Newsletter No. 414
News-Analysis
October 20, 2006

 

PRIME MINISTER ABE HOSTS AN IFTAR DINNER

Several nights ago Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted an iftar dinner for Muslim ambassadors to break the fast of Ramadan. This is a page out of Koizumi’s diplomatic playbook, as the former prime minister did the same last year and in 2003 (see Shingetsu Newsletter No. 96). Once again, Yuriko Koike was one of the main guests on the Japanese side. Last year she was Minister of the Environment; now she is the prime minister’s adviser on national security.

Prime Minister Koizumi actually fasted on the day of the iftar, but it is not immediately clear if Abe did as well. At the dinner, a foreign ministry official described the meal as follows: "They will be served California roll sushi and teriyaki chicken. Of course, we won't have any pork or alcohol. Guests from the embassies will also bring their favorite food and drinks." Prime Minister Abe is said to have eaten Moroccan harira soup and Lebanese tabouli salad.

Kuwaiti Ambassador Ghassan al-Zawawi was outspoken in his praise of the event, saying that it was a “new tradition” and a symbol of Tokyo’s desire to deepen relations with the Islamic world. He added, "It is highly appreciated that the Japanese leader hosts a Ramadan feast at this special time when Muslims in the world are neglected by such issues as religious cartoons."

In his own remarks, Abe said, "We have traditionally enjoyed good relations, and I hope today's dinner helps further strengthen friendly relations with your countries."

PRIME MINISTER ABE TO HOST “IFTAR” DINNER
October 16, 2006

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will invite the Ambassadors from Islamic nations to host an "Iftar" (fast-breaking Ramadan dinner) at the Prime Minister's Office on the evening of October 17.

44 representatives from the Islamic Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo will be invited to the Iftar.

The purpose of this event is to deepen understanding about Islamic culture and to promote mutual understanding between Japan and the Islamic world through dialogue.

(Note) The invitees from the Islamic Diplomatic Corps:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen