Ancient town’s art troupe to join exchange in Osaka

The show Hội An Memories staged in Hội An City. The ancient town's art troupe will perform in Sakai, Osaka, Japan during the Việt Nam Festival on April 28. Photo courtesy of Nguyễn Xuân Hà

HỘI AN — Art troupe from the ancient town will be participating in the Việt Nam Festival Day in Sakai, Osaka, in Japan on April 28, featuring traditional art performances, crafts demonstrations, culture and tourism promotions.

The Hội An City Culture and Sports Centre said artists and craftsmen and women will stage folk songs and games, hand-made lantern, carpentry and pottery demonstrations for Japanese visitors at Fenise Sacay, or Sakai Performing Arts Centre in Sakai.

It said Hội An City’s Art Troupe will put on a concert with traditional instruments and Bài Chòi (a half game and half theatre performance), a UNESCO-recognised world intangible cultural heritage, and lantern display.

The event will be an opportunity for Hội An to introduce its tourism and culture in exchange with Japanese partners.

Trần Ánh, party secretary of Hội An City, presents a gift to representative of Sakai City, Osaka, Japan in a visit in Japan. Hội An City will join the Việt Nam Festival in Japan in Osaka on April 27-28. Photo courtesy of Hội An City's Culture and Sports Centre

UNESCO world heritage site Hội An with host the annual Hội An-Japan Cultural Exchange with different cultural and arts exchanges with Japanese art troupes and Japanese culture displays.

The town often hosts the reenactment of a 17th-century wedding procession held for Vietnamese Princess Ngọc Hoa and Japanese businessman Araki Sotaro in an annual event.

The reenactment of the 17th-century wedding procession held for Vietnamese Princess Ngọc Hoa and Japanese businessman Araki Sotaro at the annual Hội An-Japan Culture Exchange event. VNS Photo Công Thành

The wedding event marks the introduction of the relationship between the Japanese community and Hội An 400 years ago when Japanese traders settled at the busy port town, making it their second home.

A stone stela with ancient Japanese script is still preserved on Phan Chu Trinh Street in Hội An. Experts have been seeking the original stela marking the relationship between Hội An and Japan. VNS Photo Công Thành

Residents in Hội An have still preserved three tombs of Japanese traders who died in Hội An in the 17th century in Cẩm Châu Commune.

Hội An also appointed Japanese pop singer Ueno Yuuka as the Goodwill Ambassador for the Hội An-Japan Cultural Exchange.

Two craftswomen make lanterns at a shop in Hội An. The ancient town will bring the craft demonstration to Sakai, Japan. Photo courtesy of Hội An City's Culture and Sports Centre

Japanese experts have been working with the Vietnamese on the restoration project for the Japanese Bridge. VNS