“Vietnam Is My First Love”

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According to information from Vietnam National University Hanoi, Professor Furuta Motoo stated: “I have remained very faithful to my first love for the past half century. It can be said that I am a foreign scientist ‘Made in Vietnam.’”

His lecture, titled “My more than 50-year journey in Vietnamese studies: From the past to the future,” was delivered entirely in Vietnamese. Reflecting on his academic journey, he noted a clear shift in Vietnamese studies in Japan - from reliance on indirect sources to approaches grounded in the Vietnamese language, fieldwork, and engagement with social realities. He shared that he once approached Vietnam as a “center” for understanding the world, but after living there for an extended period, he realized the need to view Vietnam both within its international context and through its own distinctive characteristics.

Professor Furuta Motoo, Rector of the Vietnam Japan University and President of the Japan–Vietnam Friendship Association, delivers remarks at the appreciation ceremony. (Photo: Vietnam National University Hanoi)

One key argument he emphasized was the “strength from below” - the flexibility, adaptability, and grassroots initiatives that have contributed to the vitality of Vietnamese society, particularly during the difficult post-war period and the formation of the Doi Moi reform policy.

His research on the 1945 famine, employing field survey methods, also stands as a significant contribution. The work helped clarify the severity of the famine while enhancing historical understanding between Vietnam and Japan.

Professor Furuta Motoo graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tokyo in 1974 and obtained his doctorate in 1990. In 2016, he came to Vietnam to serve as Rector of Vietnam Japan University, becoming the first foreign rector of a member institution under Vietnam National University Hanoi. He has contributed to building a model of internationally collaborative higher education, expanding partnership networks, and promoting academic exchanges as well as scholarship opportunities for students.

At the appreciation ceremony, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Bao Son, Vice President of Vietnam National University Hanoi, remarked that the lecture was a meaningful synthesis of a long journey of dedicated research and enduring contributions to science and education.

“One lecture may come to an end, and a term of office may be completed, but the values and lasting impressions forged from the dedication of a teacher, a scientist, and a rector will continue to spread, inspiring future generations of administrators, lecturers, and students,” he said.

Ito Naoki, Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam, noted that from the very early days of the university’s establishment, Professor Furuta Motoo devoted his full commitment to laying its foundations, gradually expanding academic programs, and enhancing both the quality and international standing of the institution.

On this occasion, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Bao Son presented Professor Furuta Motoo with the commemorative medal “For the Development of Vietnam National University Hanoi”. (Photo: Vietnam National University Hanoi)

Professor Dr. Vu Minh Giang, Chairman of the Scientific and Training Council of Vietnam National University Hanoi, observed that Professor Furuta Motoo is a distinguished scholar whose contributions span three key areas: academia, education, and academic diplomacy. He has played a pivotal role in advancing Vietnamese studies in Japan, while also connecting major universities across the region and helping position Vietnam at the center of East Asia’s academic cooperation network.

In addition to his research, Professor Furuta Motoo has taught directly in Vietnamese and published numerous works, including the book “Vietnam - A perspective from Japan” (2025). He has repeatedly donated royalties and prize money to fund student scholarships. Notably, last year, after receiving the Bao Son Prize, he contributed VND 1 billion to the university’s scholarship fund.

According to the Vietnam News Agency, his contributions have been recognized with several prestigious honors, including the State Prize for Science and Technology (2012), the Friendship Order (2013), the Bao Son Prize (2024), and a Certificate of Merit from the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam (2025).

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