Entering the nearly 30 square meter office of Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo – Rector of Vietnam Japan University (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), we were truly fascinated by many objects associated with the two Vietnamese and Japanese cultures. At the age of over seventy, Japan’s leading Vietnamese scholar still makes a strong impression with his erudition and witty speaking style. Over more than 50 years of association with Vietnam, Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo has witnessed the enormous transformation of the S-shaped Country, along with the continuous development of the relationship between the two countries. Above all, the Professor has a deep affection for the country and people of Vietnam, as he shared: “Vietnam is my first love and my lifelong lover. My most precious assets are my Vietnamese friends”.
Leading us to the corner of the room where a Palm-leaf conical hat and a Đông Hồ boy holding a carp painting were hanging, Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo laughed and said that these were all gifts given to him by Vietnamese friends and students. In the opposite corner is a large, long bookshelf running along the wall. Besides books and documents, he also positioned certificates of merit and medals for his contributions to Vietnam-Japan relations. During the nearly 2-hour conversation, the Japanese professor used Vietnamese entirely with a flexible and smooth expression like his mother tongue.
The relationship between Vietnam and Japan
Reporter: From September 20-26, Their Imperial Highness Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino of Japan will make an official visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan relations. During this visit, the Japan Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Crown Princess also visited Vietnam Japan University. Please share a little about this event.
Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo: On September 21, 1973, Vietnam and Japan officially established diplomatic relations, starting the era of bilateral development cooperation. During 50 years of companionship, the bilateral relationship framework has continually been heightened, from a “trusted, long-term stable partnership” (2002) to “Towards a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia” (2006), then to a “strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia” (2009), and ultimately an “extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia” (2014).
In November 2021, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh paid an official visit to Japan and became the first foreign leader to be invited by the new Japanese government for an official visit. On this occasion, the leaders of the two countries agreed to open a new phase for the extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia between the two sides. That relationship, as Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio emphasized, is entering a new stage of development in the spirit of “Emotion, sincerity, trust, substance, effectiveness”.
The visit of Japan’s Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan marks a significant affirmation of their long-standing tradition of cooperation, sincerity, and mutual trust. This visit further strengthens and deepens their bilateral relations for the betterment of both nations while also promoting peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
I review the Vietnam-Japan relationship at length to see that our two countries have walked side by side for half a century and continue to hold hands and reach further in the following years. In Japan, the Royal Family symbolizes the country’s culture and history. The fact that the Crown Prince and Princess Akishino visited Vietnam on behalf of the Royal Family on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations proves that the Japanese people attach great importance to Vietnam. On September 22, when meeting and talking with officials, teachers, and students of Vietnam Japan University, also emphasized this and affirmed that Japan is very interested in Vietnam.
Reporter: Does this mean that with Japan, Vietnam has a special position?
Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo: Over the past half-century, Japan and Vietnam have cooperated in many fields, and this cooperation is increasingly sustainable, better, and more progressive when we combine the standards of Japan with the abundance of Vietnam. In my opinion, there is always mutual learning between Japan and Vietnam.
The relationship between Vietnam and Japan stands out among other international relationships due to the strong sense of mutual trust between the two nations. This trust is rooted in honesty from the leaders of both countries to their respective citizens. Honesty is the foundation of trust. Vietnam places its faith in Japan, and Japan places its faith in Vietnam, fostering a deep and enduring foundation of trust between these two nations. An example of this is in 2011, when the earthquake and tsunami disaster occurred in Japan, all provinces and cities in Vietnam raised movements to support the Japanese people. At that time, the Japanese people better understood the feelings of Vietnamese people for Japan.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries continued to stand shoulder to shoulder, supporting each other to overcome all these difficulties and challenges. Nearly 500,000 Vietnamese people are living for a long time in Japan, and this number is still rapidly growing. Many of them have to deal with tough situations due to this pandemic. The 16 local branches of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association have organized different activities to support the Vietnamese people living and working in Japan such as: providing food, arranging accommodation for Vietnamese people who have lost their jobs during the pandemic, or cooperating with other Japanese companies to hire interns from Vietnam.
Another example that illustrates the mutual dependence between the two countries is when Japanese enterprises faced a shortage of supplies and materials that forced them to stop working when their companies had to shut down due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This reality shows that in economic-social activities between Japan and Vietnam, Vietnamese play an essential role. Our collaborative relationship and interdependence in economics keep running deep.
Reporter: As the professor has mentioned before, Vietnam and Japan are both friends and partners. During the boom in technology, leaders of both countries often emphasize cooperation in training high-quality human resources. As the president of a university, how do you view the current generation of young people in Vietnam?
Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo: Vietnamese people have a longstanding tradition of education and the Vietnamese government prioritizes education as their top national policy. Currently, Vietnam is facing a new obstacle in breaking free from the “Middle Income Trap” and the training of high-quality human resources to improve socioeconomic conditions for sustainable development goals.
Vietnam-Japan University is a symbol of the deep and wide-ranging partnership between Vietnam -Japan. The most important mission of our school is to provide high-quality human resources for the equal partnership of two countries. As the university’s president, I believe that the role of educational institutions is crucial in building the future relationship between our two nations. Having served as president for seven years, I have observed that Vietnamese students, in general, are quite outstanding and highly dynamic. They even possess certain skills like information technology-related data processing that surpass their Japanese counterparts.
However, Vietnamese students have two main weaknesses to be addressed. First, Vietnamese students apprehend theoretical knowledge well but lack a broader perspective. Second, in Japan, especially in the fields of technology and agriculture, people take practical production seriously(such as factories and farms, etc.). Japanese people believe in researchers. I have noticed that Vietnamese youth love to learn more about new technology but are less concerned about practical issues that exist in advanced technology. In other words, they focus more on theory than practice. Nevertheless, to apply advanced technology effectively, they have to pay attention to practical aspects. Only from this, there will be more innovative solutions and creativity to improve the production process.
Reporters: Is that the reason why you are making even greater efforts to enhance educational cooperation between the two countries and nurture your “spiritual child” – the Vietnam-Japan University – with plenty of dedication?
Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo: As the Vietnam-Japan University is the seventh member university of the Hanoi National University which was established through cooperation between Japan and Vietnam, I aim to bring new elements to university education in Vietnam. From my own experience when working as the president of the University of Tokyo, I built our university based on liberal education.
In the 21st century, the significance of education lies in the comprehensive development of human capabilities and qualities, more specifically in training students to learn and adapt independently. When Vietnam-Japan University was founded in 2016, there were only two public universities in Vietnam openly advocating a liberal education philosophy. However, since then, the number of universities pursuing liberal education has gradually increased. Today, liberal education is no longer an unfamiliar concept in the field of upper education in Vietnam.
At first, our university only offered Master’s degree programs and introduced the undergraduate program in 2020 with six different majors. We aim to bring this university to become the leading research school in Asia by 2030 that focuses on the fields of engineering technology and interdisciplinary science, serving sustainable development goals by leveraging the strengths of Vietnam and Japan.
Various people believe that the main role of the Vietnam-Japan University is to provide talent and human resources for Japan, but this thinking is not accurate. While the university encourages students to go to Japan for further studies, we also hope that after studying and working in Japan for a period, they will return to their home country to utilize their own experience.
Want to understand Vietnam, must understand Ho Chi Minh thought
Reporter: With over 50 years of researching Vietnam, you have a deep understanding of the country, its people, and the strengths and weaknesses of Vietnam, especially in the context of globalization and integration today.
Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo: I am a modern Vietnamese history researcher, and I am part of the “Vietnam War generation” from Japan. In 1970, when I entered the University of Tokyo, the Vietnam War was at its most intense stage. At that time, Japanese media extensively covered Vietnam. I believed that Vietnam was the center of the world, and if I understood Vietnam, I could easily understand the rest of the world. Therefore, I chose Vietnam as my research topic. Two years later, I started learning Vietnamese from a Vietnamese student who was studying in Japan.
During my research, I saw that President Ho Chi Minh was one of the few outstanding and perfect heroes in Asia and the world. He is the most important historical figure in 20th-century Vietnamese history. His vision was broad and had a significant impact not only during his lifetime but also after his passing.
In my view, Ho Chi Minh’s ideology is the driving force behind the Party’s Đổi Mới (Renovation) policy. President Ho Chi Minh constantly sought a path to socialism that suited Vietnam’s circumstances, history, and culture. “Đổi Mới’’ was a major reform to find a socialist model suitable for Vietnam. To implement the “Đổi Mới” process in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh’s ideology is crucial.
Through my research, I have identified two major characteristics of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology. First, he valued national identity. Second, he sought a path to international integration. These are also essential elements of Vietnam’s Đổi Mới policy. Studying Ho Chi Minh’s ideology is of great significance in carrying out the Đổi Mới process. I would like to emphasize once again that Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, and style deeply reflect the essence of the Vietnamese people.
Reporter: So professor, is that the reason why you published the book “Ho Chi Minh – National Liberation and Renewal”?
Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo: In 1974, I had the opportunity to join a tour organized by the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association to visit Northern Vietnam. After hearing this news, my Vietnamese language teacher advised me to learn and memorize President Ho Chi Minh’s Will. Thanks to his advice, I still remember exactly what was inside President Ho Chi Minh’s Will for nearly half a century.
In 1996, with the support of the University of Tokyo Publisher, I released a book titled “Ho Chi Minh – National Liberation and Renewal.” At that time, the book garnered attention from the Japanese research community because I emphasized that understanding Vietnam required understanding President Ho Chi Minh. A year later, the book was published by the National Political Publishing House. In 1998, the same publisher helped me publish “Vietnam in World History.”
In the current era, with Vietnam having undergone significant changes in the nearly 40 years of renovation, I still firmly believe that to understand contemporary Vietnam, one must understand Ho Chi Minh’s ideology. Whenever I talk to students, I always analyze the novel aspects and modernity of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology. I want them to have a broad perspective, to see that they need to understand not only science, technology, and engineering but also the depth, humanity, and modernity of Ho Chi Minh’s ideology.
Vietnam – A Lifelong Love
Reporter: Could you please share more about your research and activities in Vietnam since becoming the first foreign president of a member university of Hanoi National University?
Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo: I have visited many countries, including the United States, France, China, and several Southeast Asian countries. However, I can say that I chose the unique path of becoming a Vietnamologist. In the past, Japanese researchers interested in Vietnam had to study in France or the United States. Fortunately, I had the chance to study in Vietnam and establish close relationships with Vietnamese social science scholars. Thanks to the guidance of many Vietnamese professors and my experiences in studying, teaching, and researching in Vietnam, I completed my doctoral dissertation on the principles and ethnic policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1990.
Throughout my research journey in Vietnam, I was fortunate to establish a strong connection with the University of Hanoi, the precursor to the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Hanoi National University. Starting in 1974, just one year after the Democratic Republic of Vietnam established diplomatic relations with Japan, the University of Hanoi sent Vietnamese language teachers to the University of Foreign Studies in Tokyo. The first teacher from Hanoi was Mr. Nguyen Cao Dam. Although I was not a student at the University of Foreign Studies, I had the opportunity to learn Vietnamese from Mr. Dam for three years (1974-1976). Afterward, I continued to learn a great deal about the history and society of Vietnam from esteemed professors like Prof. Phan Huy Le, Prof. Tran Quoc Vuong, and Prof. Nguyen Van Dao.
As someone trained in Vietnam, becoming the President of the Vietnam-Japan University and contributing to the development of education and the younger generation in Vietnam is my way of giving back to the Vietnamese teachers who guided me and the Vietnamese friends who trusted me. Therefore, I am deeply honored to have been appointed to this position.
Reporter: So, for over six years now, your life has been closely tied to both Japan and Vietnam?
Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo: Yes, since my appointment, I have spent 8 months in Hanoi and 4 months working in Japan. Before that, I also lived in Vietnam during the rationing period. I remember that at that time, my main mode of transportation was a bicycle, which helped me become familiar with and remember the streets better. Nowadays, I mainly travel by car, have a driver, and due to my age, I tend to forget directions.
I have witnessed the tremendous transformation of Vietnam over the past 50 years, and Hanoi holds the most beautiful memories of my life. Three years after my first visit to Vietnam in 1974, which was just a year after the Democratic Republic of Vietnam established diplomatic relations with Japan, I returned to Hanoi as a Japanese language teacher at the University of Commerce. In March 1980, I got married, and a month later, I returned to Vietnam to continue teaching Japanese. My wife accompanied me to Vietnam and stayed for one month. To this day, we often tell each other that while most people have a honeymoon week, our “honeymoon month” is in Vietnam. We love the diversity of Vietnamese culture and have become familiar with Vietnamese dishes like pho, bun cha, and more. I can even make Vietnamese fried spring rolls and sour fish soup or fish soup in the Vietnamese style.
Reporter: Your steadfast commitment to Vietnam has lasted for over half a century. What keeps you rooted here?
Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo: I always call Vietnam my “first love”, but this love has lasted for 50 years.
As you know, my first visit to Vietnam was in 1974. Since then, both Hanoi, specifically, and Vietnam as a whole, have undergone many significant changes. However, the character and emotions of the Vietnamese people have remained the same. They are still optimistic, love their own life, are resilient, and endure hardships. They are flexible in every situation, much like the symbol of Vietnam, bamboo. I love the Vietnamese people for everything
I consider myself fortunate to have had Vietnamese teachers and friends who trusted me. Vietnam is my first love, and it will remain my lifelong love. My most precious assets are my Vietnamese friends.
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Source: Báo Công an nhân dân
