Dozens of activities featuring traditional and modern Japanese culture were the highlight of the Viet Nam – Japan Day in Youth Cultural House, HCMC on September 12.
The event is organised by the General Consulate of Japan in HCM City and the Youth Cultural House.
The opening festivities of the day included a demonstration and workshop on ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement.
Sasaki Yasuhito, an expert in ikebana, who teaches at one of Japan's oldest ikebana schools, the Ikenobo, is the instructor for the workshop.
Yasuhito, who is also a Japan cultural envoy from the Agency for Cultural Affairs for the Japansese government, has been an ikebana instructor in the US and Canada.
After his visit in HCM City, he will tour Ha Noi, Thailand and Singapore.
Students from HCM City universities will perform Japanese drama plays while members of the HCM City Martial Arts Federation demonstrate kendo, a modern Japanese martial art that involves sword-fighting.
Vietnamese artists, including actor Thanh Loc, film director Nguyen Quang Dung, music composer Duc Tri, artist Nhu Huy and singers including Hien Thuc, Minh Thu and Phu Sa Group, will share their feelings and impressions about Japan.
Teenagers are expected to enjoy the Cosplay performance in which performers dress up in elaborate costumes worn as popular characters in Japanese comics.
The cultural days which will last for until September 19 also feature Japanese food, toys and origami demonstrations as well as exhibitions on Japanese picture books, paintings and dolls.