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

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

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

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

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

Tradition: Japanese artists perform the Japanese Dragon dance and Heaven dog dance at the 14th annual Hội An-Japan Cultural Festival yesterday. — VNS Photo Thanh Hường

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

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

Japanese businessmen stayed in Hội 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 Hội An residents during a wealthy period of the town in the early 17th century.

Dazzling: Lanterns are lit in the old quarter of Hội An in celebration of Hội An-Japan Cultural Festival. — VNS Photo Công Thành

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