The fourth edition of a Vietnamese music program honoring the Vietnamese people’s aspirations for peace will open in Tokyo on Thursday evening.

The program, called ‘Tuoi Tre Viet Nam – Cau Chuyen Hoa Binh’ (Vietnamese Youth – The Story of Peace), was first held in 2014 in Ho Chi Minh City and has since been jointly organized annually by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and the Vietnam National Union of Students Central Committee (VNUSCC).

The program aims to inspire young generations to nurture their patriotism and enthusiasm, as well as encouraging them to turn desire to defend and contribute to the country into action.

Themed ‘Canh Hoa Hoa Binh’ (Petal of Peace), the fourth edition of the program highlights the peace-loving spirit among the Vietnamese and Japanese, and their two countries’ resolve in respecting and safeguarding each other’s territorial sovereignty in the future.

Vietnamese artists who will perform in ‘Tuoi Tre Viet Nam – Cau Chuyen Hoa Binh' in Tokyo, Japan on April 14, 2016 pose for a group photo as they arrive in the city. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Chairman of VNUSCC Le Quoc Phong and Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre newspaper Tang Huu Phong visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan on Wednesday to review the show’s organization.

Nguyen Quoc Cuong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Japan, said at the meeting, “‘The Story of Peace’ is the embassy’s major event at this point. I am greatly honored that the organizing committee has decided to held the fourth edition of the program in Japan, after three successful shows in Vietnam. It is all the more meaningful as this is also the first time the program has been organized outside of Vietnam.”

“There are currently more than 45,000 Vietnamese fellows and students and a longstanding community of Vietnamese expats currently residing in Japan,” Cuong added. “With that in mind, a quality Vietnamese music show such as ‘The Story of Peace’ is a great source of inspiration and excitement for us.”

“The artists participating in this show are all acclaimed singers at home, which is truly a special gift, not only for Vietnamese viewers, but also for the Japanese,” he concluded.

The embassy’s secretariat reported that that all logistical preparations for the show are finished and ready to run and each of the 1,500 delegates and fans invited to the show confirmed their attendance.

Apart from regular show goers, ‘Petal of Peace’ will also honor the presence of Tomioka Tsutomu, Japan’s State Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong and his wife, officials at the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, Le Quoc Phong and representatives from VNUSCC, representatives from sponsors and coordinators, representatives from the Vietnamese Youth and Student Association in Japan (VYSA), and others.

Artists rehearse for ‘Tuoi Tre Viet Nam – Cau Chuyen Hoa Binh' at Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Meanwhile, the production team has been busy finishing the final preparations for the show before its grand opening tonight, April 14.

Cao Trung Hieu, director of ‘Petal of Peace,’ revealed that the show would feature a meticulously-staged scene where thousands of cherry blossom petals will fall onto the stage, mimicking Japan’s scenery of late.

The artists are scheduled to rehearse for the last time today, with rehearsal sessions beginning at 9:00 am.

“I have been singing for 15 years, and have performed in this program since its first edition, but I still have the same butterflies in my stomach every time I’m about to go on stage at ‘The Story of Peace.’ To represent Vietnam and the Vietnamese people and to speak about our love for peace are as much a pressure as it is an honor for myself and all other artists involved,” Doan Trang, a singer who will perform in the show, said.

The show will also feature a popular Japanese song ‘Hana wa Saku’ (Flowers Will Bloom) in both Japanese and Vietnamese, which is expected to touch the audience with its beautiful melody and meaningful lyrics.

‘The Story of Peace – Petal of Peace’ will open at Hall C, Tokyo International Forum at 7:00 pm.

The official poster for ‘The Story of Peace – Petal of Peace.’ Photo: Tuoi Tre

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