Building bridges of culture, tourism between Iran, Japan
Historical documents show that Persian culture has had a significant influence in East Asian countries throughout the past centuries, and many historical and cultural artifacts and tablets are still being discovered in these countries, proving the extent of their longstanding relations with Iran. Japan, a fascinating country in East Asia, and Iran share a long-standing tradition of friendly relations rooted in historical and cultural ties, alongside economic and political interactions. The two countries have had extensive relations dating back to the prosperous Silk Road era, with a number of people frequently traveling between the two countries. In recent years, both sides have managed to familiarize each other with their arts and customs through cultural weeks and the exchange of cultural and artistic delegations. Japanese tourists are keen to travel to Iran, and many of them develop a fondness for this country after their first trip and experience traveling here two or three more times thereafter. They are not only interested in viewing historical sites but also wish to have experiential travels in Iran, such as living with nomads. They are eager to get acquainted with Iranian culture and customs up close, and they also admire the natural beauty of Iran. In recent decades, both short and feature films from Iran have established a strong presence in the international arena. Cinema enthusiasts in Japan, like their counterparts in other countries, have heard the acclaim for some Iranian films and are eager to watch them. The Iranian Film Festival, held every August by the cultural center of the Iranian Embassy in Japan in the Minato Ward of Tokyo, has become a prominent event in Japan. To assess the level of cultural and tourism relations between the two countries, Iran Daily conducted an interview with Saisho Yuta, the political counselor of Embassy of Japan in Iran, which will follow below.
By Leila Imeni & Hamideh Hosseini
Staff writers
IRAN DAILY: How have tourism relations between Iran and Japan developed in recent years? Are there any specific trends or changes you have observed during this time?
SAISHO YUTA: As you know, at the beginning of this year, the Iranian government eased its visa policy for Japanese tourists. They decided to exempt the touristic visa for Japanese people. Normally, this had a lot of effect on increasing Japanese tourists to Iran. Because in Iran, there are a lot of touristic assets, a lot of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so it should have normally increased. But, after April, due to the regional situation, it became very hard for Japanese tourists to come to Iran even though they were interested in visiting. They are very careful and cautious. But if one day, I hope it will not be too far from today, the situation will be much calmer. At that will be the moment to accept a lot of Japanese tourists in Iran.
Are there any specific places or experiences that are popular among Japanese tourists? For example, are there any specific hot springs or something like this that you believe would be more appealing for Japanese tourists?
Isfahan and Tabriz are very picturesque touristic places for Japanese tourists, and they are very pleased to visit Iran. But as you mentioned, Japanese people are hot spring lovers. Japan is a volcanic and seismic country, similar to Iran, which hosts a lot of very appealing hot spring places in the country. I didn’t have a chance to visit yet, but Ardebil, Sarein, and many other cities in Iran have hot springs. Nowadays, it’s the time of Instagram and Twitter so, if one day there are many Japanese who know such information and some have already visited such places, information will be shared immediately. At that time, maybe we can have many more Japanese tourists in such hot spring places.
In the beginning of 2000, some
Japanese researchers studied 18 hot spring places in Iran. They wrote a report and sent it to the Iranian government. JICA, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, accepts many governments officials every year to provide capacity-building cooperation and courses related to governmental issues. One of the courses they gave was tourism courses, and one of its lectures was about hot springs. An Iranian official attended this course. The Iranian Embassy in Tokyo asked this guy to conduct a survey about the development of hot spring tourist destinations near Tehran. It was already almost 20 years ago. I sent an email to him yesterday, and I received his reply. Maybe they are still interested in knowing how the situation has developed since then and how he can contribute again to the Iranian hot spring tourist places.
What about UNESCO World Heritage Sites? Are they interesting for Japanese tourists?
Yes, as far as I know, Iran is the 11th country in terms of the number of World Heritage Sites, and Japan is the 12th. So, the numbers are very close. This summer, Japan and Iran succeeded in adding one more UNESCO World Heritage Site, so congratulations to Iran. It was Hegmataneh in Hamedan Province. Japan and Iran are among the countries with the largest number of World Heritage Sites. In Japan, there are many world heritage amateur, including me. The first place I traveled to visit in Iran was the Soltanieh Dome in Zanjan. So, there are many options to visit other than Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, or Shiraz, and there are always a lot of appealing places in Iran in this regard once the situation becomes calmer.
And how important is Iranian food in drawing attention of Japanese tourists? Is there any specific food?
As Japanese food, like Washoku, is appealing to foreign tourists, and because of this food appeal, Japan can invite a lot of foreign tourists. It’s the same for Iran. To draw a lot of Japanese tourists, the cuisine factor is one of the most important ones. There are many good foods in Iran. Before I came here, my wife was a little bit worried about the sheep meat because sometimes it smells. But in Iran, it’s very fresh. So far, she hasn’t had any problems, and she also enjoys other foods, as well as vegetables and fruits. Now, it’s the season for pomegranates, which are very tasty, and even in Japan, they are somewhat famous. Iranian nuts are number one. There is a lot of food attractiveness in Iran. Once you can share them with Japanese tourists, they will be more and more happy to visit Iran.
Another factor is that nowadays, there are many more boutique hotels, very stylish and renovated hotels in Iran. They are much more appealing. I have already found some photos on social networking services (SNS) of very amazing renovated Iranian hotels in some places. They are either traditional houses or caravansaries. They are historical, modern, and very stylish, which is very appealing to Japanese tourists. Tradition is highly captivating to Japanese tourists, and we can find this kind of combination in some renovated restaurants even in Tehran. Such information is very appealing to Japanese tourists.
Do you think Japanese tourists prefer group tours or individual tours?
It depends on their ages. Older people prefer group tours to visit some famous modern heritage sites, while younger people would like to discover things on their own, so they prefer individual tourism.
Do we get any individual tourists from Japan who come to Iran on their owns without a tour operator?
The number is limited due to the tensions that exist in this large region and there are some images that make it very difficult to visit Iran. But there are some who would like to try visiting Iran. Sometimes, they put some videos on YouTube, and almost all of their evaluations are very positive. Before coming here, they compare it with previous images, noting that Iranian people are very kind, the food is good and cheap, and there are many historic tourist places. So, almost all evaluations are very positive.
How can we improve Iran’s image to other people, including foreign tourists, and specifically Japanese tourists?
Before coming here, I was in France, in Paris, where I worked for Japanese Embassy. When I told my French colleagues that I would be going to Tehran, some of them knew Iran very well, including a French woman who is an amateur of Iranian cinema. Before having a conversation with her, I didn’t know much about Iranian films, even though they are very famous worldwide. This is due to the difficulty of accessing Iranian films in Japan. This kind of information is still not popular among Japanese people. However, if there are some interesting Iranian films that showcase the beauty of visiting Iran, it will likely increase the number of Japanese tourists. There are many ways and aspects to attract interest. It’s a step-by-step process to entice and appeal to Japanese tourists.
Can you name any Iranian movies that you admire?
In my case, it’s very limited, but I have only watched Kiarostami’s films. From 2010 to 2020, there are several Iranian filmmakers who have received worldwide awards.
Why is Iranian cinema not well-known in Japan, despite the popularity of Japanese anime in Iran?
It’s surprising for us that Iranian cinema is not well-represented in Japan, despite the popularity of anime in Iran. One reason is that it’s difficult to obtain the rights to broadcast Iranian films in Japan, and the number of Iranian films available in Japan is still limited.
What Japanese dishes or food experiences would you recommend to Iranian tourists?
Sushi. But I think you don’t have the culture to try raw fish; it’s not for all Iranians, although there are some who like such foods. Dashi is a kind of broth that forms one of the culinary cornerstones of Japanese cooking. It is made from water, dried fish, and vegetables. It is a type of bouillon that is popular worldwide. Dashi is the base for soups; for example, in French cuisine, they use mint or various vegetables, but in our case, we also use fish and edible seaweed.
We also have advanced fermentation techniques. These aspects of dashi and the fermentation techniques in Japanese cuisine are becoming increasingly popular worldwide, so you can experience Japanese culinary techniques in Japan, for example in Tokyo and Kyoto, Tokyo is similar to Tehran, while Kyoto is akin to Isfahan. Kyoto is a very historical city offering traditional Japanese cuisine.
What challenges do Japanese tourists face in Iran?
Japanese tourists may face linguistic problems; as Persian language is a difficult language. They may also encounter difficulties with travel infrastructure, such as accessing money, cell phones, and Wi-Fi. In terms of cultural or religious issues, Japanese tourists are generally respectful of Iranian culture and traditions, and we do not have any major issues.
What is the state of Japanese studies in Iran and Iranian studies in Japan?
In Iran, the University of Tehran has an intermediary major in Japanese Studies, where students can study various aspects of Japan. In Japan, we have Persian courses in universities such as Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and Osaka University. We have a significant number of Persian specialists, and our country has one of the largest numbers of foreign Persian language specialists.
Are there opportunities for Iranian students to study in Japan with scholarships?
Yes, there are scholarships available for Iranian students to study in Japan. Every year, there is an examination for scholarships to study in Japan. Iranian students can apply for these scholarships to study in Japan.
What are the challenges in showcasing Iranian films in Japan?
The main challenge is that Iranian films are not commercially viable in Japan, making it difficult to broadcast them. However, there are some film enthusiasts who are passionate about showcasing Iranian films in Japan, despite the commercial limitations. These enthusiasts are working to promote Iranian cinema in Japan, and collaborations between Japanese and Iranian film lovers can help increase awareness of Iranian films.
Does the Iranian Embassy in Japan organize cultural events to promote Iranian culture and cinema?
Yes, the Iranian Embassy in Japan occasionally holds cultural events, including a cultural week, to introduce Iranian culture and cinema to the Japanese public. However, the selection of films is sometimes limited, and there may be miscommunication about the types of films that appeal to Japanese audiences. In addition, some Iranian films are available on Netflix and Amazon Prime, which can help increase their visibility in Japan.
What Iranian souvenirs are popular among Japanese tourists in Iran?
In Japan, pistachios and saffron are well-known as souvenirs from Iran. We also appreciate the stylish and lovely copper products found in Tajrish market, as well as Iranian scarves with beautiful designs.
How can Iranian handicrafts be exported to Japan despite the obstacles?
Even under economic sanctions, there are ways to export Iranian handicrafts to Japan. For example, a Japanese shop has been working with Afghan refugees in Iran to manufacture Gabbeh (a simple and colorful hand-knotted textile with a pile of long threads), which is then imported to Japan and sold to aid Afghan people. This shows that economic sanctions are not a total obstacle to cultural exchange.
Are there
opportunities for joint courses to protect cultural heritage between Iran and Japan?
This is an interesting idea. Many countries face challenges in managing their heritage sites, and exchanging experiences could be beneficial. I will share this idea with our nation, but I am not aware of any specific plans for joint courses at this time.
What are the plans for the Japan Foundation to disseminate Japanese culture in Iran?
Previously, the Japan Foundation sent a Japanese teacher to Tehran every year, but this process was stopped due to some problems. We are open to collaborating with Iranian organizations to promote Japanese culture in Iran. If you have any events or ideas, please feel free to share them with us, and we will help promote them through our social media channels.
What became of the cultural cooperation agreement signed between Iran and Japan in 2015?
The agreement was signed to commemorate the 90th anniversary of our diplomatic relationship. Although not much has been done to implement the agreement, we are now looking forward to our 100th anniversary in 2029, and we hope to use this occasion to strengthen our cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchange.