Manga Arabia Takes Part in Anime Village at Jeddah Season

Anime Village at Jeddah Season. (SPA)
Anime Village at Jeddah Season. (SPA)
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Manga Arabia Takes Part in Anime Village at Jeddah Season

Anime Village at Jeddah Season. (SPA)
Anime Village at Jeddah Season. (SPA)

The Saudi Research and Media Group's (SRMG) Manga Arabia is taking part in the Anime Village as part of Jeddah Season 2022.

Anime Village is the first of its kind and largest village in the Middle East to celebrate anime.

The village features several global exhibitions and entertainment activities that celebrate anime.

The village was inaugurated on Thursday and will remain open for six weeks.

Manga Arabia will feature alongside Japan's most renowned publishers and production houses. It boasts its own wing at the exhibition that features interactive activities for people of all ages.

Manga Arabia will offer several enrichment workshops, including story writing, the basics of illustration and manga production and Japanese language courses for beginners.

A Manga Arabia cafe has been set up and people of all ages will be able to receive copies of Manga Arabia comics.

Editor- in-Chief of Manga Arabia, Dr. Issam Amanallah Bukhary said: "Manga Arabia marked a revolution in entertainment innovation in Saudi Arabia and the Arab wold."

"It is no secret the major impact manga art, its stories and cartoons, have had on generations," he added.

"Through this project, we are hoping to empower the imagination and open broader horizons to readers so that they can take part in inspiring experiences," he remarked.

"At Manga Arabia, we believe in the important role of interacting with the reader and fans, we therefore sought to be part of the major Seasons events, such as Riyadh Season, where we achieved remarkable success through Manga Arabia Boulevard," he added.

"We are following up on this success through our exclusive presence at Anime Village at Jeddah Season," he stated.

SRMG launched Manga Arabia in August 2021 stemming from the growth in popularity of Japanese manga and anime in the region over the last two decades and the demand for localized storytelling. Manga Arabia’s imaginative Arabic content is purposeful, safe, and inspired by Arab cultural values.

Manga Arabia boasts two offerings: “Manga Arabia Kids” with content catering to the 10–15-year-old age group, and a second title targeting those 16 and above.

With the aim of stimulating and fostering the imagination and creativity of the community, Manga Arabia produces original, high-quality, and authentic content, inspired by the culture and values of the Arab region for both regional and global audiences. The project champions local creatives for original content, alongside translated content from Japanese and international partners.



The Himalayas Getting Harder to See Due to Severe Pollution

A general view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range as pictured from the border town of Poonch in India's Jammu region on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
A general view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range as pictured from the border town of Poonch in India's Jammu region on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
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The Himalayas Getting Harder to See Due to Severe Pollution

A general view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range as pictured from the border town of Poonch in India's Jammu region on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
A general view of the snowcapped Himalayan mountain range as pictured from the border town of Poonch in India's Jammu region on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)

Navin Singh Khadka grew up in Nepal's capital watching the Himalayas. Ever since he left, he has missed sweeping, panoramic views of some of the highest mountain peaks on Earth.

“Each time I visit Kathmandu, I hope to catch a glimpse of the dramatic mountain range. But these days, there's usually no luck,” he told BBC, adding that the main culprit is severe air pollution that hangs as haze above the region.

“And it's happening even during the spring and autumn months, which once offered clear skies,” Singh Khadka said.

Just last April, the international flight he was in had to circle in the sky nearly 20 times before landing in Kathmandu, because of the hazy weather impacting visibility at the airport.

“The hotel I checked in at was at a reasonable height from which mountains are visible on a clear day – but there was no such day during my two-week stay,” he said.

Even from the major vantage point of Nagarkot, just outside Kathmandu, all that could be seen was haze, as if the mountains did not exist, he added.

Yogendra Shakya, who has been operating a hotel at Nagarkot since 1996, said, “I no longer brand the place for views of 'sunrise, sunset and Himalayas' as I did in the past.”

“Since you can't have those things mostly now because of the haze, I have rebranded it with history and culture as there are those tourism products as well here,” Shakya added.

During an earlier trip a year ago, Singh Khadka was hopeful he would be able to see the mighty Himalayan peaks on a trek in the mesmerizing Annapurna region – but had hardly any luck there either.

Scientists say hazy conditions in the region are becoming increasingly intense and lasting longer, reducing visibility significantly.

Haze is formed by a combination of pollutants like dust and smoke particles from fires, reducing visibility to less than 5,000 m. It remains stagnant in the sky during the dry season - which now lasts longer due to climate change.