Friendship between Phan Boi Chau, Asaba Sakitaro highlighted
The special partnership between patriot Phan Boi Chau of Vietnam and doctor Asaba Sakitaro from Japan is a vivid manifestation of the friendship and cooperative ties between the two countries, heard an international seminar held in the central province of Nghe An on December 15
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Professor Nguyen Xuan Thang, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, highlighted that the event was significant as it was part of the activities to celebrate 150th birthday of patriot Phan Boi Chau and doctor Asaba Sakitaro.
Discussions at the seminar affirmed historical and cultural values in Chau’s thoughts and the relations between Chau and Sakitaro, Thang said, adding that the relations helped develop Vietnam-Japan friendship.
He stressed that Vietnam and Japan relations are in the finest phase since the two established diplomatic ties in 1973.
Scientists, researchers and scholars at the seminar presented important reports on Phan Boi Chau, the initiator of Dong Du (Travelling to the East for study) movement, his contributions to cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Japan and his friendship with doctor Asaba Sakitaro which formed a basis for Vietnam-Japan relations.
In response to the Dong Du movement, hundreds of Vietnamese students went to study in Japan in hope that they could help reform the country in return. When the movement faced difficulties in 1908, Chau received whole-hearted support from doctor Asaba Sakitaro and people in Fukuroi.
After leaving Japan, Chau continued his activities in several countries in the world. In 1918, he returned to Japan and learnt that his friend passed away nine years ago. Chau and people in Fukuroi raised funds for a memorial stele of the late doctor near his tomb.
Although the Dong Du movement failed and those students had to go home, what Asaba and Fukuroi residents had done for Chau and his followers remains forever in the Vietnamese people’s hearts.
