Middle East | My Eyes Tokyo

Happy Kuwait’s National Day!

February 25 2019

Kuwait Water Towers in Kuwait City, the capital and largest city of Kuwait. *Photo from Wikipedia February 25 is Kuwait’s National Day. Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah’s reign was so central to the evolution of modern Kuwait that when he died in 1965, the date on which he had ascended the throne in 1950 (February 25) was designated National Day. Abdullah was the 1st Emir of Kuwait. Also the House of Sabah is the ruling family of Kuwait. Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in Western Asia. Situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip

Happy Birthday to Bahrain!

December 16 2018

Bahrainis observing public prayers in Manama, the capital and largest city of Bahrain. *Photo from Wikipedia December 16 is Bahrain’s National Day. The United Kingdom recognizes Bahrain’s independence in 1971. Bahrain was one of the earliest areas to convert to Islam in 628 AD. Following a period of Arab rule, Bahrain was occupied by the Portuguese in 1521, who in turn were expelled in 1602 by Shah Abbas I of the Safavid dynasty under the Persian Empire. In 1783, the Bani Utbah clan captured Bahrain from Nasr Al-Madhkur and has since been ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family, with

Happy Birthday to UAE!

December 02 2018

Abras on the Dubai Creek. An abra is a traditional boat made of wood and abras are used to ferry people across the Dubai Creek in Dubai. *Photo from Wikipedia December 2 is: National Day, which is celebrated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It marks the UAE’s formal nationalization from the British Protectorate Treaties which ended on December 1, 1971 and the eventual, federal unification of the seven emirates in 1971 which combined to form the modern-day country. The area was settled by a number of tribes along both the coast and interior and was Islamized in the seventh

Happy Birthday to Lebanon!

November 22 2018

Temple of Bacchus, which is considered one of the best preserved Roman temples in the world. *Photo from Wikipedia November 22 is Independence Day, which celebrates the independence of Lebanon from France in 1943. In 64 BC, the region came under the rule of the Roman Empire, and eventually became one of the Empire’s leading centers of Christianity. In the Mount Lebanon range a monastic tradition known as the Maronite Church was established. As the Arab Muslims conquered the region, the Maronites held onto their religion and identity. However, a new religious group, the Druze, established themselves in Mount Lebanon

Happy Oman’s National Day!

November 18 2018

Traditional Omani Food. *Photo from Wikipedia November 18 is Oman’s National Day, celebrates independence from Portugal control in 1650. From the late 17th century, the Omani Sultanate was a powerful empire, vying with Portugal and Britain for influence in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. At its peak in the 19th century, Omani influence or control extended across the Strait of Hormuz to modern-day Iran and Pakistan, and as far south as Zanzibar (today part of Tanzania, also former capital). As its power declined in the 20th century, the sultanate came under the influence of the United Kingdom. Historically, Muscat

Happy Birthday to Qatar!

September 03 2018

The news desk of Al Jazeera English, a Qatari news channel. *Photo from Wikipedia September 3 is Independence Day, celebrates the second independence of Qatar from the United Kingdom in 1971. Following Ottoman rule, Qatar became a British protectorate in the early 20th century until gaining independence in 1971. Qatar has been ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-19th century. Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a sovereign country located in Southwest Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first

Happy Birthday to Jordan!

May 25 2018

Jordanian school girls reading in a public school. Jordan’s total youth female literacy rate (15 – 24 years) was 99.37% in 2015. *Photo from Wikipedia May 25 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Jordan from the United Kingdom in 1946. Rulers include the Nabataean Kingdom, the Roman Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. After the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottomans in 1916 during World War I, the Ottoman Empire was partitioned by Britain and France. The Emirate of Transjordan was established in 1921 by the then Emir Abdullah I and it became a British protectorate. In 1946, Jordan became

Happy Birthday to Yemen!

May 22 2018

Old City of Sana’a, the largest city in Yemen. Old City was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1986. *Photo from Wikipedia May 22 is Unity Day, celebrates the unification of North and South Yemen into the Republic of Yemen in 1990. Yemen was the home of the Sabaeans (biblical Sheba), a trading state that flourished for over a thousand years and also included parts of modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea. In 275 AD, the region came under the rule of the later Jewish-influenced Himyarite Kingdom. Christianity arrived in the fourth century, whereas Judaism and local paganism

(We want to say) Happy Birthday to Syria!

April 17 2018

Syrian traditional clothing. *Photo from Wikipedia April 17 is the Evacuation Day, which is Syria’s national day commemorating the evacuation of the last French soldier and Syria’s proclamation of full independence and the end of the French mandate of Syria. Syria, officially known as the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest. French troops occupied Syria in 1920 after the San Remo conference proposed that the League of Nations put Syria under

There’re many Israelis and Palestinians who overcome religious and racial differences and make friends with each other.

May 11 2011

Interviewed by Isao Tokuhashi & Mai Namiki Written by Isao Tokuhashi Mail to: itokuhashi@myeyestokyo.com Kazuya Ogawa (Part3) Filmmaker We are bringing you the interview with Kazuya Ogawa, a film director who made a movie called “Pink Subaru”. The last part is the unique standpoint and ideas of a filmmaker who filmed a comedy movie in a conflict-affected region. *Interview in Omote-sando, Shibuya-ku *Edited by Daniel Penso 校正協力：ダニエル・ペンソ日本語 *Pink Subaru official website (Japanese): Click here! *You can go to the previous parts here; Part1　Part2 Tokuhashi: I’ve heard that you studied film in New York before you went to Italy.

Interviews with Tokyo People Achieving Dreams