Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu, the Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture, and the cast of the musical "Princess Anio" greet Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

          On August 26, 2026, at the Prime Minister's Office in Japan, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu, Kanagawa Prefecture Governor Yuji Kuroiwa, former Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Takio Yamada, and Vietnamese and Japanese artists participating in the musical "Princess Anio" (アニオー姫) met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

          During the meeting, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed his delight at the flourishing development of Vietnam-Japan relations, particularly following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's official visit to Vietnam in May 2026. He affirmed the desire to vigorously promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges, thereby contributing to deepening the friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. Prime Minister Takaichi highly valued the significance of the musical, shared her impressions of the songs from "Princess Anio" performed during her recent visit to Vietnam, and expressed her hope that the production would further boost Vietnam-Japan relations.

          The musical "Princess Anio" was developed from the opera of the same name, which premiered in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan. It is based on a true story from over 400 years ago concerning the romance between the Vietnamese Princess Ngoc Hoa and the Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro. This story has become a vivid symbol of the long-standing history of exchange and the close friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

          The musical will hold its world premiere at the Kanagawa Arts Theatre (KAAT) in Yokohama City from September 12 to 27, 2026, featuring artists from both nations. Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu serves as the Honorary Advisor to the project, while Governor Kuroiwa Yuji serves as the Project Supervisor.