Creativity and international integration through the event “Hội An - Japan Cultural Exchange”

The Hội An - Japan Cultural Exchange was organized 19 times. This year, it was even more significant since it marked the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (1973 - 2023). From August 4 to 6, interesting activities and cultural experiences with practical meanings for locals and tourists to deeply absorb the cultures of the two countries were held by the city government in Hội An ancient town and An Hội sculpture garden.

This year's programs were considered to have many novelties and creativity in addition to annual activities such as Japanese calligraphy, art exchange programs, and the re-enactment of the wedding procession of Princess Ngọc Hoa and Japanese merchant - Araki Sotaro. A number of new attractive programs including Ikebana flower arrangement, unique and new art performances, the wood carving exhibition “Hội An ancient trading port”, the lacquer painting exhibition by artist Saeko Ando,… were held by Hội An city, the Consulate General of Japan in Đà Nẵng, and Japanese units and localities. On the opening night, an excerpt from the famous Opera “Princess Anio”, which was inspired by the true love story of Princess Ngọc Hoa and Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro from Nagasaki prefecture five hundred years ago, was performed.

In general, programs featured creative values. Every brushstroke and sculpture was created with love and passion by artists. The focus was on creative works on the background of nature and the people of Hội An, for example, artist Lê Ngọc Thuận's driftwood exhibition “Hội An ancient trading port” and Japanese artist Saeko Ando's lacquer painting exhibition “MICROCOSMOS x MACROCOSMOS - Hoi An, Where I live between two cosmoses”.

Hội An children had a meaningful morning at the Japanese Covered Bridge area thanks to paintings with a strong message connecting the friendship between Vietnam and Japan. Each brushstroke was imbued with cultural and creative values. In Hội An, it can be said that creativity is always developed, invested, and focused on future generations.

Stage art performances on the opening night or art exchange programs are a delicately integrated new exploration and discovery. How should each performance be altered to keep viewers interested and avoid boredom? To achieve so, it requires a team of professionals who are knowledgeable about culture and good at art; as well as a smooth, harmonious and unifying combination of traditional and contemporary elements that are essential key factors in program scenarios. Based on diverse folklore and culture with many outstanding elements, today's post-birth class has inherited, preserved and invested in development to bring Hội An's folk art to take root in people's lives and expand to the outside.

In the process of becoming a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Hội An has chosen the field of Crafts and Folk Art, which has a long-standing foundation and the most outstanding strengths. Hopefully, on this momentum, Hội An will further develop traditional art forms, and revive the everlasting values that predecessors created during their arduous creative journey.

Through the annual Hội An - Japan Cultural Exchange, the international exchange factor is the basis for the culture of Hội An in particular and Quảng Nam - Vietnam in general to become a flow in human culture, where Hội An culture always has the opportunity for adaptation and creativity.

Hội An Center for Culture, Sports, Radio and Television