A reenactment of the 17th-century wedding procession held for Vietnamese Princess Ngọc Hoa and Japanese businessman Araki Sotaro takes place in the Old Quarter of Hội An during the Hội An-Japan Cultural Exchange Day. Photo courtesy of Hội An City's Information & Sports Centre

HỘI AN — Hội An will host the annual 19th Hội An-Japan Cultural Exchange on August 4-6 in cooperation with the Japanese Consulate General, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Việt Nam.

The city’s Information and Culture Centre said art performances and exhibitions including the Anison musical show, cosplay events, and flower arrangement will be staged at the An Hội Sculpture Park, the Old Quarter and on the Hoài River banks from morning till night at the two-day event.

The Japanese Bridge is one of the most visited sites in Hội An. The bridge is under restoration taken by Japanese and Vietnamese experts. VNS Photo Công Thành

It said the Old Quarter will host the reenactment of a 17th-century wedding procession held for Vietnamese Princess Ngọc Hoa and Japanese businessman Araki Sotaro – the major focus of the event – at 4pm on August 5.

Historians and cultural experts said the parade also marks the introduction of the relationship between the Japanese community and Hội An 400 years ago when Japanese traders settled lives at the busy port town, making it their second home.

Local boat teams and tourists will race on the Hoài River, while an art exchange and paintings for kids will take place at the park and the Japanese bridge space.

A food court will be opened at the An Hội Sculpture Park where locals and visitors can try local and Japanese cuisine from restaurants in Hội An and Đà Nẵng.

A schoolgirl paints in a street of Hội An. A painting contest will be held for kids on the Hội An-Japan Cultural Exchange Day. VNS Photo Công Thành

Local Lê Ngọc Thuận will host a wooden sculpture show on the ancient port, while Japanese expat Ami Yasugahira will introduce the Tempera Art exhibition at 106 Bạch Đằng Street from 9am to 9pm on August 6.

A lacquer painting exhibition entitled Microcosmos x Macrocosmos-Hội An by Japanese artist Saeko Ando will be open at the Vietnamese Japanese Culture Space at 6 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai from July 25 to August 27.

A Japanese calligraphy event will be taken at 39 Nguyễn Thái Học Street.

The ancient town will offer tours of Japanese old traces for international and Vietnamese tourists to explore the old Japanese quarter and three tombs of Japanese people from previous centuries.

Genta Miyagawa, a Japanese man living in Hội An, introduces a symbol of the Samurai at his restaurant Samurai Kichen. VNS Photo Công Thành

Local people in Hội An have preserved three tombs of Japanese traders who died in Hội An in the 17th century in Cẩm Châu Commune.

Tani Yajirobei is believed to have died in 1647, and his records include the oldest and clearest information related to his life, including a love affair with a local woman. His tomb is one of the most spots among Japanese visitors.

A woman visits an ancient tomb of a Japanese businessman in Cẩm Châu Commune of Hội An. The three oldest Japanese tombs have been preserved by local people in the town for centuries. VNS Photo Công Thành

In a previous event, Hội An appointed Japanese pop singer Ueno Yuuka as the Goodwill Ambassador for the 16th Hội An-Japan Cultural Exchange.

Japanese experts have been working with the Vietnamese on a restoration project for the Japanese Bridge.

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