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Hayy Matsuri in Jeddah Celebrates Japanese Culture

A group of tourists look at chopsticks products at the Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo on January 10, 2025. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)
A group of tourists look at chopsticks products at the Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo on January 10, 2025. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)
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Hayy Matsuri in Jeddah Celebrates Japanese Culture

A group of tourists look at chopsticks products at the Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo on January 10, 2025. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)
A group of tourists look at chopsticks products at the Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo on January 10, 2025. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

The second edition of the Japanese Hayy Matsuri cultural festival, held under the theme "Saudi Celebrates Japan," was inaugurated on Thursday in Hayy Jameel, Jeddah.
The festival, which runs until January 11, aims to enhance cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and Japan, emphasizing the vital role of art in fostering communication and promoting mutual understanding among cultures.
This year's festival provides a cohesive cultural experience that blends tradition with creativity. It features a diverse range of activities, including musical performances by both Saudi and Japanese artists, with highlights such as the Kingdom's premiere of "Electronicos Fantasticos!" and performances by Daisuke Tanabe.

Visitors can also participate in interactive workshops to explore the arts of origami, Japanese calligraphy, and Ikebana, the art of flower arrangement.
In addition to live performances, the festival includes screenings of Japanese manga and films, traditional tea ceremonies, and a variety of anime-related projects. Attendees can also enjoy cosplay competitions, a board games zone, printmaking activations, and traditional live demonstrations celebrating Japanese cultural and artistic practices.
A cultural market showcasing over 30 vendors offers products inspired by Japanese culture and authentic Japanese cuisine, allowing visitors to experience the rich flavors of historical Japanese culinary traditions.
The festival celebrates the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan, reflecting the profound cultural ties between the two nations. It fosters mutual understanding and creates connections through cultural and artistic exchange.

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Culture

Riyadh Cultural House Marks Founding Day with Creative Heritage Programs

The events included poetry evenings, dialogue sessions, cultural performances, and interactive workshops. SPA
The events included poetry evenings, dialogue sessions, cultural performances, and interactive workshops. SPA
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Riyadh Cultural House Marks Founding Day with Creative Heritage Programs

The events included poetry evenings, dialogue sessions, cultural performances, and interactive workshops. SPA
The events included poetry evenings, dialogue sessions, cultural performances, and interactive workshops. SPA

The Riyadh Cultural House celebrated the Kingdom’s Founding Day with a range of cultural programs that highlighted national values and showcased the nation’s heritage in a modern, creative spirit.

The events included poetry evenings, dialogue sessions, cultural performances, and interactive workshops, all emphasizing the history and principles on which the Saudi state was founded.

The celebration underscored the role of cultural houses in strengthening national identity, fostering pride in the Kingdom’s history, and preserving its cultural legacy for future generations.

Culture

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project Renovates Historic Al-Qibli Mosque in Riyadh

Al-Qibli Mosque is named for its location west of Manfuha and near the Principality Palace - SPA
Al-Qibli Mosque is named for its location west of Manfuha and near the Principality Palace - SPA
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Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project Renovates Historic Al-Qibli Mosque in Riyadh

Al-Qibli Mosque is named for its location west of Manfuha and near the Principality Palace - SPA
Al-Qibli Mosque is named for its location west of Manfuha and near the Principality Palace - SPA

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques continues efforts to preserve the Kingdom’s authentic architectural identity.

One of its recent projects is the comprehensive renovation of Al-Qibli Mosque in the old neighborhood of Manfuha in Riyadh. The restoration reflects traditional Najdi architecture and highlights the mosque’s connection to the town’s administrative and social history, SPA reported.

Al-Qibli Mosque is named for its location west of Manfuha and near the Principality Palace. It was historically the closest mosque to the town’s seat of government and was frequented by princes and prominent figures. The mosque spans approximately 500 square meters. It includes an outer courtyard, an inner prayer hall, and a lower prayer room of equal size that dates back to the original construction. Square, plaster-lined windows on the north and south sides provide natural ventilation.

These were added during the mosque’s second reconstruction around 1364 AH (1945 AD).

The covered inner prayer hall measures 15 by 8 meters and rests on 33 columns arranged in three rows. It was built by architect Abdullah bin Masoud upon the order of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman. The roof is constructed using tamarisk and palm trunks, and a minaret stands at the center of the northern façade. Following earlier renovations in 1414 AH (1993 AD), the mosque remains the last mud-brick mosque in old Manfuha.

According to SPA, its design creates a visual connection between the courtyard and the inner hall, alongside a secluded lower prayer room. The site also includes the historic water fountain of Faris bin Abdullah bin Shaalan, who died in 1175 AH (1762 AD), and an old ablution area.

The current renovation uses the same local materials as the original construction, including mud, plaster, tamarisk wood, and palm fronds. Specialized Saudi heritage companies and engineers are overseeing the work to ensure preservation of historical authenticity while meeting modern sustainability standards.

The restoration aligns with the project’s four objectives: preparing historical mosques for worship, restoring architectural authenticity, highlighting the Kingdom’s cultural dimension, and enhancing religious significance. The project supports the cultural and civilizational goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and contributes to preserving the Kingdom’s architectural heritage for future generations.

Culture

Qassim Region Principality Illuminated in Green in Celebration of Founding Day

The Qassim Region Principality illuminated in green marking Founding Day - SPA
The Qassim Region Principality illuminated in green marking Founding Day - SPA
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Qassim Region Principality Illuminated in Green in Celebration of Founding Day

The Qassim Region Principality illuminated in green marking Founding Day - SPA
The Qassim Region Principality illuminated in green marking Founding Day - SPA

The Qassim Region Principality building was illuminated in green in celebration of Founding Day.

The scene reflected pride in the historical roots of the Saudi state and embodied feelings of belonging on this cherished national occasion, SPA reported.

The illumination affirms the deep historical significance of Founding Day, marking 299 years since the establishment of the First Saudi State by Imam Mohammed bin Saud.

It also reflects the enduring principles upon which it was founded, including unity, stability, and state-building. These foundations culminate in the security, stability, and prosperity that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoys today under its wise leadership.