The Japan Foundation will donate an Arabic-dubbed version of a popular Japanese soccer "anime" animated cartoon known as "Captain Tsubasa" to an Iraqi television station.
The program will be provided to Iraq Media Network by the foundation, with the cooperation of the ministry and Animation International Middle East, Foreign Ministry officials said Thursday.
As soccer is a popular sport in Iraq, the officials expressed hope the animation, known as "Captain Majed" in the Middle East, will encourage Iraqi children and give them an affinity for Japan.
All 52 episodes will be aired in most of Iraq, the officials said.
"Captain Tsubasa" tells the story of a young boy who dreams of becoming a pro soccer player and winning the World Cup. It was aired in Japan from 2001 to 2002.
Many professional Japanese soccer players say they were affected and encouraged by the story, whose original version was in comics, when they were kids.
The Japan Foundation previously donated the popular Japanese television drama "Oshin" to the same network.