Discover Japanese culture in the seaside town.

For nearly four years, at 59 Le Thanh Phuong Street (Nha Trang City), a Japanese cultural space has been present, showcasing and promoting various traditional cultural and artistic forms characteristic of the Land of the Rising Sun. This is the Amy Cultural Exchange and Japanese Language Center – a place that always welcomes those who want to learn about Japanese culture.

View the art of tea ceremony.

Recently, having the opportunity to participate in a Vietnamese-Japanese cultural exchange event at the Amy Cultural Exchange and Japanese Language Center, we gained a deeper understanding of the art of tea ceremony in Japan. In a small, elegantly decorated room adorned with landscape paintings and familiar items such as paper fans, teapots, tea sets, and a fireplace, everyone gathered in silence to watch Mr. Tetsuya Sakai – the founding advisor of the Amy Cultural Exchange and Japanese Language Center – meticulously perform each step of the tea ceremony.

Mr. Tetsuya Sakai introduces the Japanese tea ceremony process.

Watching the tea ceremony process, we gained a deeper understanding of how the Japanese often use the four words "Harmony, Respect, Purity, and Tranquility" to express their hospitality. It embodies emotional harmony and mutual respect between the tea maker and the tea drinker; a serene and clean atmosphere during the tea-drinking session; and finally, a desire to rediscover the inherent beauty within each person and in nature. “I am delighted to introduce everyone to the art of tea ceremony in our country. This is a distinctive cultural feature that reflects the hospitality of the Japanese people. The true spirit of the tea ceremony is hospitality and welcoming guests,” shared Mr. Tetsuya Sakai.

A place to promote Japanese culture.

Mr. Tetsuya Sakai was formerly a lecturer at Waseda University (Japan). In 2011, he first set foot in Ho Chi Minh City at the invitation of a friend. At that time, he had the opportunity to visit a Japanese language school and saw many Vietnamese teenagers enthusiastically learning Japanese. This made a strong impression on him, and he wanted to do something to support young Vietnamese people in learning Japanese. In 2015, after completing his teaching work in Japan, he dedicated time to experiencing and learning more about Vietnam and its people, and decided to live in Vietnam permanently. After just one visit to the coastal city of Nha Trang, he chose it as his permanent residence. “I felt the natural beauty and warmth of the people here, so I thought it would be wonderful to build a Japanese language teaching center and introduce Japanese culture in Nha Trang. Therefore, in 2019, I established the Amy Japanese Language and Cultural Exchange Center. I sincerely hope that Vietnamese people can learn more about the unique aspects of Japanese culture,” Mr. Tetsuya Sakai shared.

Amy's Cultural Exchange and Japanese Language Center boasts modern facilities and teaching equipment, yet its classrooms are designed and decorated to reflect authentic Japanese culture. Students at the center learn Japanese, computer science, critical thinking math, robotics, painting, and more. Notably, the center also teaches young students about tea ceremony, calligraphy, origami, and Ikebana flower arrangement; singing, dancing, meditation, and storytelling; and guidance on wearing traditional Japanese clothing such as kimonos, yukata, and fundoshi. The center also regularly organizes cultural exchange clubs and events, exploring the unique characteristics that define Japan. The center's goal is to become a high-quality educational institution that fosters a love for the Japanese language and culture.

During this time, many places across Vietnam and within the province are organizing activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (September 21, 1973 - September 21, 2023). Through our visit and exploration of Japanese culture at the Amy Cultural Exchange and Japanese Language Center, we gained a deeper understanding of the friendship between the people of the two countries, as Mr. Tetsuya Sakai said: “I think that thanks to the joint efforts of every Vietnamese and Japanese citizen, the friendly relations between the two countries have made significant progress. I always believe that the good relationship between the two countries will continue to develop further.”

GIANG DINH

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