Fahad Cultural Center to House Saudi National Theater, Orchestra

Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (Arabic website)
Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (Arabic website)
TT
20

Fahad Cultural Center to House Saudi National Theater, Orchestra

Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (Arabic website)
Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan (Arabic website)

Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan announced on Thursday that the King Fahad Cultural Center has been elected as headquarters for the national theater and orchestra which were announced earlier in the Cultural Vision for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Prince Badr attributed the center’s selection to the Culture Ministry’s “keenness towards harnessing all capacities facilitating the establishment of the two groups (the national theater team and orchestra), in such a way that meets the standards of the audience and pioneers of Saudi theater and music fans.”

Cultural Vision for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia encompasses the following central objectives, as cited by the ministry’s official website: promoting culture as a way of life, enabling culture to contribute to economic growth and creating opportunities for international cultural exchange.

These objectives are closely aligned with the three strategic pillars of the Kingdom’s national transformation Vision 2030, which are to create a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation.

The Ministry will seek to realize the cultural sector’s potential, bringing all aspects of the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage into the daily life of Saudis – it will enrich the lives of the people of Saudi Arabia.

Culture is a broad term, and the Ministry has identified 16 priority sub-sectors where it will focus its work. The intention of this is to create a Ministry which can effectively champion causes across the sector. The Ministry will also create 11 new bodies, reporting to the Ministry which will focus on these sectors.



Tourists and Locals Enjoy ‘Ephemeral’ Tokyo Cherry Blossoms

People take photos of cherry blossoms by Kudanzaka Park as the blossom viewing season begins in full in central Tokyo on March 31, 2025. (AFP)
People take photos of cherry blossoms by Kudanzaka Park as the blossom viewing season begins in full in central Tokyo on March 31, 2025. (AFP)
TT
20

Tourists and Locals Enjoy ‘Ephemeral’ Tokyo Cherry Blossoms

People take photos of cherry blossoms by Kudanzaka Park as the blossom viewing season begins in full in central Tokyo on March 31, 2025. (AFP)
People take photos of cherry blossoms by Kudanzaka Park as the blossom viewing season begins in full in central Tokyo on March 31, 2025. (AFP)

Tourists and Japanese locals marveled at Tokyo's cherry trees on Monday at the peak of the annual blossom season that traditionally represents fresh starts but also life's fleeting impermanence.

Crowds flocked to the city's top locations to take photos and hold picnics under the elegant dark branches bursting with pink and white flowers, known as "sakura" in Japanese.

"Honestly it feels pretty amazing to be here. It's honestly better than we expected. And it only comes around every once in a while and only for a short span of time," Christian Sioting, a tourist from the Philippines, told AFP.

"It's an ephemeral experience and we're pretty happy that we got to be here and to witness it in full bloom too."

The Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) on Sunday declared the country's most common and popular "somei yoshino" variety of cherry tree in full bloom in Tokyo.

Although this year's blooming dates are around the average, the JMA says climate change and the urban heat-island effect are causing sakura to flower approximately 1.2 days earlier every 10 years.

"Seeing photos is another thing, but being here, (to) really see the sakura in your eyes... it's really amazing," said Ralf Ng from Hong Kong.

A weak yen is attracting more visitors than ever to Japan, with national tourism figures released in January showing a record of about 36.8 million arrivals last year.

Tokyo resident Kayoko Yoshihara, 69, organizes annual flower-viewing picnics with her friends, including one held last week as the cherry trees began to bloom.

"After enduring the cold winter, the cherry blossoms bloom and it makes you feel like you're motivated to head towards summer," she told AFP.

Nurse Nanami Kobayashi, 31, said the peak of the blossom season left her without words.

"When the trees are at full bloom, it's so beautiful that you just become speechless," she said.