Cultural Connections Help Advance Vietnam-Japan Relations

          On the afternoon of May 24th in Tokyo, the Association of Vietnamese Traditional Arts and Culture in Japan (BETORAKU) organized the forum “Vietnam Cultural Bridge in Japan” with the theme “Proudly Working Together - Honoring Contributions”, in both in-person and online formats. Attending the event were the Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, Pham Quang Hieu, and his wife; Governor Kuroiwa Yuji; and many intellectuals and representatives of Vietnamese associations in Japan.

           Speaking at the forum, Governor Kuroiwa Yuji moved many by using Vietnamese to express his feelings for Vietnam and emphasized his desire to further promote friendly relations between the two countries. He stated that cultural exchange and community connection will continue to be an important foundation for the deeper and stronger development of Vietnam-Japan relations.

          Beyond being a cultural exchange event, the forum also served as a platform for frank discussions on issues facing the Vietnamese community in Japan, particularly the preservation of national identity, the conservation of the Vietnamese language for the younger generation, and the promotion of Vietnamese culture in the digital age. The program included thematic discussions on preserving Vietnamese culture, connecting community resources, and strengthening media cooperation.

          A highlight of the event was the awards ceremony for the “Storytelling with Children – Preserving the Vietnamese Language Today” competition, aimed at spreading love for the Vietnamese language to Vietnamese children living abroad. This activity was considered to have profound humanitarian significance, contributing to the preservation of the language and national cultural identity within the overseas Vietnamese community.

          Highly appreciating the forum's significance, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu emphasized that culture has long been a bond connecting the Vietnamese and Japanese people, and expressed confidence that cultural similarities and exchanges will continue to advance relations between the two countries in the future.

          On this occasion, BETORAKU also announced its operational strategy for the 2026-2027 period with many practical programs such as the 2nd “Patriotic Concert”, the Vietnam-Japan cultural music video project, the Mid-Autumn Festival & Vietnamese cuisine, and the “Spring in the Homeland” art program, contributing to strengthening the promotion of Vietnamese culture in Japan./.

Seminar on promoting the Vietnamese language

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu speaks at the event

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu and his wife present flowers to the delegates

Governor Kuroiwa Yuji speaks at the event

Cultural performance welcoming the forum "Bridge of Vietnamese Culture in Japan"