ON January 23, Ambassador Koji Haneda and Consul General Yoshiaki Miwa attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony that celebrated the completion of the renovation and enhancement of the Philippine-Japan Historical Museum.
The effort was supported through the Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects of the Japanese government.
The museum in Calinan, Davao City, opened in 1994 through the efforts of Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai Inc. Its exhibits allow visitors to learn about the historical relationship between Japan and Davao, which started during the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the city in the 1900s.
Renovation and enhancement efforts to commemorate its 25th anniversary were initiated. The grant supported the renovation of the exhibit space and materials, as well as the installation of digital devices to further enrich the learning experience for visitors.
Haneda made a congratulatory address at the ceremony, as various activities livened up the event. Attendees witnessed the unveiling of a new signboard, the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the sake barrel-breaking called kagami biraki in Japanese. Children from the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School also rendered a song-and-dance number.