The annual Japanese Film Festival kicked off at Cinestars Hai Ba Trung, downtown Ho Chi Minh City on November 2, with 11 Japanese films released over the last three years to be screened to November 17.
The 2017 drama film Close-Knit, directed and written by Naoko Ogigami, will open the Japanese Film Festival in HCM City. (Photo: jffsf.org)
HCM City (VNA) – The annual Japanese Film Festival kickedoff at Cinestars Hai Ba Trung, downtown Ho Chi Minh City on November 2, with 11Japanese films released over the last three years to be screened to November 17.
The films, shown in both Vietnamese and English subtitles, featurevarious genres, including drama, comedy, fantasy, mystery, documentary andanimation.
The festival was opened with the 2017drama film “Close-Knit”, directed andwritten by Naoko Ogigami, who won the Manfred Salzgeber Award for “broadeningthe boundaries of cinema today” at the Berlin International Film Festival in2008.
“Close-Knit” is about a fifth-grade girl whosemother has given her up. She has to live with her uncle and his girlfriend, atransgender woman with a heart of gold.
The film was screened as part of thePanorama section at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2017.
The eventwill include the screening of director Norihiro Koizumi’s “Chihayafuru”,which is based on the famous manga series with the same name by Yuki Suetsugu.
The film, whose two sequels will also be shown,honours karuta, a traditional Japanese card game. The films also featurehow young Japanese are preserving the game.
The festival will also screen dramas such asKenji Shibayama’s “Perfect World”, Wui Shin Chong’s “Yakiniku Dragon” andJunichi Ishikawa’s “Mixed Double”, along with horror films DaihachiYoshida’s “The Scythian Lambs”.
The animation film “Mary and the Witch’sFlower” by Hiromasa Yonebayashi will be shown as well.
The festival,organised by the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, willalso be launched in Da Nang on November 16, Hue City on November 17 and Hanoion November 30.
In Hue, movie loverswill have a chance to enjoy not only the full collection of the eleven filmsbut also five extra others, namely “Re-life” by Takeshi Furasawa, “Tora san ofGoto Island” by Masaru Oura, “Rudolf the Black Cat” by Motonori Sakakibara andKunihiko Yuyama, “Creepy” by Kiyoshi Kurosawa and “Her Love Boils Bathwater” byRyota Nakano.
Moreinformation about the film schedule can be seen at //vn.japanesefilmfest.org/. –VNA
Eleven Japanese films will be screened at the Le Do Cinema in Da Nang from January 5-7 and 13-14 as part of an annual cultural exchange programme between Japan and the central city.
This year’s tournament has gathered over 300 coaches, athletes, and referees from 18 countries and territories, competing in 28 combat weight categories and eight performance categories. Vietnam’s team has 50 athletes, including six from Thai Nguyen province.
It is the first time that the country is to hold a G1-level tournament which is expected to lure more than 100 athletes of 15 countries and regions at Go Vap Gymnasium.
Nguyen Trong Nha Uyen has made history for Vietnam’s dancesport by clinching a bronze medal in the solo Latin category at the WDSF World Championship 2025 in Germany.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
The 2017 drama film Close-Knit, directed and written by Naoko Ogigami, will open the Japanese Film Festival in HCM City. (Photo: jffsf.org)
