Saudi Ambassador Announces Launch of ‘Saudi Tours in Japan’

The Saudi Ministry of Culture logo
The Saudi Ministry of Culture logo
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Saudi Ambassador Announces Launch of ‘Saudi Tours in Japan’

The Saudi Ministry of Culture logo
The Saudi Ministry of Culture logo

The Saudi Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Kingdom's Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Dr. Ghazi Binzagr, participated in the final International Participants' Meeting, held from January 15 to 16 at the Himeji Culture and Convention Center.

During his participation, Binzagr announced that the construction of the Saudi Pavilion is 82 percent complete, with the entire front façade finished. The pavilion is scheduled to welcome visitors starting April 13 and will feature more than 700 activities and daily live shows. He also highlighted the pavilion's focus on enhancing the visitor experience and announced new campaigns encouraging the Japanese community to "Discover Saudi Arabia."
"The Kingdom is pleased to host visitors and invites them to embark on an interconnected journey of new discoveries. Through our pavilion, we will showcase the depth of our traditions and the remarkable transformations taking place in Saudi Arabia," said Binzagr. "The pavilion will present more than 700 events during Expo 2025 Osaka, including daily shows featuring fashion, music, and films, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore our rich heritage and ambitious future."
Binzagr also announced the launch of a national initiative titled Saudi Tours in Japan, aimed at enhancing cultural interaction between the two friendly nations. The tours will visit seven Japanese cities, starting in Osaka and continuing to Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Tokyo, concluding on March 9. These tours offer the Japanese public an immersive experience, introducing them to authentic Saudi hospitality and culture while encouraging them to visit the Saudi Pavilion when it opens on April 13 with the launch of World Expo 2025.



Ancient Pompeii Excavation Uncovers Lavish Private Bath Complex

A recently discovered complex in the ancient city of Pompeii is seen, in Pompeii, Italy, in this undated handout picture released on January 17, 2025. (Pompeii Archeological Park/ Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism/ Handout via Reuters)
A recently discovered complex in the ancient city of Pompeii is seen, in Pompeii, Italy, in this undated handout picture released on January 17, 2025. (Pompeii Archeological Park/ Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism/ Handout via Reuters)
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Ancient Pompeii Excavation Uncovers Lavish Private Bath Complex

A recently discovered complex in the ancient city of Pompeii is seen, in Pompeii, Italy, in this undated handout picture released on January 17, 2025. (Pompeii Archeological Park/ Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism/ Handout via Reuters)
A recently discovered complex in the ancient city of Pompeii is seen, in Pompeii, Italy, in this undated handout picture released on January 17, 2025. (Pompeii Archeological Park/ Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism/ Handout via Reuters)

Archaeologists have unearthed a lavish private bath complex in Pompeii, highlighting the wealth and grandeur of the ancient Roman city before it was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, the site said on Friday.

The baths, featuring hot, warm and cold rooms, could host up to 30 guests, allowing them to relax before heading into an adjacent, black-walled banquet hall, decorated with scenes from Greek mythology.

The complex lies inside a grand residence that has been uncovered over the last two years during excavations that have revealed the opulent city's multifaceted social life before Vesuvius buried it under a thick, suffocating blanket of ash.

A central courtyard with a large basin adds to the splendor of the house, which is believed to have been owned by a member of Pompeii's elite in its final years.

"This discovery underscores how Roman houses were more than private residences, they were stages for public life and self-promotion," said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park.

Zuchtriegel said the layout recalled scenes from the Roman novel "The Satyricon", where banquets and baths were central to displays of wealth and status.

Decorated with frescoes, the complex draws inspiration from Greek culture, emphasizing themes of leisure and erudition.

"The homeowner sought to create a spectacle, transforming their home into a Greek-style palace and gymnasium," Zuchtriegel said.

The remains of more than 1,000 victims have been found during excavations in Pompeii, including two bodies inside the private residence with the bathhouse - a woman, aged between 35-50, who was clutching jewellery and coins, and a younger man.

The discovery of their bodies was announced last year.