30 Years of Bringing Japan Closer to Hanoi Through Culture and Friendship

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Dao Viet Long, President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Hanoi. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Speaking at the ceremony, President of the Association Dao Viet Long noted that in 1995, as Vietnam entered a period of deep international integration, the Association was founded with three chapters and about 50 members. After 30 years of operation, the Association has grown into 25 chapters with over 500 members, bringing together intellectuals, businesses, students, and Japanese friends. It has become a trusted bridge for people-to-people relations between the two countries, making a positive contribution to deepening Vietnam-Japan cooperation.

Entering a new stage, as Vietnam and Japan have upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Association will continue to innovate in both content and approach, closely connecting the two communities and upholding its role as a reliable bridge in people-to-people diplomacy. With the motto of proactivity, creativity, effectiveness, and sustainability, Dao Viet Long expressed confidence that the Association will achieve even greater success, further nurturing the Vietnam-Japan friendship and advancing toward a future of shared prosperity between the two nations.

A Yosakoi dance performance at the event. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Nguyen Ngoc Ky, President of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Nguyen Ngoc Ky, President of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations, affirmed that Vietnam-Japan relations are currently at their best stage in history, especially since being elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023. He highly appreciated the Association’s efforts and creativity in leveraging collective strength to bring Japanese culture closer to the people of the capital, while also promoting the image of Vietnam and its people to Japanese friends.

The Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations expressed its hope that the Association will continue to build upon its achievements, with a particular focus on communication, membership development, especially among young members, and active participation in activities organized by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations, the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association at the central level, and the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam.

Kanikawa Wakana, First Secretary, Head of the Press and Culture Section, Embassy of Japan in Vietnam. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to Kanikawa Wakana, First Secretary and Head of the Press and Culture Section of the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are expanding in both scale and depth. Currently, about 620,000 Vietnamese are living in Japan, making it the second-largest foreign community there, while nearly 20,000 Japanese are living and working in Vietnam. In 2024 alone, Vietnam welcomed more than 710,000 Japanese tourists, a clear demonstration of the growing strength of people-to-people bonds between the two nations.

Kanikawa Wakana commended the Association’s activities over the past 30 years, which have spanned diverse fields such as economics, culture, education, and science and technology. Many programs have been closely tied to community life, such as planting and caring for cherry blossoms, promoting Japanese culture through Haiku poetry and Shogi, and strengthening connections with numerous Japanese localities. She expressed her belief that this increasingly profound exchange will continue to further consolidate and develop the friendship between the two countries in the future.

Individuals who made significant contributions to the Association’s activities received certificates of merit at the ceremony. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

At the event, Tran The Chung, President of the Vietnam Shogi Club, a chapter under the Hanoi Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association, also recognized as a branch of the Japan Shogi Federation, shared that the club was founded in 2021 and currently has about 70 members, mostly young people passionate about Shogi in Hanoi and across the country.

“We came to Shogi through Japanese cultural works such as films and manga. This is a very popular board game in Japan, sharing common roots with chess and Vietnam’s Chinese chess, but it carries a unique feature: the ‘piece-drop rule,’ which allows players to reuse captured pieces from their opponents. This rule stems from Japanese history and the fighting spirit of the Samurai, giving Shogi a distinctive character compared with other forms of chess,” Trung said.

Tran The Trung (far right), President of the Vietnam Shogi Club, is guiding young people in learning about Shogi at the program. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to him, the greatest wish of the club’s members is to serve as a cultural bridge, contributing to nurturing the friendship between Vietnam and Japan.

“Today, many young Vietnamese are passionate about Japanese culture and aspire to study, work in Japan, and contribute to bilateral friendship. However, the activities of young people sometimes do not reach a wide audience, especially among the older generations. We hope that with the companionship and support of the Association, cultural initiatives led by young people will gain greater visibility and spread more strongly within the community,” Trung shared.

Ikebana flower arrangement experience at the program. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Launching Vietnam Trade Promotion and Product Showcase Center in Osaka (Japan) In Osaka, Japan, the Vietnam Trade Promotion and Product Showcase Center in Japan (Vietnam House) has just been inaugurated.

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