Imprint of Vietnam - Japan friendship cooperation
The Dong Du Movement initiated by patriot Phan Boi Chau and his comrades only existed for nearly 5 years (1905-1909); however, the revolutionary will and spirit of the movement became a historically significant starting point for the cooperative and friendly relationship between the people of Vietnam and Japan from the beginning of the 20th century.
(Baonghean) -The Dong Du Movement initiated by patriot Phan Boi Chau and his comrades only existed for nearly 5 years (1905-1909); however, the revolutionary will and spirit of the movement became a historically significant starting point for the cooperative and friendly relationship between the people of Vietnam and Japan from the beginning of the 20th century.
On January 20, 1905, Phan Boi Chau and two important figures of the Duy Tan Association (Dang Tu Kinh and Tang Bat Ho) secretly boarded a ship from Hai Phong to Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai to reach Yokohama port - Japan to carry out the idea of asking for "foreign aid" to create an international alliance to expel French colonialists, restore Vietnam's independence, and "build a new Vietnam".
Based on the research of the work “Vietnam - 100 years of the Dong Du movement & Japan-Vietnam cooperation to preserve and develop Hue cultural heritage” (National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2009), including the article: “Phan Boi Chau and the choice of the Dong Du path” by Associate Professor, Dr. Chuong Thau, Vietnam Institute of History, we can summarize 3 basic reasons to say that: the Dong Du movement became a historical starting point for the cooperative and friendly relationship between the people of Japan and Vietnam.
One is: For the first time in the history of the national liberation movement in Vietnam, the movement leaders sought international alliances and friendships to gain sympathy and support in all aspects for the Vietnamese people to expel foreign invaders. Phan Boi Chau and the patriotic scholars of the Dong Du movement did that. The most obvious demonstration was that right after arriving in Japan to seek "foreign aid", he and his associates connected and cooperated with revolutionaries from China, Japan, India, Korea, the Philippines, and Indonesia in the organization "East Asia Alliance". The idea of uniting and uniting oppressed peoples in Asia was formed and developed in Vietnam from this Dong Du period.
Second: From the Dong Du movement, Phan Boi Chau attracted the sympathy and solidarity of many classes of Japanese people to support the Vietnamese people in the struggle against foreign invaders and for national liberation. Although the Japanese Government did not publicly support the Dong Du movement, in fact, in the early years, their politicians still supported the reception and training of human resources for the Association, most notably Mr. Inukai Okuma and generals FukuShima, Nani Wada, Nezu Hajine, Tsuneya Morikoto... In particular, many progressive intellectuals and many classes of Japanese people were conscious of protecting, saving lives and enthusiastically supporting the Dong Du movement in general and Phan Boi Chau in particular. There are many touching stories about the generosity and kindness of Japanese people who shared food and clothing, arranged accommodation, and donated money to support Phan Boi Chau and his colleagues in the Dong Du movement during their time in Japan, such as Dr. Asaba Sakitaro, Mr. Kashi Wabara Buntaro, and Mr. Miga ZukitoTen.
Third: Phan Boi Chau's Dong Du Movement and the Duy Tan Association accomplished a great and meaningful task; through his role and prestige, a number of influential Japanese politicians helped train for the Vietnamese revolutionary movement in the early 20th century a source of intellectual human resources who understood military, science and technology, and knew how to organize and manage society. Among them, many became key members, revolutionary soldiers devoted to the cause of national liberation, and the majority of them sacrificed for their noble ideals.
The Dong Du Movement has been going on for nearly 110 years, but it will forever be a historical milestone marking the solidarity, cooperation and friendship between the people of Vietnam and Japan. That important mark is currently being constantly consolidated, cultivated and raised to new heights by the Governments and people of the two countries in the period of international integration and cooperation.
Ngo Xuan Phung (Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association Nghe An)
