DiplomaticQuarter: Japan envoy hosts iftar for Saudi alumni of Japanese schools
Updated 13 April 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: Japan’s Deputy Chief of Mission Kawahara Kazutaka hosted an iftar gathering in Riyadh for alumni of Japanese universities and academic institutions.
About 40 Saudi students attended this year’s iftar, a number higher than last year’s attendees. Kazutaka, who came to Saudi Arabia in August last year, learned Arabic from a private teacher in Damascus, the capital of Syria, and worked at the Japanese Embassy in Egypt, where he continued to learn Arabic there.
“Saudi Arabia has a lot to be discovered and is very exciting and I am very happy to be here,” he told Arab News Japan. This Ramadan’s iftar at the Embassy of Japan in Saudi Arabia was the 10th iftar gathering for Saudi graduates from Japan.
Former Saudi Arabian students interacted with and welcomed new graduates. There was also a former Saudi graduate from Hokkaido, and there was also a former student from Okinawa.
Kazutaka gave a speech in Arabic after the iftar. He said: “I am pleased to see that cultural exchanges between Saudi Arabia and Japan are making visible progress. We are actively working to introduce Japanese culture to the people of Saudi Arabia, such as holding the annual Japanese Speech Contest. In addition, during the Riyadh season, there were many programs about Japanese culture at Anime Town. I hope that this kind of cultural exchange will become more and more popular.”
Regarding tourism in Japan, he told guests they could start applying for an electronic visa from March 27. “There will be opportunities to strengthen the bonds of love and friendship between the two countries Saudi Arabia and Japan.”
Japan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Iwai Fumio was unable to host this year’s Ramadan event due to business travels. — Malak Alzahrani
Sneakerheads from around world descend on Riyadh for Sneaker Con 2026
Capital’s edition highlights Saudi Arabia’s rising profile in global lifestyle, pop culture scene
Updated 10 sec ago
Rahaf Jambi
Sneaker Con 2026 brought global sneaker culture to the Saudi capital, transforming Cool Arena at Boulevard City this week into a vibrant meeting point for youngsters in search of streetwear and collectibles.
The event, which ran from Monday to Wednesday, is known for gathering collectors, resellers, brands, influencers, and fans under one roof, and its Riyadh edition highlighted Saudi Arabia’s rising profile in the global lifestyle and pop culture scene.
It featured a large-scale marketplace in which visitors could buy, sell and trade rare and limited-edition sneakers, supported by authentication services that ensured credibility and trust in a market driven by exclusivity.
Beyond commerce, the event offered panel discussions, live DJ sets, interactive challenges, art installations and appearances by regional and international creators, capturing the broader street culture that surrounds sneakers.
Free to attend with prior registration and running daily from late afternoon into the night, the event formed part of the wider Riyadh Season calendar, reinforcing the city’s ambition to host world-class cultural experiences that resonate with a young, creative and globally connected audience.
Sneaker Con 2026 brought global sneaker culture to the Saudi capital. (AN photo/Rahaf Jambi)
International brands from across the globe were among the standout participants. Puerto Rican brand We Got Kicks made its presence felt, with representative Jorge Andres highlighting the brand’s enthusiasm for entering the Saudi market.
Andres said the invitation to Riyadh marked an important milestone, and he told Arab News: “We really want to bring our brand to Saudi Arabia and raise awareness. Everyone here is very nice, and people genuinely care.”
Another major draw was Urban Necessities, a globally recognized consignment shop known for sourcing hard-to-find sneakers.
Jaysse Lopez, one of the brand’s founders, shared his journey and strong connection to Saudi Arabia. Originally from Puerto Rico and now based in Las Vegas, Lopez explained that Urban Necessities focused on rare pieces not commonly found in mainstream retail.
He said: “Urban Necessities is a consignment shop that focuses on all the things you don’t see every day: the hard-to-find sneakers. It’s for all walks of life.”
Lopez noted that the brand has been present in Riyadh for nearly three years, with a store in Boulevard City, and had played a role in helping bring Sneaker Con to the Kingdom.
Speaking about popular collaborations, he highlighted the continued demand for Travis Scott releases.
Sneaker Con 2026 brought global sneaker culture to the Saudi capital. (AN photo/Rahaf Jambi)
“He has a very big following, and his collaborations with Nike and Jordan always sell out,” Lopez said. “The demand is extremely high.”
Reflecting on his visits to the Kingdom, Lopez described Saudi Arabia as a place of rapid change and opportunity, and added: “This is my third time here. It’s amazing to see how much has changed in just one year, and over the three years I’ve been coming.
“The people are kind, the culture is beautiful, and it gets harder to leave every time.”
Regional participation was also strong. From Qatar, sneaker brand Size Run took part in the event, represented by Hussain Nabeel, who described the experience as overwhelmingly positive.
Nabeel said: “From the first day it was fantastic for us. We are very happy to be here and to show everyone who Size Run is.”
He added that the brand aimed at strengthening connections across the Gulf, saying: “We have online platforms, and we can ship to Saudi Arabia for free.”
Local Saudi businesses also used Sneaker Con as a platform. Siraja, a Saudi brand specializing in customized apparel and brand development, highlighted its locally based production capabilities.
Waleed Al-Khaled, representing the brand, said the company’s mission was to support aspiring entrepreneurs, and added: “Anyone who wants to start a business and doesn’t know how to, we are here to help — from design to production, all made in Riyadh.”
By attracting international, regional, and local players, Sneaker Con Riyadh underscored the Kingdom’s growing influence in global sneaker and streetwear culture.
The event served as a cultural exchange, reflecting how Riyadh is positioning itself as a hub where global trends meet local creativity.
