Tokyo is one of the world's most famous foodie cities, with more than 137,000 restaurants packed into its busy districts — and Saudi Arabia is set to join the mix with a special festival bringing the Kingdom's cuisine to the Japanese capital.
From November 8-10, visitors to the Taste of Saudi event will be able to sample traditional dishes like kabsa and harees from 20 booths featuring a wide range of authentic flavours and handicrafts.
The three-day festival will also feature several live cooking platforms, heritage performances and a coffee experience — with the Culinary Arts Commission hoping to "showcase Saudi culture on the global stage" and boost connections between the two nations.
Venues are yet to be announced, but based on similar events hosted previously around the world, attendees can expect to learn more about some of the thousands of local ingredients grown across the Kingdom's distinct landscapes and discover a souk market selling herbs, spices and gifts from local artists.
Japan and Saudi Arabia have shared a strong partnership for more than half a century, with everything from manga to cosplay and cinema nights surging to popularity in Riyadh in recent years.
Next month, the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir will head to Tokyo for a concert featuring a diverse repertoire that will celebrate both traditional compositions and Western classics.
Then a few days later, Princess Nourah University's Red Hall will play host to more than 100 musicians from the Tokyo National Symphony Orchestra for an evening bringing the soundtrack of Final Fantasy XIV to life.
The concert will feature iconic pieces from Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn and all the expansions leading up to Endwalker, as well as notable tracks from the wider game series.
A dedicated merchandise area will feature exclusive items and other products shipped directly from Tokyo, while Diamond ticket holders will have the opportunity to meet producer and director Naoki Yoshida, sound director and composer Masayoshi Soken, senior story designer Natsuko Ishikawa and localisation supervisor Michael-Christopher Koji Fox.
Find out more from Saudi Arabia's Culinary Arts Commission
@mocculinary
