Discover Japanese culture in the coastal city

For nearly 4 years now, at 59 Le Thanh Phuong (Nha Trang City), there has been a Japanese cultural space with activities introducing and promoting some traditional cultural and artistic forms typical of the land of the rising sun. That is the Amy Japanese Language and Cultural Exchange Center - a place that always opens its doors to welcome those who want to learn about Japanese culture.

See the art of tea ceremony

Recently, having the opportunity to participate in a Vietnam - Japan cultural exchange activity held at Amy Cultural and Japanese Language Exchange Center, we learned more about the art of enjoying tea ceremony of the Japanese people. In a small room elegantly decorated with landscape paintings, familiar objects such as: paper fans, kettles, tea pots, stoves..., everyone gathered together, silently to watch Mr. Tetsuya Sakai - advisor to the establishment of Amy Cultural and Japanese Language Exchange Center perform each meticulous step in the art of tea ceremony.

Mr. Tetsuya Sakai introduces the process of enjoying tea ceremony of Japanese people.

Watching the process of the tea ceremony, we understood more about the Japanese people's use of the four words "Harmony - Respect - Purity - Tranquility" to express the spirit of hospitality. There, there is emotional harmony, respect between the tea maker and the tea drinker for each other; the pure, clean atmosphere while enjoying tea; and finally the desire to find the beauty inherent in each person, as well as in nature. "I am very happy to introduce everyone to the art of enjoying tea in our country. This is a unique cultural feature that shows the hospitality of the Japanese people. The true spirit of tea ceremony is hospitality and welcoming guests," Mr. Tetsuya Sakai shared.

A place to promote Japanese culture

Mr. Tetsuya Sakai used to be 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 children enthusiastically learning Japanese. That made a strong impression on him and he wanted to do something to support young Vietnamese people learning Japanese. In 2015, after completing his teaching job in Japan, he spent time experiencing and learning more about the country and people of Vietnam and decided to live permanently in Vietnam. After only one visit to the coastal city of Nha Trang, he chose this as his destination. “I felt the natural beauty and warmth of the people here, so I thought it would be great to build a facility to teach Japanese and introduce Japanese culture in Nha Trang. Therefore, in 2019, I built the Amy Japanese Language and Cultural Exchange Center. I really hope that Vietnamese friends can understand more unique features of Japanese culture,” Mr. Tetsuya Sakai shared.

Amy Japanese Language and Cultural Exchange Center has modern facilities and teaching equipment, but the classrooms are designed and decorated to reflect the characteristics of Japanese culture. The center's students learn Japanese, information technology, mental math, robot assembly, painting, etc. In particular, the center also teaches young students about tea ceremony, calligraphy, origami, Ikebana flower arrangement; singing, dancing, meditation, storytelling skills; instructions on wearing traditional Japanese costumes, such as: Kimono, yukata, fundoshi, etc. The center also regularly organizes cultural exchange clubs, events, and explores the unique features that make up the brand of Japan. The desire of those working at the center is to turn this place into a high-qualityeducational address, arousing a love of Japanese language and culture.

During this time, many places in Vietnam and the province are organizing activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (September 21, 1973 - September 21, 2023). Through the visit and learning about Japanese culture at the Amy Center for Cultural Exchange and Japanese Language, we understand more about 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 person, the friendship between the two countries has developed. I always believe that the good relationship between the two countries will develop more and more".

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