The festival with the theme “Pray for Japan” aims to promote the spirit of solidarity and mutual love between Vietnam and Japan, including fundraising activities to support victims affected by the earthquake.
On April 6, the Vietnam Festival with the theme "Pray for Japan" opened at Ikebukuro Park, Tokyo.
This is the second time the Vietnam festival has been held at Ikebukuro Park, one of the busiest areas that attracts a large number of young people.
Attending the opening ceremony were Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu, Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Komura Masahiro, former Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo, and many Vietnamese and Japanese friends.
In his opening speech, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu emphasized that the Vietnam-Japan relationship has witnessed rapid, remarkable and comprehensive development. In particular, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the world.
The Ambassador expressed his belief that this is a solid foundation for Vietnam and Japan to continue building a closer, more trusting relationship in the face of rapid changes on a regional and global scale.
According to Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu, in the context of close cooperation, when the Vietnamese community in Japan has become increasingly large; the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan always supports cultural exchange activities such as the Vietnam Festival; is a bridge contributing to spreading Vietnamese culture in Japan and enhancing people-to-people exchange.
The Ambassador said that the Vietnam Festival is an opportunity for Vietnamese people in Japan and many Japanese friends to exchange, enjoy delicious Vietnamese dishes and feel more clearly about the increasingly close relationship between Vietnam and Japan.
In the context of the recent major earthquake in Ishikawa, Japan on New Year's Day, the Organizing Committee decided to choose the theme "Pray for Japan" for the Festival event to promote the spirit of solidarity and mutual love between Vietnam and Japan, in which fundraising activities to support victims affected by the earthquake in Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture will be a highlight of the Festival.
Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed his deep sympathy for the losses suffered by the victims in Ishikawa in general and the Vietnamese community in Ishikawa Prefecture in particular due to the consequences of the earthquake and tsunami. He also believed that the Vietnamese community in Ishikawa in particular and throughout Japan in general would promote the spirit of solidarity, make efforts, and strive together to soon overcome difficulties, overcome the consequences of the earthquake, and stabilize their lives.
Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang also expressed her joy and honor to attend the Vietnam Festival in Ikebukuro.
The festival’s theme is “Pray for Japan” to promote the spirit of solidarity and mutual love between Vietnam and Japan. Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang said that the event is an opportunity for people of the two countries to unite, share the joys and sorrows, and give each other motivation and strength.
Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang highly appreciated the efforts of the Vietnamese community in Japan in recent times, not only uniting, supporting, and loving each other, but also supporting local people, especially in difficult circumstances such as the recent earthquake, praising the Vietnamese representative agencies in Japan for always accompanying, supporting, and gathering the Vietnamese community.
Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Komura Masahiro also expressed his congratulations on the opening of the "Ikebukuro Vietnam Festival 2024".
He expressed his hope that Vietnamese festivals will be held in many localities in Japan and said that the fact that Vietnamese festivals are becoming more and more popular in Japan is a sign that more and more Japanese people are interested in Vietnam.
The Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister believes that through cultural exchanges through festivals, the friendly relationship between Japan and Vietnam will develop further in the next 50 years.
He also expressed his love for Vietnam's rich culinary culture and hoped that Japanese people would enjoy the flavors of Vietnamese cuisine at this festival.
The festival has 17 booths from famous Vietnamese dishes such as pho, banh mi... to specialty fruits imported from Vietnam.
The Festival Organizing Committee also invited the most beloved singers and artists in Vietnam, such as singer Erik and singer Giana, to perform and interact with Vietnamese and Japanese singers and artists.
The Ikebukuro Vietnam Festival 2024 will take place on April 6-7, expected to attract about 80,000 visitors.
This festival will open a series of Vietnamese festivals in Japan in 2024, notably the largest Vietnamese Festival in Japan taking place at Yoyogi Park and the Vietnamese Festival in Osaka.
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