Touyoukoi - bringing smiles through every dance.

Touyoukoi – Eastern Carp

When it was first established around February 2009, the Yosakoi team of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, was called the Oriental-Humanities Yosakoi Team. However, when the team's members were no longer limited to the Faculty but expanded to include students from other faculties, or even other universities, this name was no longer appropriate. Therefore, since 2011, the team has changed its name to...Touyoukoi(東洋こい), in itToyouIt means the East, andkoiThe name can be interpreted as both a carp (鯉) and love (恋). Explaining the choice of this name, H. Linh, a member of the team from the Department of Oriental Studies, said: “Our team chose the carp as a symbol with the meaning of 'carp transforming into a dragon,' hoping that the team will continue to grow and improve. The second meaning is our love for the Yosakoi dance, as well as for each other and for everyone.”

Touyoukoi was founded and managed by Mr. Pham Hoang Hung, a Japanese language lecturer at the Faculty. He invited experienced yosakoi practitioners to teach the team so they could participate in the Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) held in April 2009. The dance titled Nana marked the team's first year participating in the festival.

In the following years, 2010, 2012, and 2014, the team participated in the Cherry Blossom Festival. Each year, the team presented a new performance, and the number and quality of its members improved steadily. Most notably, at the 2015 festival, Touyoukoi was more refined than in previous years, with the addition of flags and lights to the performance, contributing significantly to its success.

Touyoukoi at the 2015 Cherry Blossom Festival. (Photo: Touyoukoi)

All it takes is "will and passion".

Currently, Touyoukoi has about 20 members, both male and female. However, the number of male members is sparse. When I asked if this disparity between the number of men and women was typical of a traditional yosakoi team, Linh laughed:"Yosakoi doesn't have any specific requirements, not just gender. In fact, almost anyone who wants to and is passionate about yosakoi can join. But I don't know if the guys are shy or if they think the team is only for women because there are so many female members, so the number of men in the team is a bit modest. We're really looking forward to seeing more male faces."

With a strong sense of teamwork, almost all activities in Touyoukoi involve the participation of all team members. Members often watch Japanese yosakoi teams perform, gather their favorite routines, discuss them, and choose the most suitable one. Then, the team leader is responsible for contacting the Japanese team to obtain permission for the performance and learning the movements to teach the rest of the team. Team members also help each other, with faster learners teaching slower ones to ensure uniformity among members and save practice time.

Normally, the team maintains two training sessions a week; however, during the "festival season," they will increase the number of sessions, sometimes even for an entire week. At peak times, the team trains every day until 8 PM. The training schedule is agreed upon by all members to fit their individual schedules.

The current members of the team. (Photo: Touyoukoi)

Challenges and teamwork

As an independent club, Touyoukoi has faced numerous challenges, particularly in financial matters. The team's fund (used for costumes, accessories, etc.) largely comes from member contributions, with a portion also derived from "gratuities" received for performances at festivals and events. Touyoukoi performs at almost every festival they are invited to, usually Vietnamese-Japanese cultural exchange festivals. The largest annual festival is the Cherry Blossom Festival, held around March-April. In addition, there are smaller festivals scattered throughout the year in various locations. Occasionally, the team also performs at some events organized by the University, Faculty, or other informal events.

Nguyen Thi Dung, a K53 student from the Faculty of Oriental Studies and one of the club's first members, recalled: "In the beginning, the club faced many difficulties. We even had to borrow clothes from our teachers. In the second season, we received a small allowance which we used for dry cleaning. But it was really fun back then, and we didn't think about anything other than teamwork. We were happy and worked together."

The second difficulty they faced was scheduling. Since almost all team members are students, and some are already working, arranging a common time slot for everyone to meet and practice together was quite challenging. Despite the difficulties, the members of Touyoukoi united to overcome them.

It's not just a club, it's the best memories of our student life.

Through yosakoi, Linh not only improved her physical fitness and relieved stress after intense study hours, but also learned how to always keep a smile on her face. She added: “I also learned how to work in a team, how to balance studying and practicing, and how to be more responsible to myself and others.” For Japanese studies students like Linh, club activities also serve as extracurricular activities. Through the dance, they absorb Japanese culture more deeply and become more attached to their major.

Speaking about her most memorable experience with the team, Dung shared: “It was on the last night of the Cherry Blossom Festival in 2010. It was raining heavily, but everyone still danced together. Sweat, tears of happiness, and a spirit of friendship blended together. That is one of the most beautiful memories of my student life.”

Perhaps, for the members of Touyoukoi, this club is no longer just a club but has become their family. Speaking about her team, Linh couldn't hide her pride: “Every festival season, I feel more love for the team, seeing the results of the team's training makes me truly happy. Every time I see photos or videos of the team's performance, I feel so proud to be a part of this wonderful group.”