Vietnamese in Nagasaki pay tribute to Princess Ngoc Hoa, strengthening the bridge of friendship
WVR - The Vietnamese community in Nagasaki, Japan, recently organized a visit, cleanup, and incense offering at the tomb of Princess Ngoc Hoa. The program not only embodies the principle of “drinking water, remember the source” but also helps spread historical and cultural values that connect the two nations.
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On June 7, the Vietnamese Association in Nagasaki, in collaboration with the Nagasaki-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Vietnamese Youth-Student Association in Nagasaki, organized a program to clean and care for the grounds and tomb of Princess Ngoc Hoa in Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan.
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| Volunteers plant flowers and clean the area around Princess Ngoc Hoa's tomb in Nagasaki. (Photo: VNA) |
The event saw the participation of numerous volunteers, including Vietnamese living, studying, and working in Nagasaki, along with members of the Nagasaki-Vietnam Friendship Association.
The volunteers worked together to clean the tomb area, plant flowers, beautify the landscape, and organize an incense offering ceremony to express gratitude to the ancestors who played a special role in the history of Vietnam-Japan exchanges.
According to historical records, Princess Ngoc Hoa was the daughter of Lord Nguyen Phuc Nguyen. In the early 17th century, she married Japanese merchant and samurai Araki Sotaro amid the bustling trade between Hoi An and Japan. In 1620, she moved with her husband to Nagasaki, where she remained attached to her second homeland until the end of her life.
In Japan, Princess Ngoc Hoa was beloved by the locals for her beauty, virtue, and gentle nature. It is said that she often called her husband "Anh oi" in Vietnamese, leading the Japanese to affectionately refer to her as Princess Anio or Anio-san.
The love story of Princess Ngoc Hoa and Araki Sotaro has become a beautiful symbol of cultural exchange, friendship, and the long-standing connection between the two nations.
To this day, the image of Princess Anio is reenacted in the famous Nagasaki Kunchi festival through a parade scene associated with the Châu Ấn ships that once connected Japan with Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.
Her love story has also inspired many artworks, notably the opera "Princess Anio," staged to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations.
According to the organizers, this year's memorial activities not only help preserve valuable historical and cultural values but also provide an opportunity for the Vietnamese community in Nagasaki and southwestern Japan to enhance exchanges and connections, build a united and developing community, and continue to nurture the friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and Japan.
