Japan Foundation President, Mr. Kurosawa Shinya visits NCF

October 16, 2024by secretariat in JFMO, PIJLC-NCF

On August 29, 2024, the President of The Japan Foundation, Mr. KUROSAWA Shinya, visited the Nihongo Center Foundation, Inc. (NCF) in Makati City. He was accompanied by Mr. SUZUKI Ben, Country Director of Japan Foundation Manila. Mr. Francis C. Laurel, NCF Chairman, Mr. Philip B. Sanvictores, President, and Mr. Kenjiro Ogata, Academic Advisor welcomed Mr. Kurosawa.

Mr. Laurel first showed Mr. Kurosawa the memorabilia of Ambassador Jose S. Laurel III, founder of The Philippines-Japan Society, including all its affiliate organizations, including NCF.

Then, Mr. Kurosawa met with NCF Management to discuss challenges in Japanese language learning. They also exchanged ideas on areas improvement as well as opportunities for expanding Nihongo learning in the country. Given the current state of Japanese language education in the Philippines, the meeting highlighted the need for teacher training in the country to address the perennial shortage of qualified Filipino teachers of the Japanese language.

Mr. Kurosawa also met with some members of the NCF Faculty, including former Japan Foundation Grantees for Short-Term and Long-Term Teaching Training Program at JF Urawa. The teachers took turns introducing themselves and engaging in casual conversations wherein Mr. Kurosawa also shared his previous professional experiences in the Philippines.

Sporting Japan: Manifestations of Society in Transition

February 10, 2021by Philip Sanvictores in Featured, JFMO

The Japanese Studies Program of Ateneo de Manila University, in cooperation with the International Studies Department, De La Salle University, and with the support of The Japan Foundation, invites everyone to

19th Annual International E-Conference of Japanese Studies

“Sporting Japan: Manifestations of a Society in Transition”

Dates: March 4 to 6, 2021 (Thursday to Saturday)
Venue: Zoom Webinar (zoom account is needed, invitation link will be sent upon pre-registration)
Open to the Public, Admission is Free

For registration CLICK HERE

Overview
Exploring the emerging scholarship on sports in Japan, this conference aims to revisit previous approaches and expand into new perspectives that better explain how Japan is trying to come to terms with the expanse and velocity of change both in the domestic and international sphere. Scholars are encouraged to rethink the confluence of sports and Japanese society by examining the themes related to sports, such as Japanese national and ethnic identity, multiculturalism, gender relations, tourism, public diplomacy, history, and the consumption of sports.

For more info, please visit HERE

For inquiries, please message @AteneoJSP, or email to japanese.soss@ateneo.edu

JFMO 20th Anniversary Series:
Suki Features Amb. Benjamin Sanvictores’ “Still Travelling After a 73-Year Journey”

November 15, 2016by Philip Sanvictores in JFMO, PJFF tagged benjamin f. sanvictores, jmfo, suki, the japan foundation manila office

Since its establishment in June 1996, the Japan Foundation Manila Office (JFMO) has remained true to its mandate of fostering friendship and promoting stronger cultural ties between Japan and the Philippines.

This year, JFMO marks its 20th anniversary, which fortuitously coincides with the 60 years of Philippines-Japan Friendship. And so, there had been major gatherings and special events since June 18 when the foundation formally celebrated its 20 years in the country.

But perhaps, among all the grand activities and painstakingly planned events and programs surrounding JFMO’s 20th Year celebration, the most insightful and inspiring would be its collection of essays written by colleagues, students, and friends of the foundation and published on its newsletter, Suki.

In its October Issue, Suki featured the story of Amb. Benjamin F. Sanvictores, Executive Trustee of The Philippines-Japan Friendship Foundation.

Reflective and lyrical, Amb. Sanvictores’ essay recalls his personal experience as an impetuous 15-year-old who joins a select group of young Filipino students bound for Japan during the height of World War II. He narrates, through his rich store of anecdotes, how his seemingly dangerous decision to live in the land of the “enemy” turned out to be a destined journey that gave him the privilege to work towards developing and maintaining the friendly Philippines-Japan relations that peoples of the two countries enjoy today.

Following is the full article of Amb. Sanvictores entitled “Still Travelling After a 73-Year Journey” as it was published on Suki and his Congratulatory Message delivered at JFMO’s 20th Anniversary Celebration:

Article and photos courtesy of Suki and The Japan Foundation Manila Office.