Relations between Vietnam and Japan have come a long way since the twocountries established diplomatic relations in 1973, let alone a centuryago.
Today, Japan is one of Vietnam’s largestinvestors with hundreds of thousands of enterprises operating all overthe country in sectors ranging from electronics to the apparel industry.
Travel between the two countries has becomesignificantly easier with numerous flight options connecting Hanoi andHo Chi Minh City to cities in Japan.
The firstaffiliations between two countries, however, can be traced back to over acentury ago when the world was caught in the throes of imperialism andcolonialism.
At the outset of the 20th century,with aspirations to save the Vietnamese nation from slavery, prominentintellectuals at the time felt that significant reform was the only wayto turn the tide.
Phan Boi Chau, pioneer ofVietnamese 20th century nationalism, formed a revolutionary organisationcalled Duy Tan (Reformation Society) with the aim of ‘restoring Vietnamand forming an independent government.’
Chauand his Reformation Society sought assistance from Japan, a nation withsimilar culture and close proximity, well on its way to becoming aprosperous country. The Society agreed to send Chau to Japan to ask fortheir help in fighting against French colonialists.
Initially Japan agreed to help by training human resources, so Chauand his comrades called for young Vietnamese to study in Japan. It soonevolved into a large social movement, called Dong Du, or Travel East forStudy.
Just as the movement was gainingstrength with 200 intellectuals studying in Japan, France signed aTreaty with Japan, forcing the group to disperse.
Professor Chuong Thau, who has studied Chau for more than 50 years,said despite its relatively short four-year duration, the Dong Dumovement is widely considered the greatest achievement in therevolutionary career of Phan Boi Chau and his Reformation Society.
“The movement trained new revolutionary personnel, fostering highenthusiasm and remarkable endurance. They always strove to learn forprogress,” Thau said.
“The movement alsorepresented a historical landmark for the relationship between Japan andVietnam, treasured in the pre-modern history between the twocountries,” Thau added.
According to Thau, Chau was Vietnam’s greatest reform-minded revolutionary in the early 20th century.
“Phan Boi Chau advocated for the establishment of ‘a new Vietnam’, hewas the first to look out to the high sea with Pacific Ocean vision,the first to entertain thoughts of an international coalition to savethe country from colonial powers,” said Thau.
According to Dao Tien Thi from the Educational Publishing House, theDong Du movement not only ignited a patriotic flame and the will to gainindependence but also contributed to changing the course of Vietnamesehistory in many aspects, especially by inspiring a shift in people’sthinking.
“The movement helped rid of dogmaticthinking, changing instead to focus on reality, integrating the countryinto the regional community and the world at large. It also stimulatedthe transition from monarchist thought to democracy,” said Thi.
“Culturally, this was Vietnam’s first non-Chinese cultural contact,” Thi added.-VNA
Today, Japan is one of Vietnam’s largestinvestors with hundreds of thousands of enterprises operating all overthe country in sectors ranging from electronics to the apparel industry.
Travel between the two countries has becomesignificantly easier with numerous flight options connecting Hanoi andHo Chi Minh City to cities in Japan.
The firstaffiliations between two countries, however, can be traced back to over acentury ago when the world was caught in the throes of imperialism andcolonialism.
At the outset of the 20th century,with aspirations to save the Vietnamese nation from slavery, prominentintellectuals at the time felt that significant reform was the only wayto turn the tide.
Phan Boi Chau, pioneer ofVietnamese 20th century nationalism, formed a revolutionary organisationcalled Duy Tan (Reformation Society) with the aim of ‘restoring Vietnamand forming an independent government.’
Chauand his Reformation Society sought assistance from Japan, a nation withsimilar culture and close proximity, well on its way to becoming aprosperous country. The Society agreed to send Chau to Japan to ask fortheir help in fighting against French colonialists.
Initially Japan agreed to help by training human resources, so Chauand his comrades called for young Vietnamese to study in Japan. It soonevolved into a large social movement, called Dong Du, or Travel East forStudy.
Just as the movement was gainingstrength with 200 intellectuals studying in Japan, France signed aTreaty with Japan, forcing the group to disperse.
Professor Chuong Thau, who has studied Chau for more than 50 years,said despite its relatively short four-year duration, the Dong Dumovement is widely considered the greatest achievement in therevolutionary career of Phan Boi Chau and his Reformation Society.
“The movement trained new revolutionary personnel, fostering highenthusiasm and remarkable endurance. They always strove to learn forprogress,” Thau said.
“The movement alsorepresented a historical landmark for the relationship between Japan andVietnam, treasured in the pre-modern history between the twocountries,” Thau added.
According to Thau, Chau was Vietnam’s greatest reform-minded revolutionary in the early 20th century.
“Phan Boi Chau advocated for the establishment of ‘a new Vietnam’, hewas the first to look out to the high sea with Pacific Ocean vision,the first to entertain thoughts of an international coalition to savethe country from colonial powers,” said Thau.
According to Dao Tien Thi from the Educational Publishing House, theDong Du movement not only ignited a patriotic flame and the will to gainindependence but also contributed to changing the course of Vietnamesehistory in many aspects, especially by inspiring a shift in people’sthinking.
“The movement helped rid of dogmaticthinking, changing instead to focus on reality, integrating the countryinto the regional community and the world at large. It also stimulatedthe transition from monarchist thought to democracy,” said Thi.
“Culturally, this was Vietnam’s first non-Chinese cultural contact,” Thi added.-VNA
