"Flower diplomacy" promotes Vietnam - Japan friendship

On April 3, 2025, the Vietnamese Embassy in Tokyo was honored to welcome Princess Takamado, Honorary President of Ikebana International, to attend the ceremony to celebrate the great success of the Ikebana International Fair 2024, an event chaired by Vietnam.

The highlight of the ceremony was the cherry blossom tree planting ceremony performed by Princess Takamado herself on the Embassy grounds. This special gift expressed the Princess's appreciation for the efforts and successes that the Vietnamese Embassy has achieved in organizing the Ikebana International Fair 2024 in December 2024.

The event was honored to have the participation of the Japanese Prime Minister's wife - Ms. Ishiba Yoshiko, the wife of the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan - Ms. Hayashi Yuko, the wife of the Japanese Foreign Minister - Ms. Iwaya Sakoto, along with many wives of Ambassadors from countries in Tokyo and more than 30 leading Ikebana artisans in Japan.

In March 2024, Ms. Thai Thu Hong, wife of the Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, was elected as the President of the Ikebana International Fair 2024, marking the first time in the organization's 68-year history that Vietnam has taken on a key role. The Ikebana Fair 2024 was a great success, introducing unique cultural features of Vietnam through puppet shows, traditional musical instrument performances, and booths imbued with national identity, leaving a deep impression on international friends.

At the ceremony, Princess Takamado highly appreciated the contributions of the Vietnamese Embassy in promoting culture and strengthening the friendship between the two countries. Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed his deep gratitude when the Princess planted a Japanese cherry blossom tree in the grounds of the Vietnamese Embassy, saying that this is a wonderful testament to the close friendship between Vietnam and Japan, a friendship through flowers. The Ambassador said that following the meaningful milestone of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan, the 2024 Ikebana Fair chaired by Vietnam is a valuable opportunity, contributing to promoting cultural exchange, people-to-people exchange and strengthening the friendship between the two countries. On this occasion, the Embassy also introduced a unique Vietnamese flower performance art: 3D flower carving on jelly. Artist Tran Phuong Nga from Vietnam demonstrated and guided the guests, including Princess Takamado, to experience making 3D jelly and enjoy this refreshing dish.

The ceremony ended in a cozy atmosphere with a Vietnamese tea party, bringing the typical flavors of lotus tea, custard apple tea, cinnamon tea and traditional cakes and jams such as phu the cake, lam tea, coconut jam, apricot jam, etc.

The event "diplomacy through flowers" contributed to strengthening the friendship and cultural understanding between Vietnam, Japan and countries around the world, while conveying the message of peace and appreciation of the beauty of nature.

Below are some pictures of the event: