Vietnamese Traditional Culture and Arts Association Launched in Japan
	“Vietnamese Class” in Small House in Yamagata

The journey of discovering and loving Vietnamese

Hikaru Watanabe’s journey to Vietnamese began when, as a third-year Spanish major at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, he chose a second foreign language at school. At first, he thought he would just try it, but he gradually became captivated by the unique melody of Vietnamese and the friendliness of Vietnamese people.

In September 2024, Hikaru Watanabe applied to study abroad in Viet Nam for six months at the University of Languages and International Studies - Viet Nam National University, Hanoi (ULIS Vietnamese). During his first days in Hanoi, Hikaru struggled with the hỏi and ngã tones. But the warmth of teachers, friends, and simple street vendors at the corners of the city made him feel as if he were at home.

Hikaru Watanabe won First Prize in Group D, the category for students who studied in Viet Nam for more than six months, at the 19th Vietnamese Speech Contest in Japan.

At first, Hikaru Watanabe and friends from Korea, China, and other countries communicated in English, but gradually they switched to Vietnamese. “Even though my Vietnamese was limited, whenever I tried to express myself, everyone listened and helped. I realized that learning a language isn’t just about memorizing knowledge but also learning how to think, feel, and communicate,” he shared.

Throughout his time studying in Viet Nam, Hikaru Watanabe clearly felt the cultural differences: an open and comfortable atmosphere where people are ready to share. “In Vietnamese, just by saying ‘đã’, ‘đang’, or ‘sẽ’, listeners already know if you’re talking about the past, present, or future. What matters more is knowing how to convey emotion and use words flexibly,” he said.

Hikaru Watanabe recalls a simple but touching memory: “My friend and I often ate at a small restaurant near the school. One day, the owner asked, ‘You’re here today?’ I was really happy that she remembered me. That simple care helped me speak Vietnamese more naturally.”

Hikaru Watanabe learned how to make banh chung during his six-month study program at the University of Languages and International Studies - VNU Hanoi. (Photo: Pham Ly)

Success after a journey full of challenges

In February 2025, Hikaru Watanabe returned to Japan, continued his Spanish major, but never stopped improving his Vietnamese. In early November 2025, he entered the 19th Vietnamese Speech Contest in Japan and won First Prize in Group D - the group for students who had studied in Viet Nam for more than six months.

In his presentation, Hikaru talked about his journey to Vietnamese, his days in Hanoi, the friendly pho shop owner, the friendships in the classroom, and the greatest lesson: “Learning Vietnamese is not just memorizing grammar or vocabulary, but training flexible thinking, learning to feel warmth, and building genuine connections. Mistakes aren’t scary; what matters is daring to speak, daring to express, and daring to open your heart. Every stumble is a step toward understanding and sharing. For me, learning Vietnamese has been a challenging but joyful journey. Every tone, every smile, every moment of being heard and understood makes me love this language even more.”

Hikaru Watanabe and international students experienced Vietnamese cultural space at the University of Languages and International Studies. (Photo: Pham Ly)

For Hikaru Watanabe, he realized that Vietnamese becomes beautiful through the simplest things: morning street vendors’ calls, the smile of a seller, and the warm meaning embedded in everyday greetings. He speaks Vietnamese better each day not just thanks to books, but thanks to the people who opened their hearts and showed him the beauty of an emotionally rich language.

Hikaru Watanabe hopes that one day soon he will be able to speak Vietnamese really well, so that when he returns to Viet Nam he can meet his friends and talk to them with all the feelings from his heart. That desire also motivates him to continue spreading Vietnamese in his own way: sharing stories about Viet Nam with Japanese friends, incorporating Vietnamese into personal projects, and becoming a “small bridge” helping more Japanese people feel closer to the country he loves. For Hikaru, promoting Vietnamese is not something grand; it begins with sincere sharing, genuine experiences, and a simple love for a language that has changed his life.

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