Tet in Japan
Coming to Japan since 2014 as an international student, for more than 10 years now, Mr. Tran Thanh Long is currently working as director of Vietnam – Japan tourism segment of SUN SHINE company, Saitama province branch (Japan). Due to the nature of his work, he almost always has to celebrate Tet away from home.
“This year is another Tet in a foreign country. Even though it’s not the first time, my feelings are still the same as before, missing my family, friends and the familiar atmosphere of my hometown.”Mr. Long shared.
Mr. Long took the opportunity to call his relatives after a long, busy day. This year, it was another Tet that he could not return to Vietnam to spend with his family.
Mr. Long said that unlike Vietnam, Lunar New Year is not a big holiday in Japan. This country focuses on the Oshougatsu New Year holiday, which takes place on January 1 of the solar calendar. However, Vietnamese people living and working here still maintain their traditions.
“We Vietnamese people who live close together often organize meetings, make traditional dishes together such as banh chung, fried spring rolls, pickled onions,… together, wait for New Year’s Eve and go to the temple. good luck at the beginning of the year”Mr. Long shared.
Although Japan today welcomes the new year on New Year’s Day, the people of this country still maintain some traditional cultural features on the first day of the lunar year such as going to temples to pray for good luck, or making traditional rice trays (osechi ryori). ).
“One time, my colleagues and I went to a temple near the company to participate in the New Year’s Eve festival and enjoy osechi ryori with Japanese people. The feeling of being immersed in the warm Tet atmosphere on earth Other countries are also a very memorable experience for me.”Mr. Long said.
Because of the different New Year traditions between the two countries, after 4 years of living and working in Japan, Vu Viet Chinh has never had the opportunity to return to Vietnam to celebrate Tet with his family.
Viet Chinh is currently working in a garment company in Gifu province. She shares: “The first year I celebrated Tet away from home, I felt very sad, or more accurately, extremely sad. I still remember that New Year’s Eve having to work the night shift and not being able to call home, even though I knew my parents were also looking forward to it. Looking forward to talking to my child at the moment of turning over the new year. The feeling is indescribable. Even though I’m a girl, I rarely shed tears, but that night I couldn’t hold back, I could only do it and wipe my tears. . Even now, I still can’t forget the feeling at that time.”
Viet Chinh said that because Japanese people no longer pay attention to the Lunar New Year, these days are usually not bustling and bustling, most people still go to work normally. However, she still tried to prepare for herself a Tet away from home but with “hometown standards”.
“Because I still have to go to work and conditions don’t allow it, I can’t prepare much, but traditional dishes like banh chung, jam, sausage, and spring rolls are indispensable.”the Vietnamese girl said.
Viet Chinh added that where she lives and works in the countryside, there are few Vietnamese people, but because of that, everyone is closer and closer. In the years when people don’t have to work nights, people often gather together to prepare traditional Vietnamese Tet dishes, decorate their houses, and watch the Kitchen Gods together.
A space imbued with homeland identity in a Vietnamese community Tet program in Japan.
Life is not easy in a foreign country
According to Mr. Long, the life of workers in a foreign country never exists from happiness or ease, but is a trade-off. I said: “Workers always face countless difficulties and achievements only come with hard work and overcoming pressure.”
Recalling the first days he set foot in Japan, Mr. Long said he had to carry a large amount of bank debt to come to this land.
“It can be a challenge, but it is also a strong motivation for me to strive to work hard, persevere and save to be able to pay off debt and achieve my goals,” he shared.
