RIYADH: Saudis are more positive and better informed than most Arabs about different aspects of the Arab world’s relationship with Japan, an influential regional survey has revealed.
The YouGov poll commissioned by Arab News, the Riyadh-based English-language daily, as part of the recent launch of its Japan edition, shows that Saudis are more likely than the average Arab to describe the relationship with Japan as positive.
Eighty-three percent of Saudi respondents said they would like to visit Japan, with 89 percent of those aged over 40 saying they would like to do so.
Fifty-three percent of Saudi respondents said the Japanese are organized, 52 percent said they are hardworking, and 42 percent said they are punctual.
However, only 32 percent of Saudis know that Gulf Cooperation Council member states supply 85 percent of Japan’s oil.
While awareness of this fact is higher among Saudis than the average Arab, it is still low given that the Kingdom is Japan’s largest oil supplier and is responsible for 40 percent of its oil imports.
The Saudi-specific findings of the survey were presented at a reception in Riyadh. Members of the Saudi and Japanese communities were invited, as were government officials, the media and prominent business executives.
I hope that the Japanese edition of Arab News will be a bridge between Japan and the Arab region in general, and Japan and Ƶ in particular.
Tsukasa Uemura, Japanese ambassador
Speaking at the reception, Japan’s Ambassador to Ƶ Tsukasa Uemura highlighted the importance of the study and congratulated Arab News for the launch of its Japan edition.
“It makes me so happy and honored to stand in front of you on this auspicious occasion, marking the launch of the Japanese edition of Arab News in Riyadh,” he said.
“Many of you may already know that it had been launched in Tokyo on Oct. 21, on the very eve of the enthronement ceremony of our new Emperor Naruhito,” Uemura added.
“The timing of this magnificent launch adds more flavor when it coincides with the start of a new era in Japan,” he said.
“I hope that the Japanese edition of Arab News will be a bridge between Japan and the Arab region in general, and Japan and Ƶ in particular,” he added.
“I’m sure this launch will record the birth of a new era of people-to-people understanding, sharing and caring,” he said.
FASTFACTS
53% of Saudi respondents said the Japanese are organized.
52% said they are hardworking.
42% said they are punctual.
83% said they would like to visit Japan.
32% know that Gulf Cooperation Council member states supply 85 percent of Japan’s oil.
Arab News Editor in Chief Faisal J. Abbas said: “We at Arab News, in cooperation with our research partners YouGov, are delighted to be contributing to a better understanding between Japan and the Arab world, and especially with Ƶ.”
He added: “The poll shows an overwhelmingly positive perception of Japan, but also a number of inaccurate ideas that we hope we can rectify with our online edition, Arab News Japan, which was launched in Tokyo last week.”
The survey was based on online interviews with 3,033 Arabic speakers from 18 Arab countries.
Arab News Japan was launched in conjunction with the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito.
The launch was held under the patronage of Tokyo’s Gov. Yuriko Koike, with keynote speeches from Japan’s Defense Minister Taro Kono and Saudi Commerce and Investment Minister Majed Al-Qasabi.
