Connecting polices and citizens through music: Vibrant World Police Music Festival in Hanoi
WVR - From August 9 to 10, the 2025 World Police Music Festival in Hanoi features nine music bands and a drum troupe from seven countries, including Russia, Japan, China, Laos, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, and host country Vietnam.
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| Participating bands at the 2025 World Police Music Festival. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
The idea for the World Police Music Festival was initiated by Tsuneda Teruo, then a reporter for Mainichi's Social Affairs section, with the aim of “connecting police and citizens worldwide through music, thereby contributing to the prevention of international crime and ensuring societal peace and safety”.
Vietnam's Active Participation
At that time, Tsuneda sought sponsorship from Japanese businesses and in 1996, collaborated with the National Police Agency and Tokyo Metropolitan Police to establish the organizing committee for the World Police Music Festival.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security's Police Band participated in the festival in 2008 (13th edition in Tokyo, Japan), 2012 (17th edition in Tokyo), 2013 (18th edition in Jakarta, Indonesia), 2016 (21st edition in Tokyo), and 2017 (22nd edition in Yangon, Myanmar).
In 2011, Vietnam hosted the World Police Music Festival in Hanoi for the first time, featuring police bands from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security, New York City Police, Seoul Police, and Tokyo Police. The bands paraded around Hoan Kiem Lake and performed indoor concerts at the Opera House.
Subsequently, in 2015, Vietnam again hosted the festival in Ho Chi Minh City, with police bands from New York City Police, Singapore Police, Tokyo Police, and Osaka Prefecture Police. The bands paraded along Nguyen Hue and Dong Khoi streets and performed indoor concerts at Hoa Binh Theater.
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| Japanese traditional music group AUN J performing at the 2025 World Police Music Festival. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
Artists on the frontline of justice
This year, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day, the 80th anniversary of the Vietnamese People's Public Security Force, and the 20th anniversary of the National Day for Homeland Security, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Japan Health and Safety Association co-organized the 2025 World Police Music Festival in Hanoi.
This year's festival features nine music bands and a drum troupe from seven countries: Russia, Japan, China, Laos, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, and host Vietnam. This significant event enhances cultural and artistic exchange and mutual understanding of the countries and people, as well as the development of the Vietnamese People's Public Security Force with law enforcement agencies worldwide. It is also an opportunity to promote Vietnam's image to international friends, showcasing Vietnam's readiness to be a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community.
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| The concert program held within the framework of the 2025 World Police Music Festival. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
Parading and performing around Hoan Kiem Lake, the bands deliver impressive performances, showcasing the image, spirit, and strength of each country's law enforcement, leaving a lasting impression on tourists and Vietnamese citizens about these artists on the frontline of justice.
The event features the Tokyo Police Band, established in 1948 to serve as a musical bridge between the citizens of the capital and the police. The Tokyo Police Band regularly organizes performances across Japan and participates in traffic safety and crime prevention classes at elementary and secondary schools.
Within the framework of the 2025 World Police Music Festival, a vibrant concert program also takes place with the participation of the Japanese traditional music group AUN J, aiming to promote traditional Japanese instruments under the motto “simple, straightforward, and wonderful”. AUN J has performed in many places in Japan and countries worldwide, such as France, Italy, and China, to introduce the beauty of Japanese culture through music. The core members of the group are twin brothers Kohei and Ryohei, former Cultural Ambassadors of Japan.
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| The 2025 World Police Music Festival took place at Hoan Kiem Lak eon August 9, 2025. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
The group's performances at the concert are impressive, featuring melodies like Satsuki Bayashi, known as the “May Festival Music”, a traditional Japanese tune often played at festivals, including drums, flutes, and other traditional instruments. Another highlight is Sohran Bushi, a famous traditional Japanese folk song originating from Hokkaido, reflecting the culture of Japanese fishermen, especially in herring fishing activities.
Thus, the tradition of the World Police Music Festival over nearly 30 years has become a beautiful connection between police and citizens worldwide through the language of music; it is an opportunity for law enforcement agencies to exchange, learn, share experiences, and explore.
