Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa tonight opened a parallel Japanese exhibition themed: “Contemporary Architecture: 1996-2006”. The event is being held at the Bahrain National Museum in cooperation with the Bahrain Embassy. Japanese Ambassador Shigeki Sumi, his wife Tomoko Shigeki and charge affaires Kohi Akyami attended the ceremony. Shaikha Mai expressed her delight at showcasing the experiences of prominent Japanese architects. She also hailed the participation of Bahrain University engineers as well as prominent and pioneering laureates of international awards. A group of prominent architects and urban planners staged a presentation featuring major Japanese cities and landmark buildings, including Hiroaki Ohtani, Casa Akira, Hiro Yamashita and Atelier Tokauto. Scheduled to run until February17, the exhibition opens from 8 am until 8 pm.