Nippon calling

Like the guys from King Crimson performing Matte Kudasai — what an alluring, otherwordly mix they all make.

You have that monolithic taiko drum (flown in specially by jumbo jet), those musclemen percussionists, and that boomingly cosmic beat. You have existential snapshots of contemporary Japan, its beautiful quirks, quirky beauty and all. You have a feast for cineastes and for those who dare follow Miyori into the sacred forest and a Kafkaesque doctor in the countryside. You can listen to ghost stories gathered from the grove or kids singing J-Pop. You have this and you have that. And more.  

For the entire month of July, there will be a cluster of exciting and colorful cultural events and activities co-presented by the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation Manila (JFM) — in cooperation with various partner organizations — to celebrate the longstanding friendship between Japan and the Philippines.

The Philippines-Japan Friendship Month is celebrated in July to commemorate the designation of July 23 as Philippines-Japan Friendship Day in the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries in 2006.

According to Tomoko Dodo, director of the embassy’s Japan Information and Cultural Center, there is something for everyone to enjoy and take part in the various cultural events and activities to fete the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month.

“(For this year’s lineup) we try to target people from various walks of life,” says Tomoko. “(Our goal was) to come up with a good mixture of different types of entertainment events for everyone. Since this is a friendship month, it’s not just us Japanese introducing our culture and society to the Filipino audience. We want to make it like an exchange program, so Filipino artists will also be performing in some events.”

She remembers last year’s program as being “more serious,” adding that this year there is more of a mix between the traditional and the contemporary.

Here is a rundown of the events put together by the Embassy of Japan and Japan Foundation Manila.

Yamato–Drummers of Japan

The co-presenters — together with SM Supermalls and Cebu Pacific Air — are bringing to the Philippines Japan’s finest taiko group Yamato for three nights of heart-pounding and exhilarating drum performances on July 8 (gala invitational, SM Mall of Asia Center Stage, 7:30 p.m.); July 9 (SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, 7:30 p.m.); and July 10 (SM North EDSA Sky Dome, 7:30 p.m.). 

Yamato, one of the best taiko ensembles from Japan, was formed in 1993 by Masaki Ogawa in Yamato-no-kuni (country of Yamato), the present day Nara Prefecture. The group is composed of 17 members who combine traditional Japanese musical formats with modern rhythms and themes. With more than 2,000 performances in 45 countries around the world to its credit, Yamato continues to bring its music to various audiences. 

2010 J-Pop Anime Singing Contest

Now in its second year, the J-Pop Anime Singing Contest will showcase the raw musical talent of 10 groups from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as they vie to emerge as this year’s J-Pop, J-Rock and anime singing idols at the Cyberzone Event Center of SM North EDSA on July 24. The audience will also be treated to other activities such as anime-making demonstration by Toei Animation Philippines, musical performance by the Embassy of Japan’s “No Plan” band, a special Hero TV booth, a meet-and-greet session with Doraemon, and a chance to have one’s picture taken with colorfully-garbed cosplayers.

This event is co-organized by the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation Manila with the cooperation of SM Supermalls, SM Cyberzone, Toei Animation Philippines, Nihongo Center Foundation, Center for Pop Music, Yoshinoya, Animation International Licensing, Heritage Hotel, Ajinomoto, Canon, Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba and Yakult, with Hero TV and Max FM 103.5 as media partners. 

Tomoko explains, “Although we target the younger generation, we are aware that manga and anime are popular even among people in their ’50s and ’60s.” Imagine seeing card-carrying members of the senior citizen brigade in samurai, schoolgirl or vampire-hunter costumes. Now that would be cool.

Out Of The Ordinary/Extraordinary – Japanese Contemporary Photography Exhibition

The beauty and complexity of the world is filtered through the lenses of 11 contemporary Japanese photographers. The photo exhibit is co-organized by the Japan Foundation Manila and the Embassy of Japan with the cooperation of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila. 

‘In A Grove – Four Japanese Ghost Stories’

Spine-tingling tales from Japan will be presented in this horror/comedy play featuring four Japanese ghost stories by De La Salle University Manila students at the William Shaw Little Theater, De La Salle University on July 15 (7 p.m.) and 16 (3 p.m. and 7 p.m.).

If there were a play with sudden twists that could tickle one’s funny bone, this would be it. Maybe like Sadako meeting the Three Stooges. In a grove.

Embassy of Japan third secretary Sakura Ozaki concludes, “Japanese anime and J-Pop music are very popular in the Philippines, but there is still a lot of aspects about Japanese culture or Japanese lifestyle that are not really well-known here. So, we organize events to create awareness about (those aspects), and to really exchange (creative ideas).”

Tomoko agrees. “It’s the chance for Filipinos and Japanese to learn about each other.”

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For inquiries, call the Embassy of Japan at 551-5710 local 2318, or Japan Foundation at call 811-6155 to 58. For information on the program contacts, visit http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp (Embassy of Japan) and http://jfmo.org.ph (Japan Foundation Manila).