Hoai River in Hoi An (Photo: VNA) Hoi An (VNA) - The historic city of Hoi An will re-enact a 17thcentury wedding parade held for Princess Ngoc Hoa and Japanese businessmanAraki Sotaro in the old quarter as part of the 14th annual Hoi An-Japan CultureFestival from August 18-20.
The city’s Culture and Sports Centre said the parade marks therelationship between the Japanese community and Hoi An city 400 years ago whenJapanese traders docked at the busy trading port.
The homes built by many of these traders have been preserved.
Local residents preserve the tombs of Japanese traders who died inHoi An in the 17th century. The oldest was Tani Yajirobei’s, who was believedto have died in 1647, and his records include the oldest and clearestinformation related to his life, including a love affair with a local woman.
The love story reflected the close relationship between Japanesetraders and Hoi An residents during a wealthy period of the town’s history inthe early 17th century.
Japanese singers Min, Ueno Yuuka, One Asia Join Concert band, andthe Hanoi Sennen Yosakoi Dance team will perform at the festival along withlocal folk art troupes.
Vietnamese and Japanese participants will demonstrate cosplays andmartial arts performances of karate, judo, Vietnamese traditional Vovinam,while craftsmen will offer visitors traditional Yukata try-ons, origami (paperfolding) and local lantern making.
Artist Nguyen Quoc Dung will display his photo collection at the city’sSculpture Park on the Hoai River bank, while French photographer Rehahn willdisplay his photos from his trans-Vietnam field trips.
The city will also exhibit photos of the co-operation between HoiAn and Japan in the last two decades.-VNA
VNA
