Hoi An-Japanese festival opens

(VNF) - Thousands of locals and tourists flocked to the ancient town of Hoi An to celebrate the 14^th annual Hoi An-Japan Cultural Festival on August 15^th.

The event is the biggest rendezvous for the Japanese community living in Hoi An and the central region, and a chance for people in Hoi An people to experience Japanese culture.

Addressing the event, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam, Fukada Hiroshi lauded the relationship between Vietnam and Japan as well as the relationship of Hoi An and Japan.

“Hoi An city is a typical symbol of the longtime relationship between Vietnam and Japan. The first Japanese businessmen came to Hoi An to boost trading and built the Japanese town 400 years ago,” Mr. Hiroshi said, adding that the Vietnam-Japan relationship is getting stronger.

The ambassador also said traditional Japanese culture including Kimono, Manga comics, Cosplay, has been welcomed by Vietnamese people.

Japanese artists from Nagasaki Province performed Dragon Dance (Source: Huu Trung/TTXVN)

Cultural performances, photo exhibitions, sports activities, fashion show and folk games took place on stages at the city’s rest-stop site in Bach Dang Street, the Sculpture Park, the Old Quarter and the Japanese Bridge.

Craftsmen from Sakai introduced their products at the Sculpture Park on the festival along with Japanese calligraphy training, Origami art and Vietnamese palm leaf folding.

For the first time, the wedding ceremony from the 17^th century between Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa, a Vietnamese lady and Araki Sotaro, a Japanese trader was recreated in Hoi An.

On Aug 16^th, another festival called “Lantern Festival – Filial Piety, Hoi An 2016” was held in An Hoi Statue Garden. Hoi An’s old quarter and the Hoai River were beautifully lit up by thousands of lanterns.

Hoi An Lantern Festival (Source: qlvb.hpnet.vn)

A parade towards An Hoi Statue Garden have celebrated the spirit of Vu Lan, a special occasion in Vietnamese tradition when young people show their gratitude and respect to their parents and deceased ancestors.

During the festival, a seminar on the restoration of the Japanese Bridge was held in the Hoai River Square.

The UNESCO-recognized world hesitate city also launched ‘Saying No to Meat Day’, the first of its kind, started on Aug 16^th at the city’s Sculpture Park.

The event asks locals and visitors to enjoy a day without meat, poultry and fish. It aims to encourage people to eat vegetarian food for better health, environment protection, as well as to raise the awareness of people on the links between eating habits and the global climate change./.

Minh Phuong ( hanoimoi.com.vn )