Thousands of locals and tourists flocked to the ancient town of Hoi An to celebrate the 14th annual Hoi An-Japan Cultural Festival yesterday.

The event is the biggest rendezvous for the Japanese community living in Hoi An and the central region, and a chance for people in Hoi An people to experience Japanese culture.

Addressing the event, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam, Fukada Hiroshi lauded the relationship between Vietnam and Japan as well as the relationship of Hội An and Japan.

“I’m so proud that the Hoi An-Japan Cultural Festival was built up from the 400-year-old relationship of the two countries,” said Hiroshi.

“Hoi An city is a typical symbol of the long time relationship between Vietnam and Japan. The first Japanese businessmen came to Hoi An to boost trading and built the Japanese town 400 years ago,” he said, adding that the Vietnam-Japan relationship is getting stronger.

The ambassador also said traditional Japanese culture including Kimono, Manga comics, Cosplay, has been welcomed by Vietnamese people.

Cultural performances, photo exhibitions, sports activities, fashion show and folk games will take place on stages at the city’s rest-stop site in Bach Dang Street, the Sculpture Park, the Old Quarter and the Japanese Bridge.

Craftsmen from Sakai will introduce their products at the Sculpture Park on the festival along with Japanese calligraphy training, Origami art and Vietnamese palm leaf folding.

During the festival, a seminar on the restoration of the Japanese Bridge will be held in the Hoai River Square.

Local residents preserve the ancient tombs of Japanese traders who died in Hoi An in the 17th century.

Japanese businessmen stayed in Hoi An over 400 years ago when the port town was a busy trading centre.

The oldest Japanese tomb was Tani Yajirobei’s, who is believed to have died in 1647, and his records include the oldest and clearest information related to his life, including a love affair with a local woman.

The love story revealed the close relationship between Japanese traders and Hoi An residents during a wealthy period of the town in the early 17th century.

The UNESCO-recognised world hesitate city will also launch ‘Saying No to Meat Day’, aiming to encourage people to eat vegetarian food for better health at the city’s Sculpture Park today.

Vegetarian food stalls will be set up in the park for visitors on that day.

People from the central region traditionally eat vegetarian meals on the first and the 15th day of the lunar month.  

VNS