The Japan Foundation, Manila toasts to two decades

The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) reached a milestone on June 18 as it formally celebrated 20 years of successful cultural exchange endeavors in the Philippines through its three pillars: Japanese-Language Education in the Philippines; Arts and Culture; and Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange.

The 20th Anniversary Reception at the Peninsula Manila held Saturday afternoon was graced by distinguished figures in the arts and the academe led by Ambassador Benjamin Sanvictores, Executive Trustee, Philippine Japan Friendship Foundation; Ambassador Wilfrido Villacorta, Former Ambassador to the ASEAN; Cecilia B. Garrucho, President, Philippine Educational Theater Association; and internationally feted film director Brillante Mendoza who have been part of JFM’s journey through the years.

“On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Japan Foundation, Manila, we would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to our friends and partners in the Philippines. We believe the present relationship between the Philippines and Japan is the closest and friendliest, of which we are modestly proud that the Japan Foundation, Manila has been taking an active role in cultivating,” said Hiroaki Uesugi, Director of the Japan Foundation, Manila. “We would also like to take this opportunity to reaffirm and renew our commitment to strengthening the bond between the Filipino and Japanese peoples through cultural exchange for another two decades and beyond.”

Since its inception in 1996, JFM has developed immensely in all significant aspects. In the realm of Japanese-Language Education, JFM is at the forefront, administering the bi-annual Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). For the first-ever JLPT administered by JFM that took place in December 1996, there were less than 400 applicants, while 4,300 applicants applied for the December 2015 JLPT. According to the Survey Report on Japanese-Language Education Abroad, the number of Japanese language learners in the Philippines was 7,183 while the latest available Survey Report reveals 32,418 were learning Japanese in 2012, indicating an astronomical rise. Moreover, JFM has been providing intensive Japanese language training to qualified Japan-bound nurses and caregivers since 2011 under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). To date, beneficiaries under the JPEPA program total close to 1,200. As the year progress, the number of classes and workshops JFM provide to general Japanese language learners and educators have also increased. JFM has an ongoing partnership with the Department of Education since 2010 in introducing Japanese language education to public high schools, from which 94 teachers have already been trained by JFM.

JFM has efficiently produced a broad spectrum of Arts and Culture; and Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange projects throughout the years. For the first year the JFM was launched, there were only a handful of projects, whereas during the last fiscal year, the number of projects carried out in the field of Arts and Culture and Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange totaled over 30, attracting an estimated 150,000 Filipinos. More specifically, the Japanese Film Screening (now known as EIGASAI: The Japanese Film Festival), which was launched one year after the establishment of JFM and thus the longest-running annual project was first held at a cultural institution for 12 days, and now, it has grown to one of the biggest and most popular international film festivals in the Philippines, screening in eight venues including major cinema complexes, running over a month and attracting more than 20,000 audience annually. JFM also introduces the rich and diverse Arts and Culture of Japan, both traditional and modern, to the Filipinos by way of traveling exhibitions, performing arts such as taiko, bunraku, Rap in Tondo and Japanese Pop concerts, to name just a few. JFM has also been a staunch patron of Filipino artists and local grassroots creative groups that mirror its goals and values, supporting them through its wide range of grants.

The programs under the Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange pillar focuses on encouraging a greater understanding of Japan through supporting and promoting Japanese studies overseas, dialogues on critical global issues and shared concerns. Under its Japanese Studies Fellowship Program, JFM provided nearly 50 Filipino scholars and researchers with opportunities to conduct research in Japan, with the aim of supporting them and promoting Japanese Studies. Some of the Japanese Studies Fellows include National Artist for Literature Prof. Francisco Sionil Jose and Former Ambassador to the ASEAN Dr. Wilfrido Villacorta.

Furthermore, JFM has been continuously supporting academic institutions offering Japanese Studies in the Philippines, including Ateneo De Manila University, De La Salle University and University of the Philippines.

More importantly and significantly, with the launch of the Japan Foundation Asia Center in 2014, JFM accelerated in carrying out mutual exchange programs and cooperative projects between the people of Asian countries. In the Philippines, JFM has been facilitating Asia Center projects like Dance Dance Asia, which promotes creative synergy and widening network among street dance groups, and Asian Youth Jazz Orchestra, as well as grants and fellowship programs that promote cultural collaborations, people-to-people exchanges and researches. NIHONGO Partners, also launched by the Asia Center, has sent out 334 NIHONGO Partners to the ASEAN region as of Saturday. In the Philippines, a total of 14 were dispatched to support local Japanese language teachers and students, and spread the charms of the Japanese language and culture.

Internally, the number of staff has increased from fewer than ten to over 35 -- a growth reflected symbolically in 2012 with the transfer to a bigger office from 12th to 23rd floor, with an addition of the JFM library, of the same building.

JFM fortuitously celebrates its 20th Anniversary along with another significant and pertinent milestone, the 60 Years of Philippines-Japan Friendship. JFM and the Embassy of Japan have prepared a special roster of events, such as the Japanese Design Today 100 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the enhanced four-city EIGASAI Japanese Film Festival, and Bunraku (traditional puppet theater of Japan) to celebrate the milestones. For more updates on the projects and events in this celebratory year, please visit JFM Facebook page.

Press release from The Japan Foundation, Manila