3 Stories Behind Princess Anio That Connect Vietnam and Japan Until Today
- Thạch Thanh Thảo
- Jun 20
- 5 min read
Introduction
More than four hundred years after her journey from Hoi An to Nagasaki, Princess Anio remains one of the most beloved historical figures connecting Vietnam and Japan. Known in Vietnam as Công nữ Ngọc Hoa and in Japan as Anio-san, her story has been preserved through historical documents, local traditions, festivals, and cultural memories that continue to inspire people in both countries.
Yet beyond the well-known story of her marriage to the Japanese merchant Araki Sotaro, there are several fascinating aspects of her life that continue to attract the attention of historians and cultural researchers. Different names, questions about her origins, and even stories about her influence on local customs in Nagasaki reveal how one historical figure became a bridge between two nations.
This article explores three stories behind Princess Anio that continue to connect Vietnam and Japan today.
Table of Contents
1. Why Did Princess Anio Have So Many Names?
One of the most interesting aspects of Princess Anio's story is the number of different names associated with her.
In Vietnam, she is most commonly known as Ngọc Hoa. Depending on historical interpretation, she is also referred to as Công nữ Ngọc Hoa, Vương nữ Ngọc Hoa, or simply Princess Ngoc Hoa in modern publications.
The variation reflects the political situation of seventeenth-century Vietnam.
At the time of her marriage to Araki Sotaro in 1619, Lord Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên had not declared himself king. He officially held the title Nhân Quốc Công. According to court protocol, daughters of a lord would generally be known as Công nữ rather than Công chúa (Princess).
Later generations elevated the status of the Nguyễn Lords, leading many historians and writers to use the more familiar title of Princess when referring to Ngọc Hoa.
Japanese historical records tell a slightly different story. In Nagasaki, she was known as Wakaku (王加久) or Wakakutome (王加久戸売). An inscription erected by the Nagasaki municipal government describes her as a noblewoman related to the royal family of Annam. However, the name that became most famous is Anio-san (アニオーさん).
The exact origin of this name remains uncertain.
One theory suggests it may have evolved from the Vietnamese expression "A Nương", a respectful form of address for a noble lady. Another explanation suggests that Japanese listeners frequently heard Vietnamese words spoken within her household and gradually adapted the sounds into a form that was easier to pronounce in Japanese.
Because definitive evidence has never been found, the true origin of "Anio" remains a fascinating example of how language and culture can blend across borders.
Due to her noble status, she was also respectfully called Anio-hime, meaning "Princess Anio," and later received the Buddhist name Myoshin (Diệu Tâm).
Source: my personal photo
2. Who Was Princess Anio in Historical Records?
Another story that continues to be discussed today concerns Princess Anio's family background.
Modern Vietnamese accounts often describe her as the foster daughter of Lord Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên, one of the most important rulers in Vietnamese history and the leader who transformed Hoi An into an international trading port.
However, historical records are not entirely consistent.
Researchers have noted that the Nguyễn dynasty genealogy does not clearly record a daughter of Lord Nguyễn Phúc Nguyên named Ngọc Hoa.
This has led to several interpretations.
Some scholars believe she may have been an adopted daughter raised within the Nguyễn court.
Others suggest she may have belonged to a branch of the Nguyễn family connected through maternal relatives. Japanese historical sources provide another perspective.
Rather than focusing on her exact genealogy, they emphasize her noble status and connection to the ruling family of Annam. To the people of Nagasaki, what mattered most was that she represented the culture and prestige of a distant kingdom across the sea.
Regardless of the exact details of her birth, historical records from both countries agree on one important fact: she played a significant role in the relationship between Hoi An and Nagasaki during the golden age of maritime trade.
Her marriage to Araki Sotaro became one of the earliest documented personal connections between Vietnamese and Japanese societies, helping to transform commercial ties into a deeper cultural relationship.
More than four centuries later, discussions about her origins continue—not because historians doubt her importance, but because her story sits at the intersection of history, memory, and tradition.
3. How Did Princess Anio Become Part of Nagasaki's Cultural Memory?
Perhaps the most remarkable story associated with Princess Anio is not about her title or ancestry, but about her lasting place in the everyday culture of Nagasaki.
More than four hundred years after her arrival in Japan, Anio-san remains a familiar and beloved figure in the city.
Her story is remembered through local historical studies, cultural exchanges, and most famously through the Nagasaki Kunchi Festival.
During the festival's traditional performance of the Red Seal Ship, Anio-san is ceremonially welcomed aboard the vessel and brought to Nagasaki, recreating the historic voyage that connected Hoi An and Japan in the seventeenth century.
This tradition demonstrates how deeply her story has become woven into local identity.
Some researchers and members of the Nagasaki–Vietnam Friendship Association have also suggested that her influence may extend to local dining customs.
One example often mentioned is the use of large round red dining tables.
While traditional Japanese dining commonly used rectangular wooden tables and individual servings, Nagasaki developed distinctive communal dining styles influenced by centuries of international exchange.
Another characteristic is the practice of sharing food from large dishes placed in the center of the table.
This style closely resembles Vietnamese family meals, where multiple dishes are shared among everyone gathered around the table.
Although it is impossible to prove that these customs originated directly from Princess Anio herself, local tradition continues to associate them with the cultural exchanges that followed her arrival in Nagasaki.
Whether viewed as history, cultural memory, or local legend, these stories reveal how one individual can leave an impact that extends far beyond her own lifetime.
Source: Discovery Nagasaki
Conclusion
The story of Princess Anio is more than a historical account of a noblewoman who traveled from Hoi An to Nagasaki.
Her many names reveal how cultures remember the same person in different ways. Discussions about her origins highlight the challenges of reconstructing history across centuries. Stories about her influence on local traditions demonstrate how cultural exchange can continue long after historical events have passed.
Together, these three stories show why Princess Anio remains an enduring symbol of friendship between Vietnam and Japan.
More than four hundred years after her journey across the sea, she continues to connect the people of Hoi An and Nagasaki—not only through history, but through shared memories, traditions, and cultural heritage that remain alive today.
Related Articles
Princess Anio (Ngoc Hoa): A Bridge Between Vietnam and Japan
Araki Sotaro: The Japanese Merchant Who Married Princess Anio
Lord Nguyen Phuc Nguyen and Hoi An's Golden Age
Red Seal Ships and Maritime Trade Between Hoi An and Nagasaki
Nagasaki Kunchi Festival and the Legacy of Anio-san
External Resource
For more information about Nagasaki's cultural heritage, visit the official website of Nagasaki City Tourism
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