The Vietnamese girl is Le Thi Hong Nga, working at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. The Japanese is Mr. Nakanishi Shougo, a member of the Tsuyama City International Friendship Association (Okayama Prefecture).
The man behind 1,000 copies of Don't Burn DVDs distributed for free across Japan
They first met in 2006, when Ms. Nga came to Japan on a youth exchange program organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). However, the stories about culture and education did not stop at the exchange trip. Mr. Nakanishi and the Tsuyama International Friendship Association wanted to provide more support to children in remote areas in Vietnam, and Ms. Nga was the bridge.
Since 2006, members from Tsuyama City have returned to Dak Lak and Dak Nong many times to conduct surveys to build schools and give warm clothes and school supplies to children.
 The image on the cover of the DVD Don't Burn, which Ms. Nga helped create and subtitle, is distributed for free in Japan. Photo by Thuy Hang |
In 2010, also on a trip to the Central Highlands, passing through Binh Phuoc , Ms. Nga told Mr. Nakanishi about the war in Vietnam. In that story, Dang Thuy Tram's Diary was mentioned by the Vietnamese girl, because she knew that the book had been translated into Japanese by Ms. Izumi 2 years ago. Throughout the 5 hours, touching stories about martyr Dang Thuy Tram, her life and the war were told by Ms. Nga. Mr. Nakanishi was moved: "I know Izumi, but I had no idea that she translated the diary so well. I must meet her, and after meeting her, I will immediately pick up the book."
A few days later, the plane landed in Japan, Mr. Nakanishi updated Ms. Nga, “I have called Izumi.” And so, two Japanese people, who only heard each other’s names and passed each other by chance, from the Japanese version of Dang Thuy Tram ’s Diary, began to connect more closely, and they gave each other books.
 Director Dang Nhat Minh and Ms. Nga during a screening of the movie Don't Burn , answering questions from Japanese audiences. PHOTO NVCC |
In 2011, both Ms. Izumi and Mr. Nakanishi returned to Vietnam. Ms. Nga took them to Quang Ngai to visit the remains of the former infirmary of martyr Dang Thuy Tram. The whole group also returned to Hanoi to visit the martyr's family. Ms. Nga still remembers the image of Dang Thuy Tram's mother, also named Tram, although old but very healthy and clear-minded. She hugged Ms. Izumi, hugged Ms. Nga and said, "My daughter has blessed me. I live two lives, one is mine, the other is to live the rest of my daughter's life."
The emotional trip made Mr. Nakanishi, Ms. Izumi and Ms. Nga realize that they needed to do something more, to spread Dr. Tram's story to more Japanese people.
Previously, in Japan, the film Don't Burn by director Dang Nhat Minh, based on the diary of Dang Thuy Tram, was shown at the Fukuoka Film Festival, and the audience was very moved. The film is being stored in the library, but "if so, it will be difficult for anyone to watch the film". They decided to ask permission from director Dang Nhat Minh and BHD Film Company to print many DVDs of Don't Burn, translate the subtitles themselves, and go all over Japan to distribute it for free and introduce this film.
 From right to left, Mr. Nakanishi, Ms. Izumi and director Dang Nhat Minh sitting together in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of NVCC |
In 2013, Ms. Izumi and Mr. Nakanishi came to Vietnam to work together to re-subtitle the film in Japanese.
Since 2013 until now, screenings of the movie Don't Burn have been held at many cultural centers and universities in Japan.
Director Dang Nhat Minh has since become a member of the Tsuyama City International Friendship Association. He went to Japan to interact with the film audience and was moved by the affection the Japanese people had for him. Ms. Izumi and Mr. Nakanishi once had a late middle-aged love that they both happily admitted was "thanks to Ms. Thuy Tram's silent support and matchmaking".
Vietnam - Japan Bridge
Ms. Le Thi Hong Nga (45 years old) graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics. Her relationship with Japan began in her third year of university, when she accidentally studied Japanese and fell in love with the Land of the Rising Sun more and more each day.
 Ms. Nga (2nd from left), followed by director Dang Nhat Minh and Mr. Nakanishi PHOTO NVCC |
As one of the first people to build the foundation for the Japanese Language Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Ms. Nga is currently in charge of the Vietnam - Japan Cultural and Educational Center, which helps students of this University have exchange and study activities in Japan as well as connecting students of the two countries closer together.
For more than ten years, every year, Ms. Nga has made several trips to Japan and welcomed dozens of Japanese student delegations to exchange in Vietnam. An indispensable gift for young Japanese people is the DVD of the movie Don't Burn .
 ..."peace does not come naturally, but is built and maintained by ourselves..." the back cover of the DVD reads. Photo by Thuy Hang |
Don’t Burn touches the hearts of all Japanese people, from the elderly to the young, and today’s student generations. Just like the Tsuyama City International Friendship Association wrote behind the DVD Don’t Burn that they have been showing for free throughout Japan: “…peace does not come naturally, but is built and maintained by ourselves. Of course, to achieve that, we always have to go through countless difficulties. The current peace, therefore, has even more noble value…”.
Don't Burn , through the story of Dr. Dang Thuy Tram, "contributes to connecting people with people, compassion and noble humanitarian spirit, creating opportunities for us to think about peace, about true human happiness"...
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/moi-nhan-duyen-phia-sau-cuon-nhat-ky-dang-thuy-tram-tieng-nhat-1851036218.htm
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