Concert Marks 50 Years of Vietnam-Japan Relations in Osaka

A special concert was held in Sakai city in the Japanese prefecture of Osaka on April 6 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan, as reported by VOV. The event was held to honor and celebrate the long-standing friendship between the two countries. People from all walks of life attended the concert to take part in the festivities and show their support for the ongoing relationship between Vietnam and Japan.

The Fenice Sakai Performing Arts Centre has been occupied by approximately 2,000 spectators watching Vietnamese and Japanese artists perform in the special concert. Photo: VOV

The Fenice Sakai Performing Arts Centre was filled to capacity with an audience of approximately 2,000 spectators as they witnessed an incredible show featuring Vietnamese and Japanese artists. The special concert provided an unforgettable experience for all in attendance.

The extraordinary event brought together renowned artists from the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra and the Osaka Symphony Orchestra. Notable was the presence of the conductor Honna Tetsuji, who has been with the Vietnam orchestra for years, and the celebrated violinist Bui Cong Duy. The program was truly remarkable.

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Pham Quang Hieu, warmly welcomed the two sides’ efforts in organizing this special and meaningful concert. He also expressed his gratitude for the presence of Japanese conductor Honna Tetsuji, violinist Bui Cong Duy, as well as the artists of the Vietnam and Osaka Symphony Orchestra.

He emphasized the importance of the concert, noting that it and other cultural events scheduled for the upcoming weeks will foster cultural exchange and strengthen the ties between the two countries.

The event brought together artists from the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra and the Osaka Symphony Orchestra. Notably, conductor Honna Tetsuji who has been with Vietnam for years, and famous violinist Bui Cong Duy also participated in the program. Photo: VNA

State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Takei Shunsuke, extended his congratulations to the successful completion of the concert, the first cultural event held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam. He remarked that bilateral relations between the two countries are currently at their best.

He declared that 2023 is an opportune moment to assess the progress of their partnership over the past five decades and to commit to building even stronger ties over the next 50 years.

The Fenice Sakai Performing Arts Centre was packed with an astonishing 2,000 spectators, all of whom were enthralled by the masterful compositions of Beethoven, such as his iconic Symphony No. 5 and Violin Concerto.

Conducting maestro Honna Tetsuji has professed that Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 5 and Violin Concerto are amongst his favorite pieces, which he has performed many times throughout his illustrious career. He expressed a desire to perform these pieces once more in Osaka, alongside Meritorious Artist Bui Cong Duy.

During his visit to Japan, Deputy Minister Pham Quang Hieu was warmly welcomed by the Mayor of Sakai city, as well as representatives of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association of Sakai city and the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association in Kansai region. He also had the chance to meet with representatives of various Vietnamese organizations in the region, such as the Vietnamese Association in the Kansai region, the Vietnamese Youth and Student Association in Osaka, and the Vietnam-Japan Trade Association.

At the meeting with Deputy Minister Pham Quang Hieu at the Sakai city headquarters, Nagafuji Hideki, the city’s mayor, said that Sakai has been fostering friendly and cooperative relations with a number of localities in Vietnam, such as Binh Dinh Province, Da Nang City, and Hoi An. He further affirmed that continuing to promote multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam is one of the city’s foreign policy priorities in the near future.

Deputy Minister Pham Quang Hieu greeted the Mayor of Sakai city.

Nagafuji highly lauded the part and dynamic efforts of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka. In response to Deputy Minister Hieu’s suggestion, Nagafuji declared that he would be attentive and form advantageous circumstances for the almost 4,000-strong Vietnamese community to live, study, and work in the city, making positive contributions towards advancing collaboration between Sakai and Vietnam in the foreseeable future.

Leaders of Japan-Vietnam friendship associations in the Kansai region have pledged to do their utmost to bolster cooperation between the two countries in the realms of investment, trade, cultural exchange, and local connection. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and Vietnam, these associations have worked in tandem with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka to organize a range of successful cultural exchange events.

At the meeting with representatives of Vietnamese Associations in the region, the Deputy Minister was briefed on the current situation and activities plan. Additionally, programs were proposed to foster connection and support for Vietnamese people in the region, as well as to enhance the cooperation between the Kansai region and various parts of Vietnam.