For more than 25 years, Isshin Chiba has been the voice behind one of gaming’s most recognisable figures. As Jin Kazama in the long-running Tekken franchise, the Japanese actor has given life to a character defined by conflict, strength and restraint.
Chiba will be in the UAE for the first FNDM Dubai, a pop culture festival bringing together fans of anime, gaming and film for two days on October 4 and 5. The event is organised by the team behind the long-running Middle East Film and Comic Con. Chiba will be joined by other celebrities including Makoto Tamura, the voice of the character King in the anime One Piece.
Speaking to The National ahead of his visit, Chiba reflects on the craft that has shaped his career.
Each role, he explains, begins with a careful study of who the character is meant to be. “Once I’ve studied the character’s visuals, I start working on reading any setting notes to absorb his background,” he says.
“If there aren’t materials, I sit with the script and look for clues. I go one by one carefully to figure out who this person is, where he has come from, and what experiences may have shaped him. From there I choose the direction for the performance, and we lock it in with the director during the session.”
This process has been particularly important for his most popular and beloved character, Jin, who Chiba has revisited for more than two decades. “Jin wrestles with pain and conflict every time I meet him,” he says. “When creating his voice, I’m always making sure not to form him as too mature or too cool or overly gruff. Jin has only aged a few years across the series, while I’ve aged many more. So, keeping his youth and tension alive is another thing to keep in mind.”
The global reach of Japanese games and anime means Chiba is acutely aware of the audiences beyond Japan listening in. His performances often serve as the master track before characters are dubbed into multiple languages. “There is a huge responsibility to deliver the character from my side,” he says. “I don’t want anyone to be disappointed, especially after listening to the dubbed voice and switching back to mine.”
Chiba has witnessed first-hand how international fandom has grown. He recalls an appearance at a convention in Shanghai, where organisers told him that most attendees could understand Japanese due to being exposed to media from the country for so long. “Roughly 70 per cent of the audience, they said, understood the language. That truly surprised me. What a great way to learn.”
The Middle East’s own community of anime and gaming fans has been expanding in recent years, with major conventions, esports tournaments and even Arabic-dubbed anime entering the market. Chiba sees this as part of a wider globalisation of Japanese entertainment, but he also stresses the importance of cultural sensitivity as new characters and stories emerge. “Respect for each country and its culture is absolutely essential,” he says.
Despite his many credits, which include popular anime such as Detective Conan and Cowboy Bebop, Chiba still has unrealised ambitions. Chief among them is voicing Date Masamune, the famed samurai warlord from his home region of Tohoku.
Known as the “one-eyed dragon”, Masamune was a formidable military leader who also looked beyond Japan’s borders, sending an embassy to Europe in the early 1600s. “For me, he’s not just a historical figure in a textbook,” Chiba says. “He’s deeply tied to the place I grew up. To give voice to such a figure, someone who embodies both the pride and the ambition of my home region, would be a real honour.”
Chiba says he is also open to international collaborations to “see where that journey leads”.
For fans in Dubai, meeting the man who has shaped gaming’s most enduring franchises will highlight not only Chiba’s enduring popularity, but also the growing place of Japanese popular culture in the UAE and wider Middle East.
FNDM Dubai will take place at Concourse Convention Centre at Dubai Outlet Mall on October 4 and 5. Tickets start at Dh65 for a day pass
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" charset="UTF-8" /></head><body><!--PSTYLE=* Labels%3aFH Label 18 Sport--><p>Beach soccer</p><!--PSTYLE=BY Byline--><p>Amith Passela</p><p /></body></html>
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
Secret Nation: The Hidden Armenians of Turkey
Avedis Hadjian, (IB Tauris)
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Scoreline:
Manchester City 1
Jesus 4'
Brighton 0
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
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.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Rashford 36')
Liverpool 1 (Lallana 84')
Man of the match: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Brief scores:
Barcelona 3
Pique 38', Messi 51 (pen), Suarez 82'
Rayo Vallecano 1
De Tomas Gomez 24'
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Company%20profile
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Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
List of alleged parties
- May 15 2020: Boris Johnson is said to have attended a Downing Street pizza party
- 27 Nov 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
- Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
- Dec 13 2020: Mr Johnson and his then-fiancee Carrie Symonds throw a flat party
- Dec 14 2020: Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative Party headquarters
- Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
- Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
