force in the last three In addition to that, Japan logged data series regarded as a leading months of last year comprised ! a record trade deficit of ¥12.8 tril- indicator of capital spending in the non-regular employees. Japan’s debt lion last year despite a moderate coming six to nine months, blew The highest levels were in has soared recovery in exports, according to past the median estimate of a accommodation and restaurant to become the latest figures from the finance 2.4 per cent increase. businesses, where almost 73 per larger than ministry released on January 26. A Cabinet Office survey earlier cent were non-permanent workers, the combined The deficit rose by 11.4 per cent this month reported companies ex- and the wholesale and retail economies versus 2013, which makes it the pecting orders to rise 1.5 per cent sectors, where only about half of of Germany, worst since comparable record- from January-March, up from a staff were permanent. France and keeping began in 1979. Events such 0.4 per cent quarterly increase from — Washington Post the UK. as the Fukushima nuclear power October-December. n
GN Focus 20| February 25, 2015 Buddha Corbis calling
Foreigners make a beeline for Japan as easier visa norms and a weaker yen increase its appeal
By Iona Stanley | Special to GN Focus
Japan Tourism MEMORABLE MOMENT: Tourists throng the Great Buddha of Kamakura. Built in 1252, the bronze statue, at 13 metres tall, is the second-largest Buddha monument in the country
apan’s tourism sec- equivalent to one-eighth the annual tor reported healthy consumption of a local resident. > Halal tourism makes headway growth last year with in- According to JTA, revenue from in- bound visitors surging to bound tourism trade is expected to Authorities and institutions are looking at increasing J13.41 million — an annual increase reach ¥3.8 trillion in 2020. the small but growing number of Muslim tourists to of 29.4 per cent marking record the country with different tactics. Aiming for more growth for the second consecutive Major airports now have dedicated prayer rooms, year — according to January data But the world is just warming up and popular Tokyo department store Takashimaya from Japan National Tourism Or- to the Land of the Rising Sun; the recently opened one on its premises. Kansai airport, ganisation (JNTO). Reasons include story has seemingly only begun. The meanwhile, stocks hijabs made of Japanese silk. an increased number of flights and government has set an ambitious HalalMinds, a smartphone app, is designed to help corresponding departure and ar- goal of increasing tourist figures to Muslim travellers find halal products and restaurants rival slots at airports, new services 20 million by 2020. Akihiro Ohta, in the country. by low-cost airlines, and relaxations Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Late last year, Nisshin Maru, one of Japan’s largest in foreign visa requirements. Transport and Tourism, is confi- whaling ships, was awarded a halal certificate stating Moreover, foreigners are finally dent. “Achieving the goal is becom- that whales are slaughtered in accordance with finding Japan affordable on ac- ing more likely. We expect the num- Muslim law. count of the weaker yen and an ber of foreign visitors to exceed the Earlier this year, the Japan National Tourism expansion in the list of goods ex- 15-million mark this year,” he said at Organisation launched a dedicated section on its empt from consumption tax. Sub- a media conference last month. website to address the needs of Muslim travellers. sequently, spending by visitors also According to Business Monitor’s Miyako International Tourist Co., one of the few rose. Latest Japan Tourism Agency Japan Tourism Report 2015, further Japanese travel agencies offering inbound halal (JTA) survey shows that tourist easing of visa restrictions alone will tourism, specialises in hosting Muslim travellers. The spend increased by 43 per cent to see rapid and sustained growth. “In company offers tours that take them to the mosques ¥2.03 trillion (Dh62.55 billion) in 2014, Japan eased the visa regu- in the country as well as other places of significance 2014. Spend per traveller also grew lations for a range of countries. to Muslims. by 11 per cent to about ¥150,000, This is likely to continue in 2015, > — I.S.
GN Focus February 25, 2015|21 particularly visa allowances for five the Dragon Route project, which years, and those that permit unre- led to an increase of tourists stay- stricted travel across Japan. These ing in accommodation along the factors contribute to our forecast route by 37 per cent between 2012 for overall arrivals growth of 9.7 per and 2013. cent in 2015.” Earlier this month WorldMate As the country sets to capitalise Inc. teamed up with JTB-CWT on its rising profile in the run-up to Business Travel Solutions to launch the 2020 Olympic and Paralympics Trip To Go and B-Schedule, two Games, a slew of public and private apps that are the first of their kind sector entities are boosting up the in Japan. Built on the WorldMate tourism, travel, hospitality and lei- platform, they are localised for the sure sectors. Japanese market allowing inbound business travellers to book hotels Focus on infrastructure and rent cars directly. The Japan Times recently re- February also saw global inter- ported that the central govern- est in the country peak with the ment’s 2014 supplementary budget announcement of Henn-na Hotel’s Corbis calls for ¥500 million to support launch in July. The 72-room hotel FOR THE RECORD: Visitors at local governments in developing will be staffed by ten humanoid ro- Senso-ji Temple at Asakusa new tourism routes and improving bots capable of greeting guests, car- facilities. This year, JTA plans to de- rying luggage and cleaning rooms. nese hotels by value rose last year velop tourism resources outside big Company president Hideo Sawada to ¥297 billion. Although this is less cities by installing multi-language said he soon hopes to have robots than half the amount in 2007, it is signposts and improving transport performing 90 per cent of hotel ser- the highest since then. options between tourist sites and vices: “We will make [it] the most Japan is also developing into a railway stations or airports. efficient hotel in the world.” global ski destination, with great The agency also plans to create Research firm Real Capital Ana- conditions at about 500 resorts tourist campaign routes similar to lytics Inc. says investment in Japa- spread across the country. n
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GN Focus 22| February 25, 2015 Found in translation Japan is one of the world’s most exotic and esoteric destinations, and despite two trips, Iona Stanley still finds it hard to say sayonara
Japan Travel
BREAK OF DAWN: Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima off Hiroshima Bay is a Unesco World Heritage Site Rex Features
GN Focus February 25, 2015|23 SPIRITUAL HERITAGE: Buddhist and Shinto monuments — such as the Todai-ji temple that houses a bronze Buddha statue (pictured), and Kinkaku-ji or Golden Pavilion (right) — are spread across Japan
Pictures: Corbis and Shutterstock IN SEARCH OF PEACE: The zen garden of Kongobu-ji, the head temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism in Wakayama
ryone replied. It didn’t matter that more popular during the cherry their words were largely incompre- blossom bloom. hensible because those kindly folks Mesmerising glimpses used signs, gestures, their arms and phones to help — and I found a In Kyoto, I peered out of and lovely people in translation. into every window to catch at least Rex Features I may have easily walked the a fleeting glimpse of a geisha and decreased considerably. Everyone length of 30 train stations — most was rewarded with a rare sight of is convinced the gods have been Japan don’t have English signs because one in full regalia. drinking copiously. Japan Travel most Osakans don’t speak much At Nijo Castle, which was built There is nothing more poignant Travel English. But they are kind and to show off the wealth and power than the Children’s Peace Monu- gracious beyond compare. When I of the shoguns, one building has ment (pictured above) in Hiroshi- A bridge leads to the iconic asked some schoolchildren to point wooden floors laid out so that when ma. Built in the memory of Sadako 16th-century Osaka Castle out Umeda Station, they walked you walk barefoot across it, you Sasaki, one of many children who with me to the entrance, said thank hear nightingales in full song. It died from leukaemia after the seasons. But no one tells you about you, then turned and walked in the was so melodious that I kept walk- atomic bombing, the monument the pretty china they use, even in opposite direction. When I asked a ing around. is filled with thousands of origami the smallest tea shops — I stopped monk the way to Osaka Castle, he Most Japanese are both Bud- cranes, representing hope. at several for hotto (meaning hot) gestured that I wait, and returned dhist and Shinto, and some 200 It is not easy to choose a favour- coffee or tea — or the unbelievably minutes later with a paper nap- temples and shrines dot Kyoto. ite shrine in Japan, but my vote realistic plastic food displays. kin from a restaurant to draw me Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, is goes to Hiroshima’s Itsukushima, It is easy to order from a Japa- a map. one of Japan’s best-known sights. It with its dramatic torii gate that nese menu if you add an ‘o’ to the My bonus at Osaka Castle was is also one of its most beautiful. seems to float in water. The struc- end of the names of familiar dish- the annual chrysanthemum fes- In Nara, the famed bronze Bud- tures that make up the shrine com- n my unwritten guide, expe- there was some worry that an au- es, even if you just eat riso curries. tival, which I am told is even dha at the Todai-ji temple complex plex are also built in the water. riencing a new country often tomated button would take it off — Otherwise, just look at the pictures has 900 curls on his head, each the Throughout my trips, I admired starts with examining a hotel then chuckled and marvelled. or plastic lookalikes and point — I size of a normal human head, while various aspects of Japanese life: room. After checking in, I mar- This was a recurring theme dur- found my choice of raw egg and the Kasuga Grand Shrine has 2,000 super-fast bullet trains, timeless Ivel at hidden switches, clever gadg- ing my first trip to Japan when I shredded beef served on a bowl of stone lanterns and 1,000 bronze rituals at old teahouses, tranquil ets and the local language Gideons’, visited Kyoto and Nara, and the rice rather nice. If something looks lanterns. Horyu-ji temple, which is zen gardens, tasty yakitori and but nothing has ever amazed me second when I went to Hiroshima, like a square piece of fried fish, it said to have been built in the early okonomiyaki, ubiquitous red bean as much as my first experience of a Mount Koya and Ise. probably is. 8th century, is the oldest existing paste, raucous pachinko parlours Japanese toilet. Given how different I am from Buddhist temple in Japan, and at and addictive ramen noodles. The little things Mildly disoriented after the long the average Japanese woman, plus Nara Park, the friendly deer are People who ask me why I have flight, I was wide-eyed when I saw There were so many first impres- the fact that I was travelling alone, considered heavenly messengers. not yet visited Tokyo or Mount Fuji, all the icons printed on the porce- sions — such as pretty schoolgirls I could not have been more con- Many shrines in the country fea- stayed in a ryokan or skied at Sap- lain: there were buttons for cold in short skirts and graceful young spicuous as I explored Osaka on ture rows of large and ornate vats poro probably don’t know how to water, hot water, cold air, hot air, men. The Japanese pride them- foot. However, no one seemed to see as offerings from local breweries. pace out pleasure. My travel motto spray and soapy spray... I wrapped selves on presenting food to match me, let alone stare, but whenever I Lifelike plastic food replicas are When they visit to refill it every six is: Tomorrow is another day, in an- my kimono-style robe tighter — style, sophistication and their five stopped and asked a question, eve- common in Japan months they find that the level has other place. And I will go back. n
GN Focus GN Focus 24| February 25, 2015 February 25, 2015|25 rary Japanese art and this trailblaz- ing artist whose accomplishments Time magazine once compared to Pablo Picasso’s. “Shinoda is our most popular artist and we have sold 10,000 lithographs and 1,000 originals of her work,” says Norman H. Tolman, founder of the gallery, which has a presence in Tokyo, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore, and regularly attends fairs and exhibitions globally, including in the UAE. “She is still in everyone’s Courtesy of Masa Taro eye. Her paintings and lithographs UAE-based Masa Taro’s works are grace many museums and private whimsical and cartoonish collections including the Met and Rockefellers, as well as the collec- market in the Arabian Gulf for Jap- tions of the royal families of Japan anese artworks is fine decorative and Luxembourg. art from the Meiji era — late 19th “She has been painting in the to early 20th centuries, represent- abstract for more than 90 years and ing the first half of the Empire of at the age of 102 is still able to pro- Japan. “During this period, Japa- duce works that move minds.” nese craftsmanship reached a pin- nacle in terms of quality, skill and Revival of interest attention to detail and the finest While Japanese buyers dominat- cloisonné enamels and metalwork ed the art scene in the early 1990s, were produced,” she says. the rest of the world is considering “Enamels by famous names Japanese works anew. The UAE is such as Namikawa Yasuyuki, char- Japan bang on trend, with a number of acterised by intricate designs with Art Japanese artists gracing its shores. highly polished surfaces, can com- A MASTERFUL BLEND: Last month, Dubai’s XVA gallery mand strong prices at auctions. An abstract sumi ink hosted a very successful exhibition Metalwork can be in solid gold or calligraphy painting of the skilful pencil artist Shinji silver, or bronze with intricate in- by Toko Shinoda Ogawa’s work in collaboration with lays in gold and silver. Meiji period Nagoya City-based Standing Pine works of art are much sought-after American artist Clifton Karhu Pictures: Aiza Castillo-Domingo/Gulf News Gallery. At Abu Dhabi Art, Tokyo’s with established collectors all over works with traditional Whitestone Gallery showcased the world.” woodblock printing Hiroshi Senju in a solo show dedi- Von Seibold adds that interest Works that move minds cated to his large-scale waterfall in Japanese textiles is usually in paintings. Conceptual artist Taro Noh costumes, associated with the ing. Keiji Yamada, Governor, Kyoto Shinoda will showcase new works samurai class. “In performance, Prefecture, said in a statement, “De- Art aficionados will have greater access to the Japanese at Sharjah Biennial 12, which starts Noh’s [a traditional form of dance spite being a place of tradition that aesthetic with more exhibitions, fairs and even a gallery next week, and next month’s Art drama dating back to the 14th cen- boasts a long history, Kyoto has Dubai will host the works of Ken tury] austere stage and the severe never stopped trying new things By Eduan R. Maggo | Editor — Country Guides Matsubara (MA2 Gallery), and Yay- elegance of its powerful masks and creating a new culture, and it oi Kusama and Nobuaki Takekawa combine with the multiple layers is this culture that continues to rep- (Ota Fine Arts). According to the of shimmering costume to give the resent Japan and be attractive to so lack and red. And white, piece in Marjoleine Buker’s apart- things that cannot be expressed organisers, the list of artists is not actor an oversized sculptural pres- many people. if one counts the back- ment in Jumeirah Lakes Towers. It’s through realistic depiction.” final yet and more could be added. ence as he moves with the music “Rimpa is simultaneously both ground — which one clean and simple — a great example That’s what draws people to “Japanese prints are widely ad- and chanting of the chorus.” a revolution in Japanese art that must, given the defer- of Toko Shinoda blending the sumi her work — the expression of what mired as works of art, beautifully That said, Christie’s has noticed could only have been born in Kyoto Bence with which the artist treats ink-painting of traditional calligra- can’t really be expressed. made, carefully published and pop- a renewed interest in embroidered and an art form that has itself deep- it. Three colours, two of which ap- phy with abstract expressionism. “Shinoda grows on me,” says ular everywhere. There was a time textiles from the Meiji period since ly influenced Kyoto’s traditional in- pear in lines and strokes of differ- Of the red, Shinoda wrote in Buker, who works for an interna- when Chinese art seemed to take Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum held dustries and other crafts. Its influ- ent thickness on the third, one used the catalogue to the exhibition, A tional asset management firm in over, but we are noticing a new ap- the exhibition Threads of Silk and ence can also be felt in modern art more sparingly than the other. Lifetime of Accomplishment, organ- Dubai. “Sometimes, as you live with preciation from all over the world,” Gold in 2012-13. and design.” But it’s the three thin, red lines ised two years ago to celebrate her a piece you grow to love it more. Art says Tolman. This year sees the celebration That spirit will be transported to that captivate. Their brilliance in- 100th birthday, “Sumi and vermil- resembles people in that way.” Anastasia von Seibold, Specialist of 400 years of the Rinpa school Dubai with the launch of the Kyoto vigorates the entire painting and lion are the means I’ve selected in The Tolman Collection gallery is in Japanese Art at Christie’s Lon- (also called Rimpa), a prestigious Art Gallery at the Palm Strip Mall, it’s difficult not to be drawn to the the pursuit of my desire to express considered an expert on contempo- don, tells GN Focus the strongest historical style of Japanese paint- which, when it opens as expected >
GN Focus GN Focus 26| February 25, 2015 February 25, 2015|27 > Japanese abayas, Emirati kimonos
Takeshi Iwata (pictured) has been kawaii — that visiting the UAE every two months for Japanese cuteness a couple of years. He’s easy to spot — in my designs.” at events such as the Dubai World Iwata draws on Cup — he cuts an imposing figure traditional craft in his UAE-inspired kimonos. But techniques for these adaptations haven’t been one- colour, but uses the sided. Iwata also applies Japanese latest technology for reversible prints aesthetics to the abaya, which has on the black textile. been very popular. “People are generally surprised “The art scene in Japan is strong by my designs,” he says. “I’m actually on history, heritage and flexible, still establishing my style. It feels applied skill,” he tells GN Focus. “This as if I’ve just started this journey is what I bring to the abaya.” of discovery. As they say in Arabic Iwata says the idea came to him on — maktoob. This is my destiny, and his first visit to the UAE when he saw I’d like to learn more about Arabian an Emirati woman wearing one. “She culture and art.” looked so graceful,” he says. Iwata’s wares are on sale at Ush “My inspiration comes from Boutique on Al Wasl Road in Dubai. everywhere. It can come to me when “People can expect to see a lot more I’m drinking karak in Dubai, walking of me,” he says. “I’ll be visiting the Courtesy of the Tolman Collection down a traditional street in Kyoto or UAE every month from now on.” CLASSIC APPEAL: Katsunori when I’m in the latest fashion and art — E.R.M. Hamanishi’s mezzotint Window spots in Tokyo. Japan Sunset; (Below) Ukiyo-e artist “I’m also inspired by how Rei Art Ando Hiroshige’s work, which Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons is coming to the Kyoto Art Gallery uses black materials, as well as by in Dubai’s Palm Strip Mall Dubai-based Japanese illustrator Masa Taro’s work. When I saw his in April, will have a strong designs with pop colours and funny presence of this highly illustrations, I thought of instilling decorative style. Created in the 17th century by Honami Koetsu and Tawaraya Sotat- can perspective on Japan, in a gal- travelling chest of drawers, which su, it embodies the revival of lery her mother, Anneke Buker- went for about £25,000 (about classical courtly traditions Wirl, owned in Dubai. “I saw it and Dh140,905). Artists always on her and Yamato-e painting. fell in love with it immediately,” she radar include Shigeki Kuroda, Ryo- says. “It grabbed me straight away.” hei Tanaka and Katsunori Hamani- Delicate beauty Now closed, Buker-Wirl says the shi. Her daughter loves the mez- Buker says she’s at- gallery came about by accident. “I zotints in Hamanishi’s kimonos, as tracted to the clean lines started as a collector around 1990. well as Ray Morimura and Hiromit- and simplicity of the Japa- I never intended to own a gallery, su Takahashi’s kappazuri prints. nese aesthetic, although because my interest was merely in On the other end of the spec- her informal collection in- buying for myself. trum, Dubai-based Japanese il- cludes pieces by the more “I started acquiring pieces of lustrator Masa Taro creates more decorative Clifton Karhu, an antique furniture and objets d’art whimsical, cartoonish figures that American who settled in Ja- for the purpose of exhibiting and grace everything from T-shirts to pan and took up traditional selling about twice a year and then, stationery. “My style is to always woodblock printing. He’s because of a very positive response incorporate a positive concept to one of the most successful from a number of buyers, I started make people happy,” he says, add- contemporary Western art- a small, exclusive gallery in 2000 ing that, “Japanese art is popular ists working in this style. that did very well.” because of a sense of balance, an Buker first encountered Buker-Wirl, who has since re- obsessiveness with details.” the artist, whose work has located back to Europe, says the And that rings true across the been described (somewhat most expensive piece she has han- board — in stark abstract pieces as negatively) as an Ameri- dled was a Negoro lacquerware well as in the overtly decorative. n Courtesy of Kyoto Art Gallery
GN Focus 28| February 25, 2015 THE REAL THING: Tomo at Raffles Dubai delivers an authentic Japanese gastronomic experience with fresh food
Courtesy of Raffles Dubai
Japan Oriental Food artistry The UAE’s love affair with Japanese cuisine shows no signs of abating as outlets get ever more creative By Emma Procter | Special to GN Focus
here is a well-known in the country. But are they still as ing to launch a Japanese venue to proverb in Japan about popular in 2015? focus on the healthy and purist at- food that goes: “He who tributes of the cuisine. The environ- Always fashionable has his stomach full only ment must be relevant and modern, T80 per cent will not need a doctor.” Robert Ancill, CEO of The Next using technology to the maximum And indeed, this restrained ap- Idea, a consultancy firm that ad- to attract young expat and national proach to eating underpins much of vises restaurateurs on market consumers. The concept needs to the country’s cuisine. trends, believes Japanese cuisine be hip and cool for the UAE market In the UAE, Japanese dining was has a unique appeal, which means — preferably with a twist.” a hot trend a couple of years ago it is unlikely to suddenly become One new Abu Dhabi eatery that with Nobu and Okku flying the flag unfashionable. “Japanese food is has come up with such a twist is Mi- for delicate yet uber-modish dishes so entrenched in everyday din- kado Café. Launched in December, served in nightclub-style venues to ing that it won’t go out of fashion it offers Japanese food infused with the fabulous set. And in general, in the foreseeable future,” he says. both Western and European ingre- Japanese eateries have done well “We would advise someone look- dients, including baked goods, >
GN Focus February 25, 2015|29 Dubai is now a firm favourite among many diners. Nes- tled on top of the pyramid-shaped hotel, it comprises Fabio Nakazato three separate din- Executive Chef, ing areas, each Mikado Café with a different feel and atmosphere, as well as their own outdoor terraces. The much-sought- after formal din- ing Tatami terrace boasts amazing Takashi Ando views over the Chef de Cuisine, Dubai Creek. Tori No Su Chef and owner Chitoshi Takahashi has spent a long time developing dishes to impress Dubai’s hard-to- please diners. Sig- nature plates such Pictures: Courtesy of Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Chitoshi as the black cod are INNOVATIVE DINING: The beef and foie gras roll (top) at Tori No Su Takahashi raved about by con- and the matcha roll cake at Mikado Café are standout creations Owner, Tomo noisseurs, while CountryJapan the Japanese halal Country Section NameFood desserts, specialist home-made cigar. “At the core of the cuisine is charcoal-grilled Wagyu and fantas- Section Name mochi ice creams, as well as an im- the notion that only ingredients tically fresh sushi and sashimi keep pressive assortment of traditional that are at their zenith with regard bookings busy. Japanese teas such as Sencha and to freshness, flavour and seasonal- “This food is certainly still popu- Bancha. Popular dishes include ity should be used,” Ando tells GN lar in the UAE, as seen by the fast the biscuit bread, chirashi Mikado, Focus. “Taste, texture and balance growth of the Japanese gastronom- shokupan white chocolate pudding are key, whereby the integrity of ic industry in the country, as well and matcha roll cake — sponge the ingredients should never be as in the Middle East in general,” cake with matcha powder. “The lost. Presentation also plays an says Takahashi. “Japanese people success of the flavour combination important role, as does the whole respect all the traditions of their lies in the fact that the bitterness of dining experience. cuisine fervently, from the way of matcha goes very well with the tart “The dishes should be thought- cooking to the way of enjoying the flavour of the berries and the sweet- ful and prepared so they’re easy to different dishes. At Tomo we cook ness of the light whipped cream we eat. The sizing of each element to what they would want to eat, mak- serve it with,” says Executive Chef bite-size pieces is important.” ing us a real authentic restaurant in Fabio Nakazato. “When it comes to every sense of the word.” More options Japanese food, the harmony of the For those who want to cook flavours is paramount.” For a long time, the world- some dishes at home, Dubai has a The gorgeous Tori No Su restau- renowned Nobu at Atlantis The surprising number of stores sell- rant at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Palm, Dubai, was considered the ing imported products. The unu- is something of an introduction venue of choice for Japanese fine sually named supermarket Deans to Japanese culture itself. Chef de dining. Indeed, it is still a force to Fujiya in Oud Metha stocks a Cuisine Takashi Ando has applied be reckoned with, thanks to its cut- mind-boggling array of goods from decades of skill as a kaiseki-trained ting-edge style and a truly stunning buckwheat noodles and savoury chef to serve up hitokuchi or bite- space where one can enjoy deli- rice crackers to sushi mats, sushi size gourmet treats at the bar, cacies such as the famed sashimi seasoning, Japanese ginger and skewered culinary creations at the salad with matsuhisa dressing, yel- miso paste. It also sells some lovely robatayaki counter, and more in- low tail sashimi with jalapenos and oriental crockery and table deco- tricate creations at the regular din- black cod in miso. rations. In Al Wasl Square, the up- ing areas including a beef and foie However, other restaurants are market Japanese bakery Yamanote gras roll and teppanyaki chocolate swaying opinion. Tomo at Raffles is also well worth a visit. n
GN Focus 30| February 25, 2015 Japan Advertisers’ Content
Japan Emirates Trading Sharp showcases retails Kaminomoto in UAE latest educational solutions at GESS Japan Emirates Trading, which specialises in health-care and beauty products, markets the Sharp Middle renowned international brand East and Africa Kaminomoto from Japan in the will be showcas- UAE and the Middle East and ing its education- North Africa. al offerings at Kaminomoto specialises in hair- the region’s lead- growth products and is a household Dr Azmet Merchant, Managing ing education name in its home country. Kami Director, Japan Emirates Trading industry show, in Japanese means essence of hair. Gulf Educational Sup- The brand has a unique range in its laboratory since 1908, and plies and Solutions 2015 of products to stop hair loss and has products containing unique (GESS), which runs until promote growth. Kaminomoto ingredients researched there. tomorrow at the Dubai prepares its products using Japan Emirates Trading is in World Trade Centre traditional Japanese plants and Sharjah. It can be reached via (DWTC). Participat- modern research. The company phone at 06 532 2357, fax at 06 532 ing for a second time, has been conducting research 2108, and email on [email protected] Sharp expects to entice educational institutes with visual, document and health-care products and solu- tions that will create a more intuitive and collaborative learning environment for students. Become a musician “Education is a key focus for our business as our products combined create an unbeatable environment for students,” says Ravinder Kumar, General Manager, with Yamaha Business Solutions, Sharp Middle East and Africa. “We are excited to show off our latest solutions, under the theme Education Through Innovation, at the region’s leading educational exhibition, and are optimistic that it will be a bigger success this time round.” Visual solutions on show include 2x2 video walls made up of 55-inch ultra-slim bezels as well as 60- and 70-inch intelligent touch boards that allow the manage- ment and sharing of information between students, staff and faculty members. Sharp’s classroom manage- ment solution allows effective control of a classroom while the classroom information manager is an inter- active solution that permits faculties and students to review and modify schedules. Document-printing hardware and solutions, which will offer secure printing of exam questionnaires, per- sonalised certificates, books and colouring materials, will be available at the stand. A challenge for education institutes is additional printing costs due to an increase The Yamaha Music Foundation world. Yamaha courses have been in network printing and copying activity. To address provides music education through offered at Thomsun Music Schools this, Sharp has launched Accounting Plus, a solution courses designed for a broad range in the UAE since 2008. that gives users a smarter, more efficient and secure of students including children, Courses of the Yamaha Music way of printing by storing documents on a server until youths and adults. Education System allow students they are required, rather than printing immediately. The sole purpose of the to learn not only how to play The health-care solutions showcased at GESS aim foundation is to stimulate interest instruments but also other key to provide a cleaner and healthier learning environ- in the playing and enjoyment of musical elements such as listening, ment for students. Sharp’s air decontamination systems music all over the world. Yamaha singing, reading and creating. have been tested in world-class scientific labs and have Music Schools have developed on Yamaha Music Schools offer both proven to eradicate airborne microbes, protecting users a large scale, with 710,000 students group and individual music courses from viruses, dust mites and allergens. at 6,400 locations around the for students of all ages. Sharp’s stand is located in Hall 5 at DWTC.
GN Focus February 25, 2015|31 Japan Advertisers’ Content Japan Advertiser’s Content
our confectionery is being pos- itively evaluated by customers Yoku Moku whips up who expect high-quality prod- ucts, and it’s a great honour for us to have their trust over Konica Minolta top-class confectionery the years. We’d like to contin- ue to do our best in providing optimal customer satisfaction with delicious confectionery.” has 50 per cent of Yoku Moku’s latest product will go on sale next month. “In response to customer demand for a product with pistachios, regional market we’ll offer a cookie named ba- teau de pistaches,” says Taka- hashi. “It’s a shortbread bis- cuit with plenty of butter from Hokkaido, Japan, and pista- chios from Iran, which have a pronounced scent. Yoku Moku is a popular Japa- of Yoku Moku was opened in tion possible, and we’re dedi- “We believe its well-bal- nese brand of confectionery. the US in 1986, and now we cated to pursue better quality anced, rich taste will satisfy Tatsuya Takahashi, who is in have shops in Thailand, Tai- and offer high value for our many customers, and we are charge of overseas develop- wan, Hong Kong, Macau and products with earnest sincer- willing to do our best to make ment in the Overseas Business the UAE. ity and select ingredients. customers happy through cre- Department of Yoku Moku, “Our aim is to provide the “The brand’s more than 40 ating confectionery long into says, “The first overseas shop [greatest] customer satisfac- years of history is proof that the future.”
(Above) The bizhub Press C1100; Daiso promises innovation, real (Right) bizhub Pro C1060L savings, quality and variety
Daiso, the Japanese concept and extensive product range retail store, has established and excellent quality, and itself as a household name providing a warm shopping over the past three decades. ambience, Daiso is a thorough With a belief that products utility store that helps to set Juma Al Majid has been the imaging system is prints more halide installations print on should offer more value up the perfect home. exclusive distributor in the designed to meet similar to the just one type of media, which than their price, its items Launched in 1977 in the UAE for Konica Minolta’s all daily office require- RGB monitor, proving to be is single-sided, and face limi- are defined by their unique Higashi ward of Hiroshima products since 1974. ments including printing, of great value to commercial tations of size and finishing. designs with clever solutions city in Japan, Daiso is now Konica Minolta is one of scanning to multiple loca- and digital printers, design High Chroma, due to its RGB at incredible rates. a retail powerhouse with the leading providers of print- tions, and faxing. The newly offices, advertising agencies, colour space, can print excel- Manu Mulchandani, Chief more thaan 3,600 stores in 26 ing solutions to professional launched Press C1100, C1085, architects, mini labs and lent skin tones, and produce Operating Officer, Daiso countries. In only 11 years, the printers for short-run jobs. C1070 and C1060L machines digital studios, among oth- prints on a variety of media of Middle East, says Daiso is a brand has opened 23 stores Its market share in the low- to also represent a milestone ers. With it commercial and up to 1.2 metres in length, and very popular brand in the UAE across the UAE. Under the mid-size production segment in Konica Minolta’s commit- digital printers can produce on both sides in one touch and has witnessed significant franchise ownership of Lals in the Middle East stands at ment to product quality and eye-catching products such for A3 and larger sizes. These growth over the past year in such as folding colanders starting Dh7 Daiso boasts real Group and Damas Group the about 50 per cent. customer satisfaction. as special packaging material, prints are dry and ready to this market. and silicone garlic peelers, to value for money. store is spreading its wings The introduction of the High Chroma is the logos, spot colours, pop mate- finish and can be laminated The brand’s range consists clever ways of dressing up your In recent years the across the region with more bizhub series for both colour brand’s legacy, providing a rial, direct mails and textile with UV coating, a photo de- of 70,000 lifestyle items and bedroom with stylish storage brand has gained a superior than 38 stores in the UAE, and monochrome products new dimension to profession- print samples. sign or incorporate other VDP novelty gift products, and solutions, and decorative reputation as a leading Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia has helped transform con- al printers. Its colour gamut High Chroma is the best solutions. More importantly, introduces more than 900 new household items, gifts, make- Japanese one-stop shopping and Kuwait. It has become cept, knowledge, intelligence is more similar to the SRGB alternative to the conven- the operational cost on High products to customers every up, stationery, toys and more, destination in Dubai for local one of Japan’s leading retail and technology into reality. colour space than standard tional photo printing technol- Chroma is less than that of month. From practical kitchen the store offers something and international shoppers. brands with sales exceeding The state-of-the-art network CMYK printers. This provides ogy, silver halide. Most silver silver halide. utensils in funky colours for everyone. And with prices In addition to an upright $3 billion (Dh11 billion).
GN Focus GN Focus 32| February 25, 2015 February 25, 2015|33 Japan Advertiser’s Content JTC launches operations at DWC
Japan Trade Centre, a private- pan’s largest trading partner in sector business-to-business the Arabian Gulf. platform dedicated to pro- According to a Septem- moting Japan’s small- to me- ber 2013 report by Japan’s dium-size enterprises (SMEs) Small and Medium Enterprise through Dubai to global mar- Agency under the Ministry of kets, commenced operations Economy, Trade and Industry, on January 11 at Dubai World the country’s 4.2 million SMEs Central’s (DWC) Business Park. are the nation’s wealth gen- Paving the way for a greater erators, representing a massive role for Japan’s SME sector 99.7 per cent of its compa- in the Middle East and reg- nies, almost 70 per cent of the istered as a free zone entity work force, and more than 50 last March, JTC DWC serves tile business ecosystem, which infrastructure and a diverse, per cent of its manufacturing a growing body of Japanese is why we chose to base the expanding economy. Japan industry. While most of these SMEs in the UAE spanning company in DWC. With our represents our vision to be- companies are not as well- various industries such as ma- new offices, we are well po- come a smart, efficient city by known as Japan’s giants, they chinery, construction materi- sitioned to support Japanese 2020 and we look forward to form the backbone of the ser- als, electronics, confectionery, SMEs, many of which are ac- building upon this mutually vice sector and are a crucial food and beverages, textiles tively looking to tap the Mid- beneficial relationship.” part of the manufacturing and and jewellery. Currently, JTC dle East’s [potential] as part of The establishment of JTC export supply chain. has more than 2,000 Japanese their growth trajectory.” DWC is anticipated to further Many products of JTC have business partners including Welcoming JTC, Rashid Bu boost the flow of trade between yet to reach this market al- manufacturers and traders of Qara’a, Chief Operating Of- the UAE and Japan, which to- though they enjoy consider- 30,000 diverse products. ficer, Dubai Aviation City Cor- talled $25.92 billion (Dh95.2 able success in Japan and the Shogo Ishida, Director, JTC poration (DACC), says, “As a billion) in the first half of 2014. neighbouring Asian countries. DWC, says, “The UAE is Ja- gateway to the world, DWC is In the same period, the UAE This is the ideal time for trad- pan’s strategic trading partner proud to open doors to JTC. exported goods and services ing companies who aim to do and a natural springboard for Located at the crossroads of worth $21.34 billion to Japan, business with highly recog- its SMEs to enter the regional three continents, we offer our with imports totalling $4.59 nised Japanese producers, to markets. It has cultivated a fer- business partners world-class billion, making the country Ja- make a move.
GN Focus 34| February 25, 2015 STATIONERY DISNEY PRODUCTS GIFT BOXES
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