Cherish every experience

Nguyen Thanh Phuong Vu once surprised many people because after graduating from university and having a stable job, he studied handicrafts at Waseda International Business College in Tokyo - Japan. Although choosing a difficult field, Vu was not discouraged because he clearly understood his desire: to love beauty, to appreciate cultural and artistic values. Vu chose Japan because of his inherent sympathy for this country as well as having recognized the practical value of previous cultural exchange programs. On the other hand, he really wanted to learn how to develop handicrafts in Japan - a place where modernity and antiquity intersect, with an effective strategy to preserve traditional identity.

Nguyen Thanh Phuong Vu (right cover) and teacher Baba at her solo exhibition

Through research, Vu knew that he needed to prepare for about a year to complete the application with a Japanese language requirement of at least N5 level. He worked and tried hard to learn Japanese. At the end of 2021, he arrived in the land of cherry blossoms, starting an interesting, albeit arduous, journey.

Handkerchiefs painted by Vu with wax

Vu's place of residence is Tanashi - South Tokyo, quite far from the center. After school, he works at a convenience store. Vu's favorite activity is discussing with teachers - a common activity at both the language school and the college he is attending. In addition to school, teachers often ask about life, especially the wishes of students. While at school, Vu expressed his desire to learn about kimono weaving and dyeing. The homeroom teacher happened to see an advertisement for kimono weaving experience at a store and immediately signed him up. The two of them went to see it together and got to try weaving a piece of fabric, which was an unforgettable memory for Vu. Mr. Tanaka - the manager of the store where Vu worked part-time - also helped Vu with many useful lessons and skills.

Painting by Vu on cotton fabric using the Yuzen method

From his experiences in the Land of the Rising Sun, Vu believes that understanding one's strengths and knowing how to create an environment to promote them will help each person integrate faster in new lands. In addition, giving yourself time is very important. "The integration and success process of each person is different, if forced, it will not bring results. Allow yourself to slow down a bit to observe, feel and move on" - Vu confided.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tran-quy-tung-trai-nghiem-196240817213900018.htm