JAPAN Foundation Manila (JFM) Director Hiroaki Uesugi is one of the most adorable and charming people in the diplomatic community.
Standing at a generous 5 feet tall, Uesugi welcomes everyone he meets with a warm smile, while holding conversations with those around him with the warmth and sincerity of a longtime friend.
On his second tour of duty in the country, Uesugi was welcomed back by old faces and even more new faces when he again set foot in his old office.
“There were hugs and claps. We also had a bigger office space,” Uesugi quipped in describing his return to JFM.
Still, Uesugi is proud of the fact that JFM, on its 20th year, has continued to play a key role in fostering closer Japan-Philippine relations.
He believes the two countries are now at their friendliest, and that their two decades of operation in the country are productive and rewarding years.
The initial curve ball
Uesugi’s current 27-year career in Japan Foundation was never really in his initial plans after graduating from college.
Armed with a degree in liberal arts with specialization in international relations focused on Central and South America, Uesugi initially wanted to be part of the media.
“I was thinking of joining the mass media and reporting news on what is happening in remote areas. My dream also was to be dispatched abroad and write about politics and human rights,” Uesugi said.
However, instead of becoming a reporter covering international events, Uesugi instead landed a job with a steel manufacturing company where he spent his the first one-and-a-half years as a happy and contented employee.
Uesugi found out about Japan Foundation in a newspaper where he said the foundation was conducting an open call for new staff. A college friend also informed him on the career opportunities there.
It got him interested, because he said that he wanted not just to work for profit but to work with people.
Uesugi added that he had to go through a written examination and interviews to become part of the Japan Foundation.
“It was competitive,” he said.
However, compared to his time, Uesugi said that it is tougher to get into Japan Foundation these days.
He said that from more than 1,000 applicants, Japan Foundation today only hires, at the most, 10 individuals.
Japan Foundation was established in 1972 through a special legislation from the Japanese Diet. With presence in 23 countries worldwide, it is the only institution from Japan dedicated to carrying out comprehensive international cultural exchange programs.
“I was not confident that I will be able to join Japan Foundation,” Uesugi said.
But, after a week, he got a phone call informing him that he is set to become part of the foundation.
“I was surprised, delighted and worried. It was the best way for me and the future of my career,” he said.
When the manufacturing company found out about his career direction, it urged him not to resign.
He said it was tough for him because, in Japan, they value loyalty.
Built to last
By 1989 Japan Foundation assigned Uesugi in the planning division, where he handled the international exchange programs between local cities in Japan and international countries.
“We were giving out special awards for local non-governmental organizations promoting international exchange. It was a time when the internalization of Japan started,” he said.
At that time, he had four staffs and had long working hours as they handled East and Southeast Asian countries.
Afterward, he was part of the training facility of the Japan Language Institute in Saytama. There, Uesugi handled the institute’s newsletter while also conducting surveys.
Then, he was assigned to the Global Partnership department, where he was part of the team that handled United States and Japan relationship.
After one year and a half, Uesugi was again assigned to the language training facility but this time in Osaka.
There, Uesugi handled the logistics needed for the trainings and the coordination with those participating in the various programs including their tours.
“I had to think about their food because some come from the Middle East and others from all over the world,” he said.
He said the language training facility host foreign librarians and researchers along with high-school and college students that have passed Japan Foundation’s application process.
One for the ages
Uesugi’s first experience with the Philippines was in 2000, when he was assigned as the assistant director of JFM.
It was a job he would hold for five years, an unusually extended period of time, as most job postings are for only four years.
“I was surprised and worried. I was initially looking at Australia and Canada,” Uesugi said, when he learned that he will be assigned to the Philippines.
Uesugi said he had very limited information about the country before, which made it also exciting for him.
Upon his arrival, his first observation of the Philippines was its huge population and urbanized areas.
“There were so many people. Makati was developed,” he said.
Inside JFM for the first time, Uesugi said there was a small welcome party and he quickly became comfortable with the office environment.
He said at the time they had two Japanese and four Filipino staff along with three language teachers with their work focused on their three pillars, including language education, arts and culture, and Japanese studies and intellectual exchange.
Uesugi said some of the most memorable time was the activities they held in various parts of the country, including Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Ilocos and Tacloban.
“I have good memories of the film festivals where we brought 16mm projectors to the provinces. It was exciting to meet different people. I enjoyed the time outside the office,” he said.
And some of those people are with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where, accidentally, he became a theater actor for the first time.
According to Uesugi, he was observing a workshop conducted by Japanese producers for Filipino actors when the artistic director of Tanghalang Pilipino asked him if he would be willing to do a small role for an upcoming play.
“I said yes,” Uesugi said, citing that Rhythm Method was originally a Japanese play.
Afterward, he was again asked to be part of the theater when they approached him to play Count Paris in the local staging of Romeo & Juliet.
He said it was a big role that had him speaking in English and Tagalog.
More curve balls
After his first five-year stay in the country, he was assigned back to Japan, not just for three or four years but 10 years, as part of Japan Foundation’s personnel division in Tokyo.
He was assigned to do human-cost accounting, social welfare and even employee retirement.
Uesugi was surprised that he was in that department for 10 years and never bothered to ask his superiors for the reason behind it, as he was happy with his career.
But in August 2015, he was surprised to learn that he was again being sent back to the Philippines, this time as the new JFM director.
“I was surprised positively. I did not expect to be back in the Philippines,” he said.
He said they would expand on their current programs and make their content more attractive.
He added that it is not just about introducing Japan to the Filipinos, but having more collaboration.
Uesugi, the sixth JFM director, said he would never micromanage their staff in the office.
He said they will hold regular meetings with the staff, but he will never be strict.
What is important to Uesugi is that everyone in JFM will have a good working atmosphere.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano