On July 18 in Hanoi, the Truth National Political Publishing House held a launching ceremony for the book "Vietnam - A perspective from Japan" by Professor, Dr. Furuta Motoo.
Unlike many historical chronicles, this book is a combination of academic research and personal experience, historical analysis and social observation. Professor Furuta Motoo began his research on Vietnam in the late 1960s, when the resistance war against the US was raging. With his graduation thesis on the August Revolution of 1945, he began an academic journey that lasted nearly half a century, becoming a rare Japanese person with a deep understanding of modern Vietnamese history.
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| Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo (second from left) and Vietnamese researchers interacted with readers at the book launch ceremony. (Photo: People's Police Newspaper) |
Perspectives from everyday life to macro issues
According to the Truth National Political Publishing House, the book consists of 10 chapters, covering many aspects: history of nation building, resistance wars, political institutions, socio -economic development, foreign relations, as well as customs, beliefs and life of Vietnamese people. The author spends many pages describing the Mekong Delta, Northwest, Southeast and urban areas such as Hanoi, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City through real-life experiences.
The book's unique feature is its "bottom-up" approach. Instead of focusing only on major political events, Professor Furuta Motoo exploits details of life to explain the characteristics of Vietnamese society. He tells about "asking for the right of way" when riding a bicycle, or the scene of a sidewalk barber hastily hugging his mirror and running away when the security forces appear. From there, he concludes: "Vietnam is a "difficult to govern" society, not a "disorganized" one. The phrase "unruly" that he used in a scientific conference does not have a negative meaning, but refers to the strong inner vitality and self-regulation ability of the community.
He also analyzed many historical issues, such as the differences between the Vietnamese and Chinese examination systems, and concluded that the centralized regime in Vietnam was mainly aimed at countering pressure from the North, rather than developing from internal needs. He also believed that the current political system in Vietnam, under the leadership of the Communist Party, inherits a very unique tradition of “flexible centralization”.
In the section on beliefs, he recalled the "housewarming" ceremony when moving the headquarters of Vietnam-Japan University and the story of keeping the banyan tree and the gate of Trung Nha village right in the middle of Vo Chi Cong street intact for spiritual reasons. According to him, religion and beliefs in Vietnam are both flexible and practical, closely linked to social behavior.
Notably, the research on Vietnamese writing is presented systematically, from the influence of Chinese characters, the emergence and decline of Nom characters, to the process of Latinization of Vietnamese. The author sees the National Language as a "silent revolution", contributing to improving the people's knowledge, while also causing a "break" in the reception of the heritage of Chinese studies, an issue that is still controversial today.
Symbol of lasting friendship
Speaking at the book launch ceremony, Associate Professor Dr. Vu Trong Lam, Director - Editor-in-Chief of the National Political Publishing House, commented: With a capacity of more than 400 pages, from an objective and dedicated perspective, Professor Dr. Furuta Motoo has painted a vivid picture of the history, culture, society, people and politics of Vietnam, not only as a researcher, but also as a close friend, an insider who has lived, worked and experienced this country in both wartime and peacetime.
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| The book "Vietnam - A perspective from Japan". (Photo: National Political Publishing House Truth) |
Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki said that the book provides clues to understand Vietnam in a more multidimensional way, thereby giving many Japanese readers more opportunities to learn more about this country. The launch of the Vietnamese edition helps Vietnamese people look back at themselves through the lens of a sympathetic foreign scholar.
At the launch, Vietnamese and Japanese delegates, along with Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo, interacted with readers, emphasizing the lasting friendship and commitment to promoting educational, cultural and political cooperation between the two countries. The book "Vietnam - A View from Japan" is not only a sophisticated scientific work, but also a bridge to foster understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
| "Vietnam - A Perspective from Japan" by Prof. Dr. Furuta Motoo, published by the Truth National Political Publishing House and Sbooks, priced at 188,000 VND. Readers can buy it at the publishing system of the Publishing House or e-commerce platforms such as Tiki, Shopee... |
Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/kham-pha-viet-nam-qua-goc-nhin-hoc-gia-nhat-ban-furuta-motoo-214923.html
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