The 400-year-old Vietnam-Japan love story returns to the musical stage

The opera "Princess Anio" was adapted into a musical, recreating the beautiful love story between a Vietnamese princess and a Japanese merchant from more than 400 years ago.

On the evening of November 14, in Hanoi , the Embassy of Japan held a ceremony to announce the musical project "Princess Anio" and introduce the Vietnamese artist chosen to play the role of Princess Anio.

Artist Do Phan Gia Han (student of Vietnam National Academy of Music), an excellent candidate who passed all selection rounds, performed the musical's theme song live.

The announcement ceremony was attended by Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu; Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki; Mr. Furukawa Naomasa, representative of the musical project “Princess Anio”; Project Supervisor Kuroiwa Yuji; Mr. Honna Tetsuji, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Advisor of the project and individuals and partner businesses collaborating in the project.

Mr. Furukawa Naomasa, representative of the “Princess Anio” Musical Project, gave the opening speech at the event. (Photo: Doan Ngan)

“Princess Anio” is a story that symbolizes the exchange between Vietnam and Japan during the period of the Goryeo-in-the-Shogun trade – the trading ship that connected Nagasaki and Hoi An in the 17th century. The story tells the love story between Princess Ngoc Hoa (later Princess Anio) and Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro.

In his opening speech, Mr. Furukawa Naomasa, representative of the “Princess Anio” Musical Project, emphasized that the work was built on historical documents of the two countries, recreating the story of friendship and equality in trade between Hoi An (Vietnam) and Nagasaki (Japan) about 400 years ago, along with emotional slices of friendship and love between the people of the two countries.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki hopes that the musical “Princess Anio” will spread to many generations of Vietnamese and Japanese people, deepening the relationship between the two countries.” (Photo: Doan Ngan)

At the announcement ceremony, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki sent his congratulations to artist Do Phan Gia Han, who was chosen to play Princess Anio through casting sessions.

Mr. Naoki said that the story of “Princess Anio” is still reenacted in the traditional Nagasaki Kunchi festival and has become a profound part of Japanese culture.

The Ambassador expressed his belief that the adaptation from opera to musical will open up opportunities for the work to reach a wider audience in Japan. He also hoped that “Princess Anio” will be retold through many generations of Vietnamese and Japanese people, becoming a bridge connecting the two peoples more closely.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu affirmed that the musical project “Princess Anio” has a profound meaning, beyond the framework of an artistic event. The love story of Princess Anio and businessman Araki Sotaro is considered a symbol of traditional friendship, a valuable cultural bridge between the two countries of Vietnam and Japan.

Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu highly appreciated the musical “Princess Anio”. (Photo: Doan Ngan)

Permanent Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu especially praised the spirit of international cooperation and the talent of the artists, headed by Music Director Honna Tetsuji, who worked hard to create a quality work of art.

Through the musical, the Deputy Minister hopes that the project will be widely received by the public, touching the hearts of the Japanese and Vietnamese people, contributing to deepening the affection and attachment between the people of the two countries.

Mr. Kuroiwa Yuji, Project Supervisor of the musical “Princess Anio”, said he was truly moved that the love story from 400 years ago still receives sympathy from the public today. Also because of his special affection for Vietnam and the desire to spread the story to a wider audience, he decided to adapt the work from an academic play into a more familiar and accessible musical form.

Mr. Kuroiwa Yuji, Project Supervisor of the musical “Princess Anio”, is one of the people who realized the dream of bringing the play closer to the audience. (Photo: Doan Ngan)

At the end of the ceremony, delegates and guests raised their glasses to wish the performance a great success, contributing to further strengthening the Vietnam-Japan friendship.

Artist Do Phan Gia Han "treated guests" with the song "Nostalgic Night Listening to the Sound of the Monochord", cleverly expressing his longing for his hometown Hoi An. The performance received many compliments.

The musical is scheduled to premiere at the Kanagawa Prefectural Arts Theater in September 2026, and artist Do Phan Gia Han will make her stage debut as Princess Anio.

Guests attending the announcement ceremony of the musical project "Princess Anio". (Photo: Doan Ngan)

The musical is based on the opera "Princess Anio", released on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan in 2023, telling a true love story from 400 years ago between Princess Ngoc Hoa of Vietnam and Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro during the Red Seal Ship period (Edo period) in the early 17th century.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/cuoc-tinh-viet-nhat-400-nam-tro-lai-tren-san-khau-nhac-kich-334406.html