Takano Isao - “The Brave Witness”

Japanese journalist Takano Isao (1943-1979)

“We must stand on the side of justice!”

Takano Isao was born in 1943 in Kobe, Japan. When he joined the Japanese Communist Party, Takano became an active youth activist. In 1967, Takano was sent to Vietnam to study Vietnamese at Hanoi University and graduated in 1971. B7bis is a common home for generations of international students studying Vietnamese, which is also a part of the youth, passion and motivation for many outstanding alumni, including Takano. The classes here have left a mark on Takano's passionate life with the Vietnamese language and Vietnamese people.

The memorial talk for journalist Takano Isao took place this morning, March 8, 2019 at the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language.

In his 36 years of life, Takano has devoted 12 years to Vietnam. Takano's footsteps have spread throughout Vietnam, from the southwestern border war to the war to protect the northern border. Takano's articles and images, still hot from the battlefield, have contributed to helping peace-loving people around the world understand the nature of the 1979 northern border war. Takano is also a translator of Vietnamese-Japanese literature, and the translator of two novels and memoirs: ""White Shirt" by Nguyen Van Bong and "When Mother is Away from Home" by Nguyen Thi in Japanese.

Japanese artist Tachibana Ryumei plays the flute in memory of the late journalist Takano Isao

In February 1978, as a special envoy and reporter for Akahata newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Japanese Communist Party, Takano tried every way to be in Lang Son as soon as possible when the border war broke out.

A barrage of enemy bullets across the Ky Cung River on March 7, 1979 took the life of the brave reporter. In the rain of bullets, Takano rushed forward to take pictures and was hit by a bullet, falling right in front of his Vietnamese comrade Nong Van Duong. When he died, his hand was still tightly holding the camera.

Later, Mr. Duong recounted: "I asked Takano why he came all the way to Vietnam and went into the area of ​​artillery shells, he said: "Going to Vietnam is our responsibility. In the just and unjust war, we must stand on the side of justice.”. “What if I die?”. Takano replied: “Sacrifice is inevitable for the career”. The above dialogue has shown all the noblest ideals of a true journalist that Takana pursues. He even considers death, if necessary, to serve that ideal of life.

The Vietnamese people are outraged and grieved by the sacrifice of journalist Takano. A memorial stele for Takano Isao, the only Japanese left on the northern border battlefield, was placed in the Hoang Dong martyrs' cemetery, where thousands of Vietnamese martyrs sacrificed their lives for the Fatherland.

The Head of the Department of Vietnamese Studies and Language introduces the life and career of the late journalist Takano Isao - a former student studying Vietnamese at the Department from 1967-1971.

Honor"Son of the majestic snowy land of Fuji"

The memorial talk for journalist Takano Isao took place warmly with the presence of representatives of friends and admirers of the late journalist; Vietnamese and Japanese journalists who met, accompanied and witnessed the moment of his sacrifice; and teachers who taught him Vietnamese at B7Bis - now the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU.

As Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thien Nam (Head of the Department of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language) shared: We are proud to be the place where former student and pioneer journalist Takano Isao studied and lived, leaving behind a beautiful example of someone who sacrificed his life for the ideals of other nations. "Truth and reason do not choose our hours." - Takano's last message before falling not only revealed a sincere heart, a fierce courage but also echoed as an admirable lesson about the personality and life of a journalist, a modern intellectual.

Journalist Goro Nakamura shares documents and commemorative photos of the late journalist Takano Isao

Journalist Goro Nakamura - who accompanied Takano on that fateful mission - carries with him an unending torment every time he recalls the moment his colleague sacrificed himself. He brought to the event many photos of the war, reflecting the brutality of Chinese soldiers and the indomitable fighting spirit of the militia, self-defense forces and people of Lang Son during that period. He brought emotional stories and images of journalist Takano on the battlefield. Journalist Takano's last notes still show his steadfastness in his perception and thinking about the war: "I see that the Chinese army is still occupying the peaks and while China says it is ready for dialogue, the Chinese soldiers in Lang Son attack with all their might whenever they see people or cars, regardless of whether they are civilians.”.

Principal Professor Pham Quang Minh thanks journalist Goro Nakamura

“I go first” were Takano's last words to journalist Goro Nakamura before he collapsed. “He was a good friend, a real man, a talented man. He seemed to have died for me." - journalist Goro Nakamura said in deep emotion.

Principal Professor Pham Quang Minh presented flowers to thank poet Anh Ngoc

Journalist and poet Anh Ngoc re-presented the poem “To Emi Katano” which he wrote just two days after attending the funeral of journalist Takano Isao and witnessing the pain of the journalist’s family. He said: “While many other journalists, including me, could not enter Lang Son during the fierce war, Takano and his Japanese colleagues bravely rushed forward and devoted themselves. That truly left me with admiration. Takano fell like a true soldier.”

Musician Pho Duc Phuong shares about the birth of the song "Takano - Brave Witness"

Musician Pho Duc Phuong shares his motivation for composing famous songs“Takano – The Brave Witness”:The sacrifice of journalist Takano left me deeply moved. I saw in him a wonderful attitude towards life and dedication, the courageous spirit of a true journalist, and above all, the conscience and personality of a man who always chose to stand on the side of justice.

The song has the line: “Please sing about the son of the majestic snow-white land of Fuji. He came to my homeland during the days of fire and smoke, his soul as fresh as the blooming cherry blossoms. Glory belongs to him, the soldier who sacrificed for the truth."The lyrics are not long but are enough to build up the image of Takano, a journalist, a witness in the Vietnam War. The lyrics also exude patriotism, imbued with the ideal of fighting for justice and the ideal of dedication of journalists.

Musician The Hien performs the song

The song “Takano - Brave Witness” was recorded by Voice of Vietnam, widely broadcast and performed by many famous Vietnamese singers at home and abroad. In 1979-1980, the song was performed by singer Ai Van in Japan and caused a great resonance among the Japanese people.

Mr. Dinh Thanh Hue - Vietnamese teacher of the late journalist Takano Isao

Musician/singer Thế Hiển talks about the special fate that has connected his artistic life with the above song: When he was 24 years old, a music student, learning about the sacrifice of journalist Takano Isao through the Saigon press at that time, he asked for this song from the author Phó Đức Phương and performed it at the graduation ceremony with only the accompaniment of a guitar. The emotional performance not only helped the musician graduate as valedictorian but later became his signature song that followed him all over the country to sing for the people for decades. "Vietnamese audiences love this song as much as they love Takano - a Japanese journalist considered a heroic martyr of Vietnam" - he affirmed.

Mr. Sato Yoshio - Head of the scholarship delegation of Takano's friends group, students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities at the event

The star apple tree that young Takano Isao planted in the B7Bis campus is now solemnly marked with the sign “Star apple tree planted by Takano Isao (1943-1979)”. It is a meaningful reminder: teachers and students of the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language, University of Social Sciences and Humanities as well as the young generation of Vietnam today will never forget him - journalist Takano Isao - “son of the majestic snowy land of Fuji" has become a part of the history and memory of the Vietnamese people.

Professor and Principal Pham Quang Minh and friends, fans of the late journalist Takano Isao next to the star apple tree planted by the Japanese journalist during his student days at B7Bis, now the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language, University of Social Sciences and Humanities.