The application of Kamishibai in Vietnam

Abstract

This study explores the application of Kamishibai (紙芝居), a traditional Japanese storytelling medium, in Vietnam from both historical and educational perspectives. In the 1990s, Kamishibai served as a cultural bridge between Japan and Vietnam, particularly at the grassroots level: engaging local communities, cultural organizations, and individual cultural activists. Rather than constituting a one-way transmission of Japanese culture, this dialogue became reciprocal. Vietnamese authors began creating original Kamishibai works that incorporated local folklore and literature. They localized and reinterpreted the medium within the Vietnamese context. These efforts represent a deeper cultural engagement, beyond the mere introduction of foreign art forms. In recent years, the author has conducted experiments by implementing Kamishibai in university-level Japanese language classes in Vietnam to explore its pedagogical potential in depth. It has been used as a tool to enhance learners’ listening and speaking abilities, and as a creative platform for language output. This study positions Kamishibai not only as a medium of cultural exchange, but also as a promising multimodal educational resource that can enrich language-learning environments and promote deeper intercultural understanding.