Congressman Yoichiro: Many Japanese people agree that 'Vietnamese pho is very delicious'

Sharing with Tuoi Tre newspaper, Japanese parliamentarian Aoyagi Yoichiro commented that Vietnam has very famous dishes such as pho, banh mi, che..., of which pho is a dish known to many people.

Congressman Aoyagi Yoichiro enjoys pho at Pho Viet Nam restaurant, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City at noon on September 23 - Photo: QUANG DINH

Having loved pho since his "first encounter" with Vietnam 20 years ago, Japanese National Assembly Member Aoyagi Yoichiro's relationship with Vietnam has continued to grow through cultural exchange activities.

"Through events like this, our greatest wish is that Vietnamese and Japanese people understand each other's culture better and strengthen their good relationship even more," Congressman Aoyagi shared with Tuoi Tre while participating in the Japan Trend Festival cultural exchange event taking place in Ho Chi Minh City, of which he is the head of the organizing committee.

The key to economic growth

* You have made constant efforts to foster friendly relations between the two countries. What motivates you?

- The first time I came to Vietnam was to participate in the International Parliamentarians' Conference (IPU) in 2003. That was the first time I got to know Vietnam. My clear impression of the country was that it was very dynamic and had a lot of potential for development.

In the following years, we exchanged more ideas, not only cooperating in economics and politics but also initiating cultural exchange activities, starting with the Japan Festival in Vietnam and then the Vietnam Festival in Japan.

These events continue to take place every year. Interestingly, in recent years, there have been more and more Vietnamese people living in Japan, so we have had more events organized.

I think that building connections between the two countries systematically and regularly, including many cultural and sports events held annually like this is a useful connection channel. There, people know and come together to participate, learn about the cultures of the two nations, understand the similarities in thinking and mentality, and from such interests, connection events continue to open.

The Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 event (organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper) will probably also come to Japan in that flow.

Japanese Congressman Aoyagi Yoichiro: "Cuisine is the key to economic growth" - Photo: QUANG DINH

* You once said that Vietnamese football was mentioned in the Japanese parliament. So what role does cuisine, specifically pho, play in creating cultural connections?

- In activities such as tourism or events, the role of cuisine is very important. In recent years, the number of international tourists to Japan is very large, on average we welcome about 20 million visitors each year. One of the activities when coming here that every tourist wants to experience is Japanese culinary culture.

Therefore, the orientation of the Japanese Government and ministries and sectors all consider the culinary tourism economy as one of the economic development strategies. The Japanese Ministry of Economy has long oriented the export of Japanese cuisine to the whole world so that wherever tourists are, they can enjoy Japanese cuisine and culinary culture in a uniform way.

Vietnamese culinary culture is similar. Vietnam has very famous dishes such as pho, banh mi, che... I think Vietnam should also refer to Japan's way of orienting Vietnamese dishes to the world. Cuisine is the key to economic growth today.

I would also like to share that I am a fan of Vietnamese cuisine. And the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 in Japan organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper on October 7 and 8 is also one of the very valuable activities of Vietnamese cuisine going out to the world.

I think not only the political and economic relationship between the two countries but also the relationship between the two peoples needs to be further strengthened.

Representative Yoichiro Aoyagi

Price of Pho Thin Lo Duc in Tokyo in 2019 - Photo: NICK M

"I will go eat pho again"

* So how do you feel when the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 in Japan will take place right in Tokyo, Japan?

- In a busy year with activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Japan-Vietnam diplomacy, this is a very meaningful and interesting activity. In recent years, the number of Vietnamese people living in Japan has increased.

In economic relations, many Vietnamese enterprises cooperate and develop business in Japan and one of the popular models is Vietnamese restaurants in Japan. Among the Vietnamese dishes being served, perhaps pho is the most well-known dish.

Vietnamese pho is delicious and I love the variety of this dish, from beef pho, chicken pho and many other pho flavors. In the international culinary cultural exchange, pho is the representative dish that Vietnamese people introduce to Japanese people.

I am very pleased to know that this event is organized by Tuoi Tre newspaper in Tokyo on October 7 and 8. Let's join hands to make this cultural event a success.

I must confess that I really like pho. After this conversation, I will go eat pho again. Yesterday, I had the experience of eating Pho Thin. I don't know much about cuisine to be able to fully describe the deliciousness of pho. But in terms of personal taste, I find Pho Thin has a different taste compared to other pho flavors.

* Do you remember the first time you enjoyed Vietnamese pho?

- The first time I enjoyed pho was at the hotel breakfast buffet. My feeling at that time: oh this dish has delicious soup and is easy to eat. Of course pho in the hotel is not as good as pho in the pho shops outside, but I find Vietnamese pho very easy to eat.

And until now, I believe that not only me but many other Japanese people agree that "Vietnamese pho is very delicious".

* Vietnam is famous for pho. In the Japanese culinary treasure, there is also a soup that is very popular with diners around the world: ramen noodles. What do you think about the cultural similarities between these two dishes?

- I think Vietnamese pho and Japanese ramen have a lot of similarities. First of all, the use of chopsticks and other eating utensils. Next, both dishes are eaten with a lot of vegetables, which is very good for your health. Moreover, both dishes are soups and noodles, which are easy to eat and good for your health.

In addition, the Japanese often slurp ramen to show that they enjoy the food and that the dish is delicious. I wonder if Vietnamese people eat pho like that? It can be said that the two countries have very similar culinary cultures in terms of ingredients, utensils, preparation methods, and usage culture...

Personally, I really like to eat soup, so when I first learned about Pho, I immediately found it interesting and familiar. In particular, I can eat the coriander and other herbs in a bowl of Vietnamese Pho...

I would like to congratulate and see Vietnamese food lovers and pho lovers at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 on October 7 and 8.

The person who fosters the connection between Vietnamese and Japanese cultures

Congressman Yoichiro Aoyagi is co-chairman of the Vietnam Festival in Japan Executive Committee held in June 2023. Over the years, Congressman Yoichiro Aoyagi has worked tirelessly to foster the Vietnam-Japan friendship, including creating more opportunities for Vietnamese players to play football in Japan.

Of the 16 years that the Vietnam festival has been held in Japan, Mr. Aoyagi has participated in organizing it for 15 years. Through the Vietnam festival in Japan and the Japanese festival in Vietnam, Aoyagi said he feels that the cultural understanding between the two countries is getting better each year.

Tuoitre.vn