Acting President receives Japanese grand tea master

Hanoi (VNA) – Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh hosted a reception for the 15th Grand Master of the Urasenke Tea School of Japan Daisosho Sen Genshitsu in Hanoi on October 16.

At the meeting, Thinh highlighted the long-standing ties between Vietnam and Japan in history, culture and trade.

In the 15th century, the trade port of Hoi An in Vietnam’s central province of Quang Nam welcomed the first Japanese merchant ships and the Japanese street in Hoi An was a major trade centre connecting Japan with other countries in Southeast Asia, she said. 

She applauded Daisosho’s activities to promote the Japanese tea ceremony to the world and Vietnam in particular, and his contributions to cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Japan.

The Acting President expressed her hope that the cooperation between the two countries will develop fruitfully on the basis of cultural similarities.

For his part, Daisosho expressed his admiration for achievements Vietnam has recorded over the past time, saying his visit aims to promote the Japanese tea ceremony to Vietnamese fans, thus enhancing cultural understanding between the two countries.

The guest said he hopes that apart from economic cooperation, Vietnam and Japan will step up the exchange of culture, including the Japanese tea ceremony in the time ahead.

Urasenke is one of the main schools of the Japanese tea ceremony. It is one of the san-Senke (three Sen houses/families), along with Omotesenke and Mushakōjisenke. -VNA