​The Arab Open University in the Kingdom of Bahrain hosted the Japanese Ambassador in a special event to celebrate the receipt of a set of Japanese books and references provided as part of the “Japan Reading" Project. This event was held in cooperation with the Nippon Foundation and organized by the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, with the aim of promoting understanding of Japanese culture in various academic communities.

The ceremony was attended by a number of academic and diplomatic figures, headed by Dr. Najma Taqi, President of the University, and Her Excellency the Japanese Ambassador, where the books were officially handed over to the University Library. In her speech, Dr. Najma praised the cultural cooperation between the University and external parties, stressing the importance of these initiatives in enhancing knowledge and broadening the horizons of students and faculty members about Japanese culture.

It is worth mentioning that the “Read Japan" project, launched by the Nippon Foundation in 2008, aims to spread knowledge about Japan by distributing books in English to universities and libraries around the world. The university expressed its thanks and appreciation to the Nippon Foundation and the Japanese Embassy for this valuable cultural initiative, which will enrich its library and contribute to enhancing cultural and scientific communication between Bahrain and Japan.