NHK introduces Vietnamese Tet, songs by My Tam, Son Tung M-TP and Hoang Thuy Linh

The program is called Vietnamese in life and work.,will air on NHK at 13:30 - 13:45 from December 26 to 29.

Japanese comedian Uechan hosted the program with two guests: Pham Hai Trieu, a Vietnamese singer working in music in Japan, and Cao Thi Minh Chau, an NHK announcer.

In particular, the program also features Professor Shimizu Masaaki, Osaka University (Japan) - the person who created the outline for the Vietnamese grammar lecture. He is the person who "understands Vietnamese" better than many Vietnamese people.

NHKwant Japanese people to know TVietnamese

Professor Shimizu Masaaki said that this is a program broadcast at the end and beginning of the year, so NHK took Tet culture as the theme, including four episodes revolving around the topics of Vietnamese language, Vietnamese Tet and Vietnamese culture.

"They want Japanese audiences to know about Vietnamese Tet culture and banh chung," said the professor.

The program also has a section about V-pop music culture as well as introducing some Vietnamese songs.

Professor Shimizu Masaaki believes that music culture is a common topic of interest to audiences around the world.

To have a constructive Vietnam-Japan relationship in the future and especially to attract the interest of young people, NHK decided to introduce V-pop.

In which, the song The reason I was born (music: Sadamasashi, Vietnamese lyrics: Hai Trieu) was chosen to open because it carries the message that we were born to meet each other, to be happy...

Singer Hai Trieu is the one who performs the song and also introduces V-pop in this program.

He further revealed that the next episodes will introduce the songs "It's late but why are you still here" by singer Son Tung M-TP, "Gieo que" by Hoang Thuy Linh and "Nhe anh" by My Tam.

"LIVEVietnam,Love between men and women comes from family love"

Professor Shimizu Masaaki said the most attractive thing to him is still the Vietnamese culture of loving family.

Tet is the most important occasion for the whole family to gather and share everything about the old year.

"In the V-pop treasure trove, there are many songs about love. Sometimes I feel that in Vietnam, love between men and women, as well as love between parents and children and love between siblings, all come from family love," he said.

In the program, there is a part where the professor introduces how to address people in Vietnamese.

According to him, the Vietnamese form of address also shows the intimate relationship within the family that is extended and applied to society. That is one of the motivations for him to continue studying and researching Vietnamese.

Singer Hai Trieu Hien added that there are currently about 500,000 Vietnamese people living and working in Japan.

In that context, programs like this are necessary. The purpose of the program is to let Japanese people communicate more through Vietnamese language, music and culture.

Before Vietnamese in Life and Work, NHK had produced a program called Asian Language Travel in 2005, which included Vietnamese.

However, according to Professor Shimizu Masaaki, this is the first time NHK has produced a comprehensive Vietnamese language teaching program.

Singer Hai Trieu said this program is special because both Vietnamese and Japanese people participate, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.

"This could be an opportunity for more Japanese people to pay more attention to Vietnam. It could become a regular program in the future if it is well received," he said.