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(QNO) - The April visit of Ishiba Shigeru to Vietnam highlighted the strong Vietnam - Japan ties. This reminded us of Princess Ngoc Hoa, who played a key role in this friendship over 500 years ago.
A diplomatic strategy
The Nguyen lords, especially Nguyen Phuc Nguyen, promoted foreign trade, with a focus on building strong ties with Japanese merchants. One notable action was arranging for the marriage of Princess Ngoc Hoa and Araki Sotaro in 1619 to strengthen relations further.
Princess Ngọc Hoa was the eldest daughter of Nguyen Phuc Nguyen while Araki Sotaro was a well-known Japanese merchant in Hoi An. This marriage is one of the first known unions between a Japanese merchant and a foreigner.
After marrying, Ngọc Hoa moved to Nagasaki, where she managed a trading centre. Upon her husband’s death in 1635, she continued managing the business and became involved in social activities. She passed away in 1645.
Cultural legacy
In Nagasaki, Princess Ngoc Hoa left a lasting cultural impact. Her way of addressing her husband as “Anh, anh ơi” became the Japanese term “Aino.” Today, she is still honoured in Nagasaki, where the term “Anio-hime” is used to address girls.
Additionally, the Okumchi - Nagasaki Festival, an annual celebration, includes a re-enactment of Araki Sotaro bringing Princess Ngoc Hoa to Nagasaki. Nagasaki's dining traditions also reflect Vietnamese influence, with shared round-table meals believed to have been introduced by the princess.
Princess Ngoc Hoa’s legacy as a cultural and diplomatic ambassador between Vietnam and Japan endures to this day.