Mid-Autumn Festival 2022 in Hikone

“Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, My heart is light as a parade — I march with my lantern in hand.”

(From “The August Lantern Parade,” by NIp Trinh)

Anyone who has come to Japan and made it home knows how different the local Mid-Autumn customs are from ours back in Vietnam. That’s why, for Vietnamese living far from home, hosting a traditional Mid-Autumn Festival for our children carries deep meaning — not just preserving cultural heritage and bringing the community together, but also offering a quiet moment to reconnect with our own childhoods.

Today, members of the Vietnamese community in Hikone came together to host exactly that kind of festival for more than a dozen children of Vietnamese families living in the area. Colorful star lanterns, lively traditional games, and — of course — the indispensable traditional moon cakes were all there.

Speaking on behalf of the Vietnamese Association in Japan in Hikone, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuyen shared: “To get ready for today, we’ve been gathering all last week to make lanterns, wrap gifts, and design the program and games. A little tiring, sure, but seeing the kids so happy makes it all worth it. Next year’s Mid-Autumn will be even bigger and merrier — that’s a promise.”