On the third day of the 17th Aalmi Urdu Conference Jashan-e-Karachi, organized by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, a captivating session titled “Japan Urdu ki Zarkheiz Zameen” was held. Moderated by Khurram Sohail, the session featured Professor Ken Saku Mamiya, a distinguished Japanese scholar, linguist, and professor, as the chief guest.
Professor Ken Saku Mamiya shared his personal journey of arriving in Pakistan four decades ago as a student, eventually deciding to make the country his home. He completed his M.Phil. at Sindh University and expressed a deep affection for Sindh and Karachi, emphasizing his attachment to the city and his belief that Karachi’s conditions never deter him. He encourages his students to visit Pakistan, especially Karachi, despite the challenges the city may face. During the session, Professor Ken discussed the similarities between the Urdu and Japanese languages, particularly in terms of their emphasis on grammar.
He mentioned the growing interest among Japanese students in learning Urdu, despite the challenges posed by reading and writing Urdu in the Japanese script. Professor Ken also shared his personal admiration for Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s qawwali music and revealed his fondness for Nargisi Kofta and Hyderabadi Rabri, which he considers his favorite dishes. Expressing concern about the younger Japanese generation’s disconnect from literature, he noted that several Urdu novels have been translated into Japanese to foster interest in reading among the youth. Moreover, Professor Ken is actively working to bridge cultural gaps between Pakistan and Japan by promoting Pakistani films and theater in Japan.
