Home » Japan Travel News » Tokyo Bridges Cultures: “Tokyo Tokyo Old Meets New” Event in Abu Dhabi Marks New Era in Middle East Tourism Promotion Published on
November 1, 2025Tokyo took a daring step to boost its international tourism efforts by exhibiting its distinct cultural identity in Abu Dhabi. This was the first-ever Tokyo tourism and cultural promotion event in the Middle East. The Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau (TCVB) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) collaborated to organise the event, which was called “Tokyo Tokyo Old Meets New – Come Discover the Culture of Tokyo”. This event acted as a vital link between the expanding Middle Eastern tourism industry, especially in Abu Dhabi, a city renowned for its love of Japanese pop culture, and Tokyo’s rich cultural tapestry.The theme of the event, “Old Meets New”, highlighted Tokyo’s capacity to combine traditional arts with modern innovations, highlighting the variety of experiences the city provides tourists. This project is in line with TCVB’s objective of promoting Tokyo as a place where classic customs blend with contemporary design to create a welcoming environment for tourists from all over the world.Advertisement The Event: A Cultural and Pop‑Culture ShowcaseThe event was attended by prominent figures, including His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and Her Excellency Yuriko Koike, the Governor of Tokyo. Also present were His Excellency Shihab Ahmed Al Faheem, the Ambassador of the UAE to Japan, and His Excellency Ken Okaniwa, the Ambassador of Japan to the UAE. The presence of these distinguished officials underscored the importance of this cultural exchange and set the tone for an engaging exploration of Tokyo’s multifaceted appeal.Held in Abu Dhabi, a city where Japanese pop culture, particularly the beloved manga series Captain Tsubasa (known locally as Captain Majid), holds immense popularity, the event provided an ideal platform to explore Tokyo’s influence on both traditional and modern global culture. …
