The information was unveiled in a recent press conference jointly held by the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on May 19.

The story involves Araki Sotaro, a Red Seal ship trader who lived from the Azuchi Momoyama period to the Edo period. He traveled from Nagasaki to Dang Trong in central Vietnam, gaining the trust of King Nguyen Phuc Nguyen of Dang Trong and marrying his daughter, Princess Ngoc Hoa.

Sotaro brought Princess Ngoc Hoa to Nagasaki as his wife, with the princess becoming known to the people of Nagasaki as Anio-san, spending the rest of her life there. 

At the press conference, scriptwriter Oyama Daisuke said that with this opera he wished the audience to be able to feel that no matter how the times change, no matter where, people still live with a warm heart. 

"We want to create a work that will be handed down later, so it is extremely important to research historical evidence. We asked for help of both Vietnamese and Japanese historical consultants to build the most accurate and true story", said General Director Honna Tetsuji.

Director of the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Phuong Hoa affirmed that the opera Princess Anio is a cultural event of special significance.

Commemorating the 50th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the opera stands as a symbol of future diplomacy that taps into the ancient history of friendship and mutual respect between the two countries, she said.

The opera will draw the participation of the two countries’ artists including Dao To Loan and Bui Thi Trang of Vietnam, Kobori Yusuke and Yamamoto Kohei of Japan. They will sing in both Vietnamese and Japanese.

“Princess Anio” opera is also scheduled to be performed in Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hung Yen in the future.

Tinh Le