Summer 2022 Meetup

The second inter-generational meetup evening, hosted by the Vietnamese Association in Japan at the Vietnam Garden restaurant on Shinjuku Street in Tokyo on Sunday, July 17, 2022, ended on a warm note of community camaraderie. The larger-than-usual turnout of Japanese guests showed that interest in the Association’s community work continues to grow.

A graceful conical-hat dance to “Hello Vietnam,” performed by two female students in white áo dài, drew every eye in the room before the two MCs declared the evening open in both Vietnamese and Japanese.

In his opening remarks, the Vice President emphasized the importance of meeting and exchanging stories to strengthen the bonds among people who share the same ancestral roots, the same experience of living far from home, and a heart that is always turned toward the homeland. As the COVID pandemic eases, in-person meetups — where we can shake hands and meet face-to-face — will resume more frequently to deepen community solidarity. The report that followed from the head of the Association’s Welfare division covered the past year’s activities in full and previewed what’s coming. The standout was the five rounds of emergency relief delivered to less fortunate compatriots across Japan during the pandemic. The Phan Bội Châu Japanese-Language School — set up to support JLPT prep and to help compatriots who want to advance — also made an impression, with figures showing clear growth in both quantity and quality of teaching and outcomes.

This meetup also gave the Association the chance to present a heartfelt bouquet to Mr. OGAWA Masashi, former Secretary-General of the Foundation for the Welfare and Education of the Asian People, in thanks for the precious support he had given the Association over many consecutive years. Through his bittersweet farewell remarks, everyone could feel the deep partnership and warmth he had shared with Association members throughout his term. The somber farewell mood lifted quickly as the room prepared to raise a glass with Mr. KAWAUE Junichi, former Consul General of Japan in Saigon (2017–2020). In flawless Vietnamese, and now in his new role as Secretary-General of the Foundation for the Welfare and Education of the Asian People, he offered warm wishes to everyone, ending with a hearty “MỘT, HAI, BA — DÔ!” — and the evening was soon awash in laughter and cheer. With his diplomatic experience, his years of Vietnam studies, and his deep network, Mr. KAWAUE will be a trusted friend and a steady pillar of support for the Association’s work in particular and for Vietnamese community life in general.

After the toast, the room hushed to enjoy the spread of traditional Vietnamese dishes designed and prepared by Ms. Gia Cát — a daughter of the land of the Hương river and the Ngự mountain (Hue) — whose Bún Bò Huế, judged the best in Japan, truly captured the hearts of Japanese and Vietnamese diners alike. The musical program that followed left a lingering impression: singer Anh Đức delivered a steady, deeply lyrical performance. Though it was his first appearance on the Association’s stage, this gifted young singer left a beautiful mark — a fitting promise for the lively meetup activities the Association is now planning.

And our greatest affection goes to the figures sweating it out in the kitchen and behind the stage. Without those “all-for-one and one-for-all” hands, the meetup could never have come to life. Each person’s quiet effort was a note in the warm symphony of the evening.

Finally, thank you to all our distinguished guests and to every compatriot who came to share in the warmth of being Vietnamese together.

​Association reporters’ quick notes.