Vietnam’s President Reunites with Japanese Host Families; Thuong visited Akita, Miyazaki Prefs on Exchange Program
15:40 JST, November 29, 2023
Long before he became the president of Vietnam, Vo Van Thuong visited Japan on an exchange program. On his current visit to Japan, Thuong, 52, invited his former host families and others from Akita and Miyazaki prefectures to a breakfast meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday, to renew old friendships.
Thuong stayed in Miyazaki in 1997 and Akita in 2011, for about a week each time, as a participant in a Japanese Foreign Ministry exchange program aimed at promoting understanding between Japan and Vietnam.
He said he was impressed by the cultural experiences he had in the two prefectures, such as farming and folk songs. “My [host] father taught me how to walk on snow and [host] mother taught me how to cook Japanese food,” Thuong recalled.
Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam, Thuong said, “Grassroots exchanges and exchanges between young people [in the two countries] are extremely important.”
Ikuko Sato, 68, who runs a farmhouse guesthouse in Senboku, Akita Prefecture, said: “I was thrilled to see him back as such an admirable person. I’d like to continue to accept young Vietnamese people when they come to Japan.”
"World" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
-
UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’
-
Search Continues for Missing People After 72-Hour Window Ends in Quake-Hit Taiwan; Weather Complicating Rescue Efforts
-
Former U.S. Pacific Command Head Touts Alliance; Harris Sees China, World Through ‘Dark Lens’
-
Air Raid Sirens, Explosions Rock Southern Israel in Iranian Attack; Guests Seek Refuge in Hotel Shelter
JN ACCESS RANKING
- M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
- UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’