From opera to musical: “Princess Anio” recreates a Vietnamese-Japanese love story

After the resounding success of a series of performances in Vietnam and Japan, the opera “Princess Anio” - a major work commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (1973-2023) - has been adapted into a musical and will be performed in Japan in September next year.

According to a VNA reporter in Tokyo, at a press conference at the Vietnamese Embassy in Tokyo on November 5, the Executive Board of the “Princess Anio” Opera Project said that the Japanese version of the musical “Princess Anio” is expected to be performed for the first time at the KAAT Kanagawa Art Theater, bordering Tokyo, from September 11 to September 28, 2026 .

Director-in-chief Ohyama Daisuke answers questions from media agencies of the two countries. (Photo: Xuan Giao/VNA)

The romantic love story of Princess Ngoc Hoa from Dang Trong, Vietnam, and the merchant from Nagasaki, Japan, Araki Sotaro, is one of the beautiful symbols of the Vietnam-Japan relationship expressed in another art form, more intimate but no less splendid.

Regarding the idea of adapting the opera “Princess Anio” into a Japanese musical, Mr. Kuroiwa Yuji - Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture - said: “In the process of promoting exchanges and cooperation with Vietnam, we had the chance to meet the Princess Anio project. I was very moved when enjoying this work. However, opera is a high-class art form, with high barriers to the public. Personally, I love musicals and musicals are closer to the public. For that reason, we proposed adapting it into a musical. I believe that Princess Anio will be famous all over the world .”

For his part, Mr. Oyama Daisuke - director and producer of the musical "Princess Anio" - emphasized the musical harmony between the two countries and considered this an important foundation for the strong Vietnam-Japan friendship.

He shared: “Japan-Vietnam music exchange has a history dating back to about 400 years ago and further, when Vietnamese royal court music was introduced to Japan. The Anio Princess Opera, with its high symbolic value to Japan and Vietnam as well as to the world, is one of the activities to continue the friendship from ancient times and to keep this warm for the next 100 years, 200 years and beyond.”

At the press conference, the artists participating in the play sent messages to the public through the roles they played. Notably, singer Kurisu Oto also performed a song from the musical with piano accompaniment by artist Motohashi Tomoki.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Japan Pham Quang Hieu pledged that, as honorary advisor of the “Princess Anio” project, he will continue to support the project’s next activities and believes that the upcoming musical version will continue to spread the noble values of art, culture and Vietnam-Japan friendship to a wide audience of the two countries./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tu-opera-den-nhac-kich-cong-nu-anio-tai-hien-cau-chuyen-tinh-yeu-viet-nhat-post1075122.vnp