Ngo Mai Anh, representative of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka speaks at the concert. Source: Association of Vietnamese in Fukuoka

In Japan, a charity concert was recently held to raise funds to help the victims of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

The event was organized by the Association of Vietnamese in Fukuoka (AVF) and the Japan - Vietnam Peace and Friendship Council, Fukuoka Office, under the auspices of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka.

Speaking at the event, Ngo Mai Anh, representative of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka said: "There are few countries in the world that have to suffer the harsh consequences of war like Vietnam, when the victims are victims of war, of AO/Dioxin not only of one generation, but of many generations, I hope that after attending this event, you will have more sympathy and sharing with AO victims, our actions today will probably contribute to the happiness of the victims.

The Consulate General affirmed that he will always accompany, support and pay attention to charity activities and especially appreciate and sincerely thank the organising committee for hosting such meaningful program.

The folk musical concert at Seinan Gakuin University, Japan. Source: Association of Vietnamese in Fukuoka

The concert program consists of two parts. Part 1 is the report on the current status of AO Victims in the Vietnam War. After that is concert performed by Bong Sen Ethnic Music and Dance Theater, Ho Chi Minh City.

Since 2000, this kind concert for Vietnamese folk instruments has been organized to raise funds to help victims of AO during the Vietnam War. The charity donation of this event was used to build treatment and rehabilitation facilities for AO/dioxin victims; build and provide operating funds for a vocational training center for them.

The concert is therefore regarded as a meaningful programme, contributing to introduce more to Japanese people and friends about the situation of victims of AO in Vietnam, Vietnamese culture and joining hands to donate to help the victims.

The proceeds from the 2022 concert will be used to build a house for the AO victims in the northernmost mountainous province of Ha Giang, the association and the provincial Department of Foreign Affairs.

The concert brings Vietnamese traditional music closer to the people of Vietnam abroad and Japan. Source: Association of Vietnamese in Fukuoka

During 10 years until 1971, the US army dropped about 80 million litres of herbicide, of which AO made up 61% and contained roughly 366kg of dioxin which is among the most potent toxins known to mankind.

According to documents unveiled by the US Department of Defence, over 434,000 gallons of AO containing about 11kg of dioxin were sprayed in A Luoi area of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue between 1965 and 1970.

Established in September 2019, the Association of Vietnamese in Fukuoka has fulfilled the desire of many generations of Vietnamese people to have an official representative organisation of the Vietnamese community in Fukuoka prefecture and the region. During the first term, the AVF has organised many meaningful activities towards the community such as the Vietnam New Year Festival in Fukuoka 2020; a Japanese speaking contest for apprentices; Smile charity fair; a football tournament, and made contributions to Vietnam's Covid-19 vaccine fund.

According to Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka, about 45,000 Vietnamese people are living, studying and working in Kyushu-Okinawa region, including 19,000 in Fukuoka.

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