First Inter-Generational Meetup — Building Our Community

The NPO Vietnamese Association in Japan (the “Association”) is working hard on an important goal: to harmoniously connect the generations within our community, create an environment where younger members can easily contribute to the community’s growth, and gradually pass the torch from one generation to the next.

To get there, the Association is planning a series of inter-generational meetups — opportunities for younger members to better understand the aspirations of those who came before, and for older members to better understand the thinking and concerns of younger ones.

The first FIRST INTER-GENERATIONAL MEETUP — BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY took place in Tokyo on Sunday, November 14, 2021.

Because this was the inaugural meetup and somewhat experimental, the organizing committee (OC) limited invitations to first-generation compatriots — those who came to Japan and settled before and just after 1975.

Even though it was a Sunday — a day most would reserve for rest after a long working week — a number of compatriots came out to join us. In particular, some senior figures who came to Japan as students before 1975, some “boat people” who arrived after 1975, alongside children and grandchildren born and raised in Japan, and recently-arrived students, all traveled long distances to be there.

The meetup was structured in four parts: (1) Presenting the goals of the gathering; (2) Reflections from representatives of each generation; (3) A discussion of work to be done; and (4) A relaxed tea and chat session.

Across the generations, participants spoke openly about their thoughts and concerns: how to build a Vietnamese community that grows in harmony with Japanese society, and how to preserve and pass on traditional Vietnamese cultural values on this second home soil.

During the warm tea-and-chat segment, attendees and OC members gathered together over hot tea and slices of bánh da lợn (traditional sweet layered cake) — full of the sweet flavors of home — enjoyed an impromptu, self-produced little variety performance, and exchanged materials about Vietnamese cultural and historical heritage as well as resources for learning Japanese.

“Today’s meetup was wonderful: solemn yet fresh and joyful. The OC should keep organizing meetups like this. We’re confident the next one will draw even more compatriots…” — that’s how one of the participants put it.

These words are a great encouragement for the OC to keep working hard to make the next meetups even better.

The Association extends its sincere thanks to the compatriots who came, and to those who generously contributed to the Association’s operating fund.

We look forward to welcoming many more of you at our next meetups.

​Sincerely!