We were shown a “Doraemon Limited Tote Bag” collaboration between Saudi Arabia and the popular manga “Doraemon” (July 10th, Osaka Kansai Expo)
“I really want this!”, “I never thought such an attractive tote would be the first to come…” and “Doraemon is a straight line.” This is a certain collaboration item that can be obtained at the “Arabian Amazing Exhibition,” which introduces Saudi Arabia’s culture and tourist attractions at the Osaka/Kansai Expo.
The Arabian Wonders Exhibition is currently being held at the Expo message “WASSE” from July 10th to July 16th, and will be broadcasting the tourist spots and cultural attractions of Saudi Arabia. A limited edition tote bag from the popular Saudi Arabian manga Doraemon will be given free gifts to the first 250 people each day after enjoying various content.
◆ What kind of design is the “Doraemon limited tote bag”? size?
This limited edition tote bag is a vertical type with Doraemon moving from Japan to Saudi Arabia using a “anywhere door” depicted on the front. Saudi-colored fabric is on top. It’s large enough to easily fit A4 files, and is made of quite sturdy fabric. This is obviously a battle for it.
On the first day of the event on July 10th, many people lined up at the venue even before it opened, and there were a long line. The tote bag distribution held at the venue was also over in a flash.
Their popularity has also been posted on social media with comments such as, “I went straight to the venue on the first train, but it was just the last minute,” and “Doraemon was so sad…”. The staff who came to Japan from the area were surprised by the passion of these Japanese people. Unfortunately, even people have come to try and resell high prices on flea market apps.
◆ What is the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Doraemon?
The event is led by Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Bureau. The concept of the collaboration with Doraemon seems to be “traveling the world anywhere with a door,” and “using the deep roots of Doraemon in Japanese cultural history, we have featured the Wonders of Arabia as a must-see experience at the Expo, taking advantage of the deep roots of Doraemon in Japanese cultural history and through a partnership with the beloved icon Doraemon, we are pleased to feature “The Wonders of Arabia” as a must-see experience at the Expo. This is an initiative that combines Japan’s nostalgia with the rich stories of Saudi Arabia.”
In fact, Japanese manga and anime are extremely popular in Saudi Arabia, and it seems that there are many fans among the pavilion staff who are visiting Japan. It seems that Doraemon anime has also been aired in the past. In addition, a huge theme park for Dragon Ball, the world’s first, is scheduled to be built locally. Also, the shop inside the pavilion sells Saudi Arabian comics, which is also quite interesting.
The venue also features a popular event where there will be a line of services such as free distribution of Saudi coffee, dates, and lemonade, as well as a service where you can write both hiragana and Arabic letters on the spot, such as names. The content is also packed with experience content such as musical instrument performances, dance stages, and photo booths in tourist spots.
In addition, there will also be gifts such as parasols and camel origami (first 250 people each day who responded to the survey), making this generous project unique to Saudi Arabia. Visit the cool venue and experience the charm of Saudi Arabia’s culture and tourism, which most Japanese people have not visited yet.
The Arabian Wonders Exhibition will be held until July 16th. No reservations required. The location is at the Expo message “WASSE”, about a 5-minute walk from the Saudi Arabian Pavilion. The schedule is scheduled to be between 10am and 8pm.
Interviews, text, and photos by Ota Hiroko
