Yomiuri Shimbun October 28, 2007

（English translation）

Headline:

Mr. Haruo Endo (74), First Japanese who received an Order from Oman　　

　−“He is mentioned as an Arab in his previous life”

Body Text:

The Sultanate of Oman, located at the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsular and connected to the Indian Ocean with long coastline, is a strategically important country embracing the Strait of Hormuz, despite of its small population of 2.5 million. He explains passionately that Oman, the least known among the Gulf countries to the Japanese, is in fact the closest Arab country to Japan”. He was awarded by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman “HM Sultan Qaboos Order for Culture, Science and Arts(1^st degree) in September. He thanks for many Omani who have been friends with him.

He started to travel around the Middle East countries since 1973, including Oman where he firstly visited in 1974 for feasibility study for refinery construction. Conversable in nature, he often enjoyed talking with Arab people night away. He was on the same wavelength with Arab as is told by his family that his previous life was an Arab.

He joined JICA, wishing to keep relationship with the Middle East and the country to which he was dispatched for three years was the Sultanate of Oman. He was engaged in the job of introducing Japanese management method, etc. to the Omani business entrepreneurs and fascinated by Omani national character of evaluating greeting, respecting seniors, paying kind concern towards others, etc.

On his homecoming, He published two books on Omani people’s life. Recently, he has been engaged in helping Omani students in Japan and giving his lectures on Japan in Oman. Explaining,” It is not supply of oil and the largeness of the land that is important to the relationship among countries, but how much we can learn from each other”, he earnestly wishes Japanese people to give more attention to Oman.