"Princess Anio": A love story across the ocean about a Vietnamese princess marrying a Japanese man

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (1973 - 2023), Kim Dong Publishing House cooperated with KADOKAWA Group to produce the historical comic book Princess Anio .

The story tells about the love story across the ocean between Princess Ngoc Hoa - adopted daughter of Lord Sai Nguyen Phuc Nguyen and Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro.

In the early 17th century, Japan began to open up, allowing traders to go abroad, forming many Japanese neighborhoods in countries in the region.

At that time in Nagasaki, merchant Araki Sotaro - a samurai by birth - dreamed of sailing around the world. With a heart full of courage, Sotaro left Japan, leading a fleet of Indian ships to Hoi An (Vietnam) to trade.

Cover of the story "Princess Anio" (Photo: Kim Dong Publishing House).

During a trip, Princess Ngoc Hoa accidentally met a Japanese merchant. The two of them immediately felt like they had known each other for a long time, and were very much in tune with each other. After that, Sotaro decided to meet Lord Sai Nguyen Phuc Nguyen to ask for the hand of the girl he loved.

Sotaro swore to Lord Sai that he would definitely bring happiness to Ngoc Hoa, whether they were in the princess's hometown or when they returned to Japan. Admiring the young man's bravery, Lord Sai gave him the Vietnamese name Nguyen Thai Lang and nodded in agreement to marry his daughter to him.

After the wedding procession in Hoi An, Princess Ngoc Hoa and Araki Sotaro boarded a boat to Nagasaki (Japan) and held a grand wedding ceremony. To this day, the image of the couple's wedding ceremony is still recreated through the "Sacrifice Dance" in the Nagasaki Okunchi festival.

Whenever talking to her husband, Ngoc Hoa often called "Anh oi!". The people of Nagasaki mistook that call as "Anio", from then on, they affectionately called her "Anio".

The story is about the love story of Princess Ngoc Hoa and Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro (Photo: Kim Dong Publishing House).

This love story is still a source of inspiration for posterity: Every 7 years, in October, the scene of the procession welcoming the princess will be recreated in the scene of the Chau An boat at the Nagasaki Okunchi autumn festival in Nagasaki province (Japan), as a symbol of the strong diplomatic relationship between the two countries of Vietnam and Japan.

Princess Anio is a historical comic book that marks the combination of content by Japanese authors and illustrations by Vietnamese artists.

Through concise paintings and stories, Princess Anio demonstrates the good cultural exchange between the two countries, promoting the spirit of solidarity and mutual learning.

"The biggest challenge for the entire production team of Princess Anio was how to tell a compelling, intimate story based on historical sources that both countries still preserve about the lives of the princess and her husband.

The parties involved in the project have made efforts to bring a well-prepared product, suitable for readers of all ages, contributing to the treasure trove of stories about the nation's historical figures," said editor Princess Anio .

Source link: https://dantri.com.vn/van-hoa/cong-nu-anio-chuyen-tinh-vuot-dai-duong-ve-cong-nu-viet-lay-chong-nhat-20230914204443802.htm