JAPAN Foundation Manila (JFM) recently held multiple events as it rolled out Nihongo Fiesta 2016.
Over one weekend, the JFM, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan, staged the finals of the nationwide Nihongo Speech Contest, the eighth Nihongo Quiz Bee for high-school students, held a film screening for the animé Miss Hokusai and did a J-Pop concert.
Embassy of Japan First Secretary Seiki Furudate said the annual event is part of their push for greater cultural understanding between Japan and the Philippines.
“Filipinos are already familiar with Japanese pop culture. We hope they would understand more about Japan’s tradition,” Furudate said, adding that this year the Philippines and Japan will be celebrating their 60th year of diplomatic relationship.
He said both countries are very similar in the way its people place a lot of importance on families and giving respect to elderly people.
“There is historical connection. We share basic feelings. Our way of thinking is very close to each other,” Furudate said.
Furudate added that learning a new language is a responsibility of everyone as it assist in connecting people from different places and background.
The finals of the Nihongo Speech Contest, held at the Edsa Shangri-La Mall, was participated by 11 finalists, all women, who were divided into student, nonstudent and open divisions.
The grand prize went to Davao resident Princess Meg Perez, who discussed her body size and her dream of being an artist in Japan. As part of her prize winnings, she has been granted a seven days tour to Japan.
Among the judges for the contest were Embassy of Japan Director Tatsuo Kitagawa, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc. President Yoshio Amano, Kyodo News Bureau chief Tomohiro Deguchi, University of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning Assistant Director Prof. Karen Ann Jago-on PhD, JFM Language Education Adviser Naoko Hayakawa and JFM Director Hiroaki Uesugi.
Coinciding with the speech contest was the eight staging of the Nihongo Quiz Bee, which was participated by high schools in Metro Manila that offer Nihongo or Japanese classes in their respective schools.
JFM then screened the award-winning animé Miss Hokusai about the father and daughter team of famous Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai and his free spirited daughter O-Ei. The works of Hokusai has inspired artists from across the world including Monet and Debussy.
The following day, JFM staged Spinning Manila: J-Pop Live! over at White Space in Makati City.
The afternoon concert treated a packed crowd to the sounds of The Beatmotors, Diana Garnet and Joe Inoue.
The Beatmotors is a popular Japanese rock band that has the reputation of coming out with an all-out energy packed concert.
Garnet is one of the few prominent foreign artists to sign under a major Japanese record label, while Inoue is a singer producer and songwriter, who is part of J-Melo, a Japanese program seen in 150 countries. Both have a large following with animé fans.
Image credits: Rodel Alzona