Thank you Mr. Ahmed Al- Mukhaini for your kind introduction.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, and Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed a great honor for me to be given the opportunity to make a speech on the occasion of 30^th anniversary of the Oman-Japan Friendship Association and Muscat Festival 2004, co-hosted by the Historical Association of Oman, the Oman-Japan Friendship Association and the Embassy of Japan.

I sincerely thank you all for gathering here tonight, and I hope my speech will contribute to deepening the understanding of the relationship between Oman and Japan.

Before getting into the main theme, I would like to say a few words about myself and on my personal relationship with Oman.

My name is Haruo Endo. Haruo is my given name and Endo is my family name. We do not have the middle name like " bin so and so" as Arab people have.

I introduce myself, "Haruo Endo", to Westerners like this.

"My name is Hello! The End! It's a very simple name. In abbreviation, however, it is H.E., His Excellency which is used for dignitaries such as ministers, undersecretaries, ambassadors, etc."

To Arab people, I introduce myself as " My name is Helu Endo, sweet Endo."

Thus, in the English way, my name is " Hello! The End!" or "H.E., His Excellency" and "Helu Endo" in Arabic way.

You can memorize my name as you like.

As for my personal relationship with Oman, my first visit was in May 1974, shortly after the beginning of the Renaissance. I remember I stayed at the old one-storied Al-Falaj Hotel then.

My second visit was in 1985, when the Al-Bustan Palace Hotel was still under construction to be made the venue for the first GCC Summit in Muscat.

Moreover, in 1996, I had the opportunity to have the good company with Omani post-graduate students at the University of Exeter in England when I was with "the Centre for Arab Gulf Studies", attached to the university, as an honorary researcher.

Through my experiences with Oman, I have been very impressed with the glorious progress and prosperity your country has achieved during the Renaissance.

and Japan".

First of all, I would like to briefly outline the recent relationship between Oman and Japan.

Japan formally recognized the Sultanate of Oman in 1971 and established its diplomatic relation in 1972, the following year.

The Embassy of Oman and the Embassy of Japan were inaugurated respectively in 1979 and 1980.

Prior to the inauguration of the embassies, the Oman-Japan Friendship Society was established so early in 1973 in Japan and the courtesy mission of the Society was dispatched to the 3rd National Day Celebration.

In 1974, the Society dispatched a director to Oman as its resident representative.

When I visited Oman for the first time, I met him at the Al- Falaj Hotel. He was the only Japanese who was staying then in Oman.

On the other hand, in the same year, the Oman-Japan Friendship Association was established in Oman and H.H.Sayyid Thuwaini bin Shihab Al Said visited Japan, heading its delegation.

While the Oman-Japan Friendship Society was reorganized into the Oman-Japan Society and revitalized in 1986 in Japan, the JICA Alumni was established in 1989 in Oman as a subsidiary organization of the Oman-Japan Friendship Association.

In 1994, Oman participated in the 12^th Asian Olympic Games held at Hiroshima, which resulted in the establishment in 1996 of "Hiroshima Oman Friendship Association" in Japan. As you have read on the newspapers, they are now visiting here and participating in Muscat Festival 2004.

As for economic ties between the two countries, Japanese export to Oman started in 1949 after the Second World War and import of crude oil from Oman began in 1967 as soon as you started its export. Trade has continuously expanded since 1972.

Imports from Japan to Oman ranked the sixth, after UK, United Arab Emirates, India, Australia and China in the beginning of 1970's, and they ranked the third after UK and United Arab Emirates in 1979.

Nowadays, imports from Japan to Oman rank the second, next to the United Arab Emirates. Considering that imports from UAE include a large amount of Japanese products, Japan actually ranks the first

As for exports from Oman, Japan has been the largest oil importer since 1970's, except the year of 2000 (when exceeded only once by China). It means that Japan has been the largest importer of Omani exports.

As for oil exploration and production in Oman, four Japanese oil companies have been involved since 1970's, although three of them have withdrawn.

Japanese contractors succeeded in penetrating into Omani market in 1980's. The first refinery in Oman, first desalination and power generation plant and gas processing plant were built by Japanese engineering companies at Qurum, Ghubra and Yibal respectively.

In 2000, Chiyoda completed the construction of LNG plant at Qalhat and JGC is now engaged in the construction of a new refinery at Sohar.

Recently, Kawasaki Shipbuilding Co. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. built two LNG tankers, " Sohar LNG" and " Muscat LNG", at the order of the Government of Oman.

As for technical assistance, JICA began to extend its cooperation in the middle of 1970's. The first Omani trainee was received by JICA in as early as 1975. The first JICA development study was conducted in 1977(30 in total as of end of Dec.2003) and the first Japanese JICA expert was dispatched to Oman in 1986.

The number of Omani trainees received by JICA until the end of March 2002 reached 381. (Adding trainees received UNIDO and AOTS, the number of trainees received in Japan accumulated to well over 500 at the end of March 2002)

Meanwhile, the accumulative number of JICA experts reached 131 as of the end of March 2002.

As for cultural exchange, noteworthy event in 1990's was the participation by Omani youth in the "Ship of World Youth" project, sponsored by the Japanese Government. More than 30 Omani youth participated in the voyages and contributed a lot to deepening mutual understanding and promoting friendship among the youth of the two countries.

Meanwhile, "Japan Week" was held in Oman twice in 1992 and 1995 and Sultan Qaboos University hosted a "Japan Week" in 2002.

Furthermore, academic exchanges between the two countries have been also increasing. (Waseda University, Nagoya Institute of Technology and the Oman Ophiolite studying

universities)

The Japanese Peace Garden was opened in Oman in 2001. By the way, do you know that we can enjoy "Sultan Qaboos Rose", the rose named after His Majesty, in Japan? There is a well-known rose garden near my house at Yokohama. A corner of the garden is seasonally filled with the full bloomed "Sultan Qaboos Roses", located just next to "Queen Elizabeth Roses" named after Queen Elizabeth. As you know, the rose was cultivated in late 1980's and exhibited publicly for the first time at the International Garden and Greenery Exposition held at Osaka in 1990.

I am glad that the recent relation between Oman and Japan ahs been excellent and is becoming closer and closer.

I would like here to remind you that the excellent and close relationship as above has been strengthened by mutual visits by royal families of the two, in addition to the frequent visits by the high government officials.

H.H. Sayyid Thwaini Al-Said, who had been to Japan in 1974, leading Omani delegation of the Oman- Japan Friendship Society, visited Japan again to attend the Rites of the Imperial Funeral in 1989, representing Oman.

H.H. Sayyid Faisal, the then Minister of National Heritage and Culture attended the subsequent Enthronement Ceremony of the new Emperor in November of the same year.

In 1990's, His Highness Crown Prince Naruhito and Her Highness Crown Princess Masako of Japan officially visited Oman in 1994 and, in reciprocation, His Highness Sayyid Fahad bin Mahmoud Al Said, Vice Prime Minister, visited Japan in 1997.

It was my great honor that I could accompany the Japanese royal couple for a part of their itinerary then and could write my experiences in my book "Oman Today", published in 1995 in Japan.

In 2000's, His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tareq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture visited Japan in 2002.

Now, I would like to look back our history of exchange chronologically.

Here, please allow me to say a few words about the chronological table that will be often referred to in my speech hereafter.

(Please refer to the attached Chronological Table)

In ancient times, China, the only big power in the Far East then, was much closer to Oman.

It has been proved that China had contacts with central and western Asia before the 2^nd century BC.

During the period between 2^nd century BC and early 3^rd century AD, the Chinese opened a land route from east Asia to west Asia, so called "silk route". On the other hand, the Arabs opened a sea route from the Red Sea, the Gulf, across the Indian Ocean to the Malaya Peninsula and south China. The shipbuilding technology of Oman was very famous in ancient times, and Omanis played an important role in developing this sea route.

The name of Oman appeared in a Chinese historical book for the first time during the 5th century.

According to historical records and a book written by an Arab in 851 AD (Chains of History, Sulayman), many Arabs and Persians lived in the main trading ports of Canton, Quanzhou and Yangzhou and Chang-an, the capital of Tang dynasty. It is recorded that one hundred and twenty thousands of Muslims, Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians lived in Canton then.

Some Omani traders also have been identified who migrated to China. They include Abu Obeida Abdulla Al-Qassim, who lived in the first half of the second century Hegira, settling in China where he became a famous merchant dealing in frankincense. He lived there for a long period before finally returning to his homeland. Another Omani businessman, Al-Nadhar bin Memoun, who had formerly lived in Basra, took ship to China where he joined Al- Qassim.

In comparison with long and close relationship between China and Arab countries in ancient times, there was little contact between Arabs and Japan, then a remote and unknown country.

In a word, our history of exchange between Oman and Japan is comparatively new.

Except for the old history of exchange through frankincense as will be stated later, there had been little contact between Oman and Japan until the second half of 19^th century. Our relation has begun to be formulated since the early period of 20^th century and has become close after the end of the Second World War, especially after 1970's.

It was in 753 that a Japanese saw Arab people for the first time in the recorded history of Japan.

The deputy ambassador of the Japanese mission to the Tang dynasty (named "Komaro Otomo") met them when he was given audience to the Emperor of Tang dynasty at the

New Year Celebration. Arab diplomats were also present there.

As they belonged to the Abbasid dynasty, there seemed to be no Omanis among them.

In the Middle ages, it is recorded that an Arab named "Hishiri", who was brought from China to Japan in 1376 by a Japanese Buddhism priest studied there, lived in Kyoto, ancient capital of Japan. He got married to a Japanese woman and fathered two sons.

The elder son, named "Musul", (" Kuzuha-nyudo Sainin" in Japanese,) was appointed to an important post by the then Shogun. He fathered four children and died in 1486 at the age of 93.

The younger brother, ( Minbukyo-nyudo in Japanese,) did not have any child.

Hishiri might have been an Omani, but there is no way for me to confirm whether he happened to be an Omani or not.

As for early modern times, Japan closed the door to foreign countries in 1639, with exception of China and Holland to prevent Christianity from penetrating into Japan.

Therefore, there was no record of direct contact during the period between Japan and Arab countries, let alone Oman.

However, it is to be noted that Japan could obtain knowledge about Arab countries in some depth even during this period. Japanese scholars started to get acquainted with the Arab land and Islam as well.

In the oldest Japanese encyclopedia compiled in 1712 (Wakan Sansai Zue), we can find the detailed names of Arab places such as Mosul, Baghdad, Cairo, Mecca, Mocha, Sohar and Mirbat.

It refers to frankincense and whale in the explanation of Sohar and to turban in the explanation of Mirbat.

In modern times, Japan was forced to end its isolation policy and resume broader overseas trade by the arrival of Commodore Perry from the United States in 1853. After short period of internal turmoil in Japan, the Government of Shogun, head of the Samurais, turned over its power to the Emperor in 1867 and a new government was formed in 1868 with the Emperor Meiji as state head.

Thereafter, Japanese modernization, Meiji Restoration, started.

About that time (During the end of the Edo period and beginning of the Meiji period), Government missions were sent to the United States and to Europe and those delegation members who went to Europe became the first Japanese who landed on the Arab land, which was not Oman, but Aden.

As far as Oman is concerned, it was in 1880 that Japanese visited Oman for the first time. Army Captain Senyo Furukawa arrived at Muscat harbor from Karachi on June 25, 1880 on his way to Persia, landed on the city of Muscat with Army Major Grant, then English Resident Consul at Muscat, and looked around the city, guided by Grant's attendant.

Several days later, the Japanese Navy warship called " Hiei", under the command of Navy Capt. Sukeyuki Ito, dropped in at Muscat.

During three- day stay at Muscat, Sultan Turki visited the ship with gifts (a cow, four sheep, dates, grapes, mangos, etc) and, in return, the commander and his attendants paid a courtesy call to the palace.

On May 26,1896, during the reign of Sultan Faisal, Army Colonel Yasumasa Fukushima dropped in at Muscat harbor, during the course of his inspection tour over Persia, Central Asia, Turkish Arabia, India and Burma, Caspian Sea and Caucasus and central Europe.

On June 19, 1900, another Japanese, Toyokichi Ienaga a pharmaceutical researcher with the Governor's Office of Japan in Taiwan, arrived at Muscat harbor on his way to Persia.

Shigetaka Shiga's visit to Oman on February 28, 1924 was really epoch-making in the history of exchange between Oman and Japan.

He was a well-known thinker and geographer of Japan. As he was concerned with the increasing population of Japan, procurement of oil and Japanese position between the West and the East, he was keenly interested in visiting Muslim countries to well prepare for those issues.

On his arrival in Muscat from India, he visited the palace without any appointment. He said to a merchant who dealt with him at the entrance that he was from Japan very far from Oman and that, taking advantage of this opportunity, he wished to be given an audience by Sultan to propose closer friendship between the two countries.

After twenty- three minutes, the man came back and told Shiga that the Sultan would accept him.

Sultan Taimur told Shiga, " You are most welcome to Oman. Both Arabia and Japan belong to Asia. We have to deal with the issues within Asia by ourselves. Why do not Japanese come over to Arabia? By doing business and developing industry here, promoting closer friendship and improving and reviving Arabia, we can mutually achieve great success."

Shiga responded by saying" What you said to me is just what I had wanted to propose to you today. I will be sure to convey your words to the Japanese people"

Shiga left the palace in deep emotion at being given the audience and hearing warm words from Sultan Taimur.

On his return to Japan, he wrote on Oman in the book titled " Unknown countries" and published it in 1926, which virtually introduced Oman for the first time to Japan.

(This is the picture of Shigetaka Shiga.)

The reasons why I say Shiga's visit to Oman was epoch-making is that his visit impressed not only Japanese people but also Sultan Taimur himself.

After stepping down from the throne, he came over to Japan in 1935 on the way to his world tour, driven by his yearning for Japan after his meeting with Shiga. During his stay at Kobe, he happened to get to know a young Japanese lady.

In 1936, he came to Japan again, got married to her, fathered Princess Buthaina and had lived in Kobe for four years.

During his stay, Sultan Said and Sayyid Tareq, his younger brother, came over to Kobe to visit their father.

I have learned that His Majesty Sultan Qaboos dropped in at Japan in 1964 on his way back to Oman after finishing his duty with English Army.

Although heads of the Gulf countries have visited Japan after 1970's, I do not know any Arab country other than Oman that state heads of three generations have visited Japan.

That is one reason why I have written the Sultanate of Oman as the closest Arab country to Japan in my book " Oman Today" mentioned above.

In the Second World War, Japan fought against USA, Britain and others, allied with Germany and Italy. Strongly requested by Germany, Japanese submarines participated in the operation of sea route disruption against Britain supply vessels plying to India and, on June 28, 1943, a Japanese submarine sunk a Norwegian boat "Dahpu" in Muscat harbor.

When Mr. Essa bin Mohammed Al Zadjali, Chairman of "Times of Oman", came to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese Government last July, I had the chance to have a talk with him. During the conversation, he referred to the experience of that day in his childhood vividly as follows:

"Whole town of Muscat shook then. I ran madly towards the harbor."

(This is the picture of the same type of submarine that came over as far as Muscat harbor from Japan.)

Looking back economic ties between Japan and Oman, trade between the two during Meiji to Taisho periods in Japan, from the reign of Sultan Turki to Sultan Taimur in Oman, was almost nil.

You did not have oil yet. Japan just embarked on its way to industrialization.

Army Colonel Fukushima, who visited Oman in 1896, wrote in his book that Japanese matches (quick igniting chips of wood) were sold at Burma, India, Afghanistan, Persia, Turkey, Oman and everywhere and that he was angry and deplored at its inferior quality.

Main Japanese products were only matches and some others then. Can you imagine?

As for trade during early Showa period, the first Japanese cargo ship service was established in 1934, which enhanced the export of Japanese products directly to the

Arabian Peninsula, owing to their cheapness in price as well. Even in 1930's, main items exported from Japan during this period were cement, rice, cotton products, glass products, earthenware goods, matches, etc.

There were no Toyota and Sony then in Japan.

As stated until now, history of human exchange and trade between Oman and Japan is comparatively new.

However, I would like to note that there had been a comparatively long history of cultural exchange between the two countries, by taking up the topics one by one. Please be reminded, however, that all of them are not related directly to Oman.

Firstly, I would like to refer to frankincense.

Frankincense had already been introduced to Japan in ancient times. As frankincense is the product of Oman, it was certain that Japan and Oman had a contact more than twelve hundred years ago through silk route or sea route.

As stated earlier, the routes were opened until third century and it is recorded that Omani merchants who dealt with frankincense lived in China in 8^th century.

Since then, we Japanese have used frankincense as incense and medicine.

I will show you an interesting picture of Husego. I am surprised at the close similarity with your Al-Mabkhara. Frankincense, together with other incenses, was used for impregnation of dress, using this kind of Al-Mabkhara in Japan.

(Picture of Husego)

Stomach medicine called (Hankon-tan, which means "to bring a person back to life") was put on sale in the late 17^th century in Japan and became very popular during Edo period. Frankincense was used as one of its ingredients.

(According to an estimate, the medicine had been used by the Shogun of Ashikaga from as early as 16^th century)

Other than this, it is recorded that, in early part of the 18^th century, a dentist in Edo (presently Tokyo) started to put tooth powder on sale and enjoyed thriving business.

The name of the powder was (Nyuko-san, frankincense-spread). I visited the shop still existing in Tokyo and saw his 13^th generation descendent. Although I could not prove

that frankincense was used for making the powder because the prescription and related materials were all burnt by the bombardment during the Second World War, I am sure

that frankincense was used, judging from its name.

From the above, I believe frankincense had been continuously imported to Japan, probably through China from old days

Nowadays, although not so popular, frankincense is sold in a variety of shapes in Japan, as it is, as essential oil, as perfume, as stick incense and as medicines, etc.

Mr. Kinoshita, who is with me today, will tell you more about frankincense later.

Secondly, I would like to refer to Al-helawa.

Francis Xavier, Portuguese, who belonged to the Society of Jesus and the first Christian missionary came to Japan in 1549, at the order of the Portuguese Government which started to shift the way of control of its colonials from that by weapon to that by Christianity). In your case, Portuguese arrived in 1507.

Luis Frois, another missionary came to Japan in 1562, followed by Alessandro Variano in 1579.

Among the thin relationship between Japan and Oman during the Middle Ages, there is an interesting story about "Al-helawa".

Luis Frois saw Nobunaga Oda, the then strongest feudal warlord, for the first time in 1569 and presented a variety of gifts during his audiences of more than 18 times thereafter.

Among them was a Portuguese candy called " Alfeloa". The rock candy with a variety of colored lines enthralled the warlord and samurais, his followers, with its hardness, sweetness and colorfulness.

Thereafter, a variety of sweets, some in original Portuguese shape and others in decorated cakes and sweets for congratulatory gifts, have been made under the Japanese name, "Aruhei-to (" to" means sugar in Japanese) which originated from the Portuguese name, "Alfeloa".

I have learned this Portuguese word " Alfeloa" had originated from an Arabic word " al helawa", to my surprise. To tell the truth, I do not know what " al-helawa" is like, but I am wondering whether there is any connection between the well-known Omani sweet, "al -halwa" and Japanese " Aruhei-to" introduced to Japan through Portugal. I wish I could have cooperation from Omani scholars in this study.

Thirdly, I would like to refer to camels.

As for camels, Japanese had been familiar with them from ancient times. According to "Nihon-Shoki", the second oldest book (720 AD) in Japan , camels were presented by the countries then on the Korean Peninsula to Japan on many occasions.

There is a national treasure repository called "Shoso-in" in Nara, an ancient capital of Japan, which was built in the 8^th century and houses multitudes of national treasures.

Many of the treasures, mainly consisting of personal effects left by a late Emperor and dedicated by the Empress to the Great Buddha and articles related to various functions of Todai-ji, Buddhism temple, are from central and western Asia and China.

Noteworthy among the treasures is a five- string lute on which a camel and a date palm tree are shown.

(This is the picture.)

I assume this is the first time that the image of the things Middle Eastern was introduced to Japan.

It was in the middle of 19^th century that Japanese saw one-hump camels, Arabian camels for the first time. In 1821, a brace of one-hump camels, dromedary, were presented by Holland to the Shogun, but as he did not agree to take them, the camels were disposed by the government to a merchant.

The merchant made use of the camels for show for about ten years throughout Japan.

It was in1824 that the camels were shown to the citizens of Edo (presently, Tokyo) and

the show recorded an unprecedented hit. Many people gathered to see the camels, believing that they would become harmonious married couple once they saw the harmonious couple of camels.

I wondered whether or not these camels were from Oman, but, to my regret, it was recorded that they were from Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

(This is the painting of the camel in Edo era.)

Fourthly, I would like to refer to Arabian horses.

In the Middle Ages, Arabian horses had reached Japan. One night in 1408, two foreign vessels wrecked by typhoon drifted ashore to the northern coast of central Japan (Wakasa). The vessel was full of an elephant, several Arabian horses, a brace of peacocks, parrots and so on that Sultan Aladdin (not Arab, probably Malaysian sultan) aboard the vessel intended to present to the Shogun of Japan.

In 1591, two Arabian horses were presented by a Portuguese Viceroy at Goa to Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the most popular Japanese feudal warlord who unified the country.

During the Edo period, Persian horses were presented to the Shoguns many times.

Yoshinobu Tokugawa, the 8^th Shogun, was particularly interested in importing foreign horses and imported 27 Persian horses through Dutch.

In 1864, Napoleon the 3^rd, French Emperor presented 26 Arab horses to the Shogunate of Tokugawa.

Nowadays, there are many Arabian horses in Japan and races by them, which are gaining popularity. Moreover, Japan Pure Arabian Horses Association was established in 2000 in Hokkaido.

By the way, on the occasion of the visit by the Japanese Crown Prince in 1994, an Arab horse named "Ahazeej" was presented by His majesty Sultan Qaboos to the Crown Prince of Japan as a token of friendship between the two countries.

I have heard she arrived in Japan in 1995, gave a birth the next year to his son,

" Toyoyoshi" that means " full of joy" in Japanese, and is very well now at the Imperial Stock Farm in Japan.

Fifthly, I would like to refer to dates.

As stated earlier, among the treasures housed at the treasure repository, "Shoso-in" mentioned earlier, there is a five- string lute on which a date palm tree is shown, together with the picture of a camel as this.

In the oldest Japanese encyclopedia published in 1712, date is introduced as a kind of palm, growing in Persia.

As earlier stated, Government missions dispatched to Europe during the period of the end of the Edo and beginning of the Meiji Period had become the first Japanese who landed the Arab land at Aden and they might have been the first modern Japanese who saw dates.

It is written in their books as "de-do" or " reiitto". Masaharu Yoshida, who wrote his book on the visit by the Japanese warship " Hiei" in 1880, recorded it exactly as " dates".

It is said that dates were introduced to China from Persia in the 3^rd century AD, but they are not being grown nowadays because of its rainy weather.

I can not find any record on import of dates to Japan in ancient times. What I know is that it is recorded date was introduced to Okinawa in 1910's -1920's.

Nowadays, there are several wild date trees in Okinawa and Kagoshima, both southern part of Japan.

As for commercial import of dates to Japan, it started in late 1950's from Iraq, to improve bilateral trade imbalance.

Nowadays, although small compared with European countries, nearly 1000 tons of

dates are being imported to Japan for eaten raw and manufacturing of juice, vinegar and alcohol.

Lastly, I would like to refer to Islam in Japan.

Earlier, I referred to the first recorded Japanese who saw Arabs. As it was in 753, those Arabs were surely Muslims. We can say he was the first person to see Muslims.

However, it is more than thousand years later that Japan saw the first Japanese Muslims. Torajiro Yamada had become a Muslim in 1902 and Bunpachiro Aruga did also in the same period.

In 1909, Mitsutarou Yamaoka became the first Japanese who became " Haji", by making a pilgrimage to Mecca.

As for publications, "Life history of Prophet Mohammed" was published for the first time in Japan in 1876 by Tadasu Hayashi, then a diplomat and later Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the first translation of "Koran" was published in 1920 by Kenichi Sakamoto.

As for present situation of Muslims in Japan, the number of Muslims seems to be increasing. Although exact number of Muslims are not known, it is assumed that there are ten thousands of Japanese Muslims and nearly 100, 000 foreign Muslims in Japan.

As for mosques, there are three comparatively large mosques at Tokyo and one at Kobe. Please be reminded, moreover, that many small mosques are mushrooming all over Japan.

Before looking forward to our relationship in 21st century to conclude my speech, I would like to refer to social and cultural similarities between us.

When I first visited the Middle East in 1973, I got culture shocks at the differences between us. I got a shock to find the landscape of Tehran was the same every day because of no rain there and I got another shock in Kuwait when my driver told me that he was "about" 30 years old when I asked his age.

After I traveled Arab countries many times and lived in Lebanon, Abu Dhabi and Oman, I have started to feel comfortable with Arab countries and I have found many similarities between us.

As for social customs, we both take off shoes on entering houses, and sit on the floor cross-legged and eat rice. Going back to the period before the Second World War, we, Japanese, had a large family and man-dominated society, respected seniors, and evaluated virginity and chastity and so on, as you do today.

While Japanese do not say "Yes" or "No" clearly, your "Yes " and "No" are also ambiguous.

Our decision is based on consensus or consultation like you rather than debate or confrontation as is prevalent in the western countries.

We share many values of sense. Especially, generosity, friendliness or hospitality and cleanliness, in addition to honor, self-respect, good manners, justice, loyalty, bravery, endurance, etc.

Moreover, culturally, we both have calligraphy, bull fighting, falconry, tea/coffee-making ceremony, same agricultural tools, similar music melody and so on.

Furthermore, it is our honor that Oman and Japan have royal families.

In consideration of our similarities and common values, I would like to emphasize that we, at the doorstep of 21^st century, should remember the words said in the meeting held between Sultan Taimur and Mr. Shigetaka Shiga 80 years ago.

Sultan Taimur told him, " You are most welcome to Oman. Both Arabia and Japan belong to Asia. We have to deal with the issues within Asia by ourselves. Why do not Japanese come over to Arabia? By doing business and developing industry here and promoting closer friendship and improving and reviving Arabia, we can mutually achieve great success."

Shiga responded by saying" What you said to me is just what I had wanted to propose to you today."

.

I sincerely hope relationship between Oman and Japan will become closer and closer as they wished then.

Thank you for your attention.