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Mist-shrouded rooms, enormous projection screens and a personal virtual guide – Japan’s pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai promises visitors an immersive experience that will leave them eager to visit the East Asian country.
Located in the Opportunity District, the pavilion was designed around the theme Where Ideas Meet in the hope that it will spark conversations on global issues.
I took my starting point from the similarities we can see between Middle Eastern and Japanese geometrical patterns
Nagayama Yuko,
Japanese pavilion architect
The structure covers an area of 5,161 square metres, with a three-dimensional facade design that combines traditional Arabesque and Japanese Asanoha patterns.
Most of the exterior is covered in Japanese origami shapes, which symbolises respect shown to other through Japanese art of origata gift-wrapping.
A water feature at the front of the building illustrates traditional Arabic and Japanese natural cooling techniques.
Nagayama Yuko, the architect of the pavilion, said she used one of the Expo’s themes – connecting – as inspiration behind the design.
"I conceived the theme of the architecture in particular as two types of connections: the cultural connection and the technological connection between Japan and the Middle East,” Ms Nagayama said.
“In terms of the cultural connection, I took my starting point from the similarities we can see between Middle Eastern and Japanese geometrical patterns, and explored this across a facade that is a new kind of geometrical 3D lattice serving as the structure and environmental filter.
“For the technological connection, I wanted to incorporate the element of water based on the water technology long utilised in the Middle East region.”
The National had a look at the inside the pavilion, before the official opening of the world fair on October 1.
The hour-long experience has five “scenes”, with each offering an immersive view of Japanese art and culture.
Personalised experience
At the start of the tour, visitors are given a smartphone that tracks their movement and serves as a personal narrator for their visit.
A wild flower, which represents Japanese hospitality and welcomes guests, is shown at the entrance.
The first scene takes visitors into a misty room with dim lighting, where enormous projections show Japan’s culture, including origami, cherry blossom season, anime characters and beautiful landscapes.
Ultrafine mist follows visitors into another dark room, where the second scene begins with projections that look back at Japan’s history and its transformation into a modern country.
Japan's story goes back more than 30,000 years, and it includes samurai warriors during medieval times, the Edo period when Japan invaded Korea, the Empire of Japan that started in 1868 and lasted until a democratic Japan was formed in 1947.
Miniature figurines
In the third scene, an exhibition of tiny figurines tell the story of Japan’s space exploration efforts, food and passion for anime.
However, a quirky take on the display made the show more creative, for instance, a “rocket” made out of corn – a common vegetable grown in Japan, a shuttlecock with a miniature astronaut figurine represented the Space Shuttle days and a spacecraft on an ice cream to illustrate a soft landing.
The fourth scene is another room with a projection screen that highlights global issues, such as poverty, climate crisis, unemployment and lack of education.
360° theatre
The last scene is the most immersive and involves a huge sphere that acts as a projection surface.
The walls around the entire room also show projections, with life-size anime characters that “run around” the room towards the end of the experience.
For the personalised experience, the smartphone chooses an avatar that best describes the visitors based on the displays they interacted with the most.
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
More coverage from the Future Forum
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Results
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
More coverage from the Future Forum
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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Read more from Mina Al-Oraibi
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
STAR%20WARS%20JEDI%3A%20SURVIVOR
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AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
What: Brazil v South Korea
When: Tonight, 5.30pm
Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
