Vibrant 9th Vietnamese Cultural Festival in Japan
WVR - On April 19, at Ikuno Park, Osaka (Japan), the 9th Vietnamese Cultural Festival in Japan took place in a solemn, vibrant, and emotional atmosphere, attracting a large number of the Vietnamese community, international friends, and representatives from agencies and organizations of both countries.
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| Delegates take a commemorative photo at the event. (Source: Vietnamese Association in Kansai) |
This annual cultural event holds special significance, organized on the Vietnamese Ethnic Groups' Cultural Day (April 19), as an occasion to honor the diverse cultural identity of 54 ethnic groups, affirming the strength of national unity and the cultural roots of Vietnam.
Continuously maintained since 2018 under the auspices of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka, over the years, the festival has not only become a familiar cultural rendezvous for the Vietnamese community in the Kansai region but also one of the prominent activities in cultural diplomacy, contributing to promoting the image of Vietnam and its people to the world.
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| Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Nguyen Truong Son presents commemorative medals from the Organizing Committee to accompanying units. (Source: Vietnamese Association in Kansai) |
Attending the program were Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Nguyen Truong Son; Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Kansai Le Thuong; Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Trinh Mai Phuong; Vice Chairman of the Osaka Prefectural Council Kida Kaoru, along with representatives from Hyogo Prefecture, Izumisano City, and Okayama City. The Mayor of Higashiosaka City, where the festival was held, also sent a congratulatory letter to the Association.
Additionally, the event saw the participation of numerous delegates, businesses, associations, and the Vietnamese community in Japan, as well as Japanese friendship associations and Japanese parliamentarians.
The artistic program was organized on a large scale with the participation of many famous artists such as People's Artist Thanh Hoa, singer Thi Phuong, singer Leu Phuong Anh, along with 32 community singers and music groups, offering unique performances that harmoniously blend traditional and modern music, creating a colorful cultural space rich in identity.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Nguyen Truong Son highly appreciated the significance of the event, affirming that activities like the Vietnamese Cultural Festival play an important role in strengthening the great unity of the Vietnamese community abroad, promoting the country's image, and fostering comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Japan for sustainable development.
Le Thuong, Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Kansai and Head of the Organizing Committee, emphasized that culture is the bond that connects the community, serving as a sustainable spiritual foundation that helps Vietnamese people abroad preserve their identity and stay connected to their roots.
Therefore, the festival is not only a gathering place for traditional cultural values but also a bridge that contributes to promoting people-to-people exchanges and strengthening Vietnam-Japan friendship relations in the context of deep integration.
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| Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Nguyen Truong Son speaks at the event. (Source: Vietnamese Association in Kansai) |
For his part, Saito Naoki, Mayor of Ikuno, shared that the Vietnamese community in Ikuno is currently the largest in Osaka.
He also expressed his desire to build this place into a harmonious environment where many countries and cultures can coexist; at the same time, he acknowledged and appreciated the efforts of the Vietnamese Association in Kansai in organizing cultural activities.
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| The performance of the Vietnamese National Anthem at the festival. (Source: Vietnamese Association in Kansai) |
One of the most special and emotional highlights of the program was the performance of the Vietnamese National Anthem, when many generations of Vietnamese in Japan – from elders, workers, students to children – stepped onto the stage, joining in the sacred song.
The image of hundreds of people singing the National Anthem abroad not only demonstrates national pride but also serves as a profound testament to the spirit of unity, attachment, and love for the homeland that always resides in every overseas Vietnamese.
Additionally, the program made a strong impression with the performance of traditional costumes of Vietnamese ethnic groups, recreating a diverse cultural picture, vibrant in color, contributing to introducing the richness and identity of Vietnamese culture to international friends.
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| Reenactment of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony in Japan. (Source: Vietnamese Association in Kansai) |
Notably, the most profound highlight of the festival was the reenactment of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony – a sacred ritual associated with the roots of the Vietnamese nation.
In a solemn space, the ceremonial procession was meticulously organized with a lion dance – drum troupe leading, followed by the ceremonial team in traditional costumes, along with the participation of delegations, artists, community, and associations. The sound of the drum resounded majestically like the heartbeat of history, reminiscent of the era of the Hung Kings' nation-building.
The incense offering ceremony was conducted solemnly under the guidance of a Monk, with the participation of delegations in turn: the Consulate General, the Organizing Committee, representatives of Japanese local authorities, parliamentarians, artists, and associations. Each incense stick offered not only expresses reverence and gratitude to the Hung Kings but also symbolizes the continuation of tradition, affirming the spirit of "When drinking water, remember its source" of the Vietnamese nation.
The reenactment of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony in Japan holds particularly profound significance, not only as a cultural and spiritual activity but also as evidence of the enduring vitality of Vietnamese culture within the overseas Vietnamese community. Wherever they are, the roots of the nation always reside in the hearts of every Vietnamese.
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| The reenactment of the Hung Kings' Commemoration Ceremony, the most profound highlight of the festival. (Source: Vietnamese Association in Kansai) |
Beyond artistic performances, the festival also serves as a space for community cultural exchange, where Vietnamese and international friends have the opportunity to meet, share, and learn about Vietnamese culture, cuisine, and people, thereby enhancing understanding and connection between cultures.
The 9th Vietnamese Cultural Festival in Japan concluded successfully, leaving a deep impression on the attendees. The success of the event once again affirms the role of culture as a "soft power" in diplomacy, while also demonstrating the growth, unity, and active integration of the Vietnamese community in Japan.
In the journey of international integration, events like the Vietnamese Cultural Festival in Japan serve as sustainable bridges, contributing to the increasingly strong dissemination of Vietnam's image on the international stage.
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| This annual cultural event holds special significance, organized on the Vietnamese Ethnic Groups' Cultural Day (April 19). (Source: Vietnamese Association in Kansai) |
Some images from the event:
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