East Asia to West Asia: Japan Culture Center to be established in the UAE
- Last updated: October 29, 2025 | 10:00
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
It was announced at the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, that the Japan Culture Center (JCC) will be developed in the United Arab Emirates as a landmark destination celebrating and sustaining Japan’s cultural heritage and contemporary artistry. Conceived by Al Ahli Holding Group (AAHG) the event is in line with the UAE’s philosophy of cooperation and cultural diplomacy. Unveiled on the closing day of Expo 2025 Osaka, JCC is presented as the UAE’s parting gift to Japan, a gesture of friendship, respect and shared purpose, that will continue to inspire collaboration and creativity long after the Expo concludes.
Reflecting the UAE’s leadership legacy, from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the project is an example of the UAE’s commitment to fostering creativity, understanding, and cultural sustainability among nations. The announcement was led by Shehab Ahmed Al Fahim, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Japan and Commissioner General of the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, in the presence of the project’s key creative figures, Kengo Kuma, Paul Tange, Fumio Nanjo, and Toshio Shimizu, along with Ali Alyammahi and Noora Alyammahi from AAHG.
“This initiative reflects the shared vision of the UAE and Japan for cultural diplomacy, to celebrate the heritage of nations and foster dialogue between them,” said Shehab Ahmed Al Fahim. “The Japan Culture Center will serve as a living platform for cultural and economic exchange, ensuring that traditions are not only honoured, but sustained and reimagined for generations to come. It stands as a true expression of the values of respect, openness, and collaboration that define the partnership between our two nations.”
JCC forms the centerpiece of the Multiverse Project being developed by AAHG, a multifaceted ecosystem celebrating the intersection of art, design, education, and sustainability. The district comprises three defining elements, namely, the Artist Building, designed by Paul Tange of Tange & Associates, an architectural first-of-its-kind that will house over one thousand artist residences, creating a vertical creative hive where collaboration and exchange shape a living canvas of innovation; the Curatorial Program, envisioned by Fumio Nanjo and Toshio Shimizu, which is a dual curatorial framework that bridges the modern and traditional faces of Japan, creating a balance between evolving creativity and enduring craftsmanship; and the JCC, designed by Kengo Kuma, one of the world’s most revered architects, which redefines what a cultural centre can be.
Through his signature use of natural materials, spatial harmony and sustainable design, Kuma-san has envisioned a village-like complex where making, learning and living, are interconnected. JCC is envisioned as a space where culture becomes an experience, rather than an exhibition. Together, the components embody the UAE’s belief that true progress lies in cooperation and cultural closeness and continuity, and that the preservation of creativity is an act of service to humanity itself.
At its core, JCC is both a cultural sanctuary and an economic enabler. It provides a platform for Japan’s media companies, master artisans, publishers, creators and small enterprises, to share their craft and knowledge with the world, fostering new opportunities for vocational training, residencies, creative collaborations, and cross-border partnerships across West Asia and Africa. From tea ceremony, Manga, Anime, budō, and calligraphy to fashion, media arts, robotics, and design, JCC’s multidisciplinary programming invites active participation rather than mere observation. Visitors will experience culture as a living, evolving dialogue, that connects generations and geographies.
“I have always been fascinated by the beauty and depth of Japanese culture — from its timeless traditions to its bold modern creativity,” said Mohammed Khammas, AAHG Group CEO. “It is a privilege to bring this vision to life, alongside masters such as Kengo Kuma and Paul Tange, whose architectural ingenuity has given form to our shared belief that creativity can be both human and enduring. Together with the curatorial vision of Fumio Nanjo and Toshio Shimizu, this project becomes more than a collection of buildings — it becomes a living bridge between our nations. The Japan Culture Center represents our belief that while structures may rise and fade, culture, artistry, and friendship endure across generations.”
JCC, in sum, is a multi-building cultural complex designed by Kengo Kuma, curated by Fumio Nanjo and Toshio Shimizu, and conceived by AAHG as a UAE national initiative. Located within the upcoming Multiverse Project, it will encompass galleries, workshops, performance spaces, gardens, dining, and artist residencies, forming the world’s largest and most comprehensive platform for Japanese culture outside Japan. Kengo Kuma is a Japanese architect and emeritus professor in the Department of Architecture (Graduate School of Engineering) at the University of Tokyo. He is the designer of the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, built for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Fumio Nanjo is a curator and art historian. Between 2006 and 2019, he was the director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. He served as commissioner of the Japan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (1997). Curator and Art Director Toshio Shimizu has been curator at Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum (1985 – 91); Director at Contemporary Art Center, Art Tower Mito (1991 – 97); and Director at Ise Cultural Foundation Art Gallery, New York (1998 – 2001).
In 2016, he won the French Award of Chevalier Dans L’Ordre Des Arts Et Des Lettres.