Tokyo University of Foreign Studies holds a competition to read texts from Syrian literature

On the occasion of the International Day of the Arabic Language, the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic in Japan, organized a reading competition in Arabic. 

Thirty-nine male and female Japanese students from the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies participated in the online- competition to read literary texts by Syrian poets and writers.

They recited poetry texts for the poets Zaki Consul, Nizar Qabbani, Suleiman Al-Issa and Badawi Al-Jabal.

Regarding the competition, Dr. Aoyama Hiroyuki, Academic Coordinator of Arabic Studies at the University of Tokyo and responsible for organizing the competition, stated that its aim is to overcome linguistic weaknesses for students of foreign languages. 

Dr. Aoyama indicated that texts from Syrian literature were selected to highlight the positive image of Syria, which is reflected in many aspects, such as culture, civilization and literature.

For his part, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Japanese Embassy in Syria, Hirofumi Miyake, affirmed that this competition is a good opportunity to strengthen relations between Syria and Japan.

In her turn, the Director of the Institute for Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers, Dr. Nujud Atallah, expressed her happiness at going through this experience with the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, as it contributes to knowing the image of Syria through the eyes of the university students as they read the most beautiful texts of Syrian poets. 

For her part, Dr. Nahid Merhi of the Japanese Language Department at Damascus University praised the efforts made to coordinate this competition. 

She said: “The participation of this large number of Japanese students is evidence of interest in Syrian culture.”

The competition concluded by honoring the best seven students, and prizes were distributed to them, which are the excellence award, the excellence award, the proficiency award, the Japan Center for Academic Cooperation Award at the University of Aleppo, the Japanese Language Department Award at the University of Damascus, the Arabic Language Institute Award for Non-Native Speakers, and the Encouragement Award.

The jury included the head of the committee, Muhammad Najib Elji (chargé d’affaires at the Syrian Embassy in Japan), Najud Atallah (head of the Institute for Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers, in Damascus), Dr. Abd al-IlahNawolo (head of the Japan Center for Academic Cooperation, University of Aleppo and Dr. Nahed Al-Marei (Department of Japanese Language, Damascus University) and Hirofumi Miyake, Chargé d’Affairs at the Embassy of Japan in Syria.

O. al-Mohammad