The Japan Foundation, Manila

JFM is now hiring for a Program Coordinator in the field of Japanese Language Education! The Program Coordinator will support the implementation of Japanese language education programs under the NIHONGO Partners (NP) Team. The role involves program coordination, logistics management, and administrative support. The NIHONGO Partners Program dispatches individuals from Japan to assist Japanese language teachers in Asia while fostering cultural exchange. Applicants based in the Philippines only. For more details and application instructions, visit here: .ph/events-and-courses/job-vacancy-announcement-program-coordinator-nihongo-partners-np/

Nihongojin Connect 2026 Quiz Series is officially starting! Did you already read the latest issue of Nihongojin Connect 2026? We are happy to announce the launch of the Nihongojin Connect 2026 Quiz Series, a monthly online quiz activity where participants can test their knowledge, learn more about the Nihongojin community, and get a chance to win exciting JFM giveaway items! This month’s theme: What is Nihongojin? 📌 Read the Nihongojin Connect here: Nihongojin Connect! 2026 📥 Download the complete Nihongojin Connect series here: .ph/newsletter/nihongojin-connect/ 📝 To participate in the quiz, please scan the QR code or click this link: /r/BHmZN3HtAq 📌 To view the quiz mechanics, please click this link: /file/d/15t6m4Ooexcn45d80twvb1DbX1j6ycxoU/view?usp=sharing Let’s learn together—“Sama-zama” tayo!

[WATCH NOW] 3rd Advocacy Seminar on Japanese Language Education “Building a Future of Working Together – Part 2: Intercultural Communicative Competence for the Workplace” How can we build stronger workplaces where Filipino and Japanese teams can truly collaborate beyond language barriers? Watch the full video of our 3rd Advocacy Seminar featuring expert insights from academia and industry on: ✅ Intercultural communication in the workplace ✅ The importance of mediation (仲介) and bridge-building roles ✅ Case-based learning using real workplace scenarios ✅ Practical Japanese education beyond JLPT ✅ DENSO Techno Philippines’ FUSION initiatives toward a “One Team” culture ▶️ Watch Full Video: https://youtu.be/doJ88i6zsiE?si=GE0L2NTcAfG5is9l

Thank you to everyone who joined our Built for Battle: Gundam Model Making workshop last May 9! It was an afternoon of fun and family bonding while building battle-ready Gunpla models. Whether you were a first-time builder or a longtime hobbyists, we hope you had a blast. 🤖 Thank you as well to @bankeetoys.ph and Gundam Philippines for making this event a success! You can catch the OMOCHA: Japanese Toys Today exhibition until May 31st at the @metmuseummanila to see Gundam and other popular Japanese robot toys. Museum Hours: 🕐Tuesdays to Fridays: 11AM to 6PM 🕐Saturdays and Sundays: 10AM to 6PM Admission is FREE (for the Omocha exhibition only)!

The OMOCHA: Japanese Toys Today exhibition opening was an evening of celebration, fun and nostalgia! We were honored with the presence of Ms. Tina Colayco (President, The M), Madame Akiko Endo (wife of Ambassador Kazuya Endo of the Embassy of Japan), Mr. Bernan Joseph Corpuz (Deputy Executive Director for Operations, NCCA), and Mr. Ben Suzuki (Director, Japan Foundation, Manila) who officially opened the exhibition with a toast! Guests were all smiles as they went around the gallery and saw familiar toys that were surely an endearing part of their childhood. They enjoyed the interactive areas where they got to play with both traditional and modern Japanese toys, and take home an exhibition souvenir from gashapon machines! In their speeches, Madame Akiko hopes we, "always hold on to our childlike sense of wonder", while Director Suzuki encouraged everyone to "find your own Omocha". Truly, this exhibition is for the young and the young at heart to discover, or even re-discover, objects that remind them of wonderful moments of play. You can visit the exhibition until May 31st at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, BGC. Museum Hours: 🕐Tuesdays to Fridays: 11AM to 6PM 🕐Saturdays and Sundays: 10AM to 6PM Admission is FREE (for the Omocha exhibition only)!

Nihongojin Connect! 2026 is here! We are excited to share the latest issue of Nihongojin Connect!, the official newsletter of the JFM Japanese-Language Education Section. This year’s theme is 様々 “Sama-zama”—a meaningful play on words combining the Japanese expression sama-zama (“various” or “diverse”) and the Filipino expression sama-sama (“together”). Together, it expresses unity in diversity—people with different backgrounds and perspectives coming together to learn, collaborate, and move forward toward a shared goal. This edition features highlights of our projects and activities, inspiring success stories from the Nihongojin community, and updates on Japanese-language education initiatives across the Philippines. To download the complete Nihongojin Connect series, please visit the link below: .ph/newsletter/nihongojin-connect/ 📌 You can access the digital copy here: /view/867956865/ #JFManila #NihongojinConnect #SamaZama #Nihongo #JapaneseLanguage #NihongojinCommunity

OMOCHA: Japanese Toys Today is now officially open! Catch the exhibition from May 6 to 31, 2026 2F North Gallery, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, BGC FREE ADMISSION (for this exhibition only) Join us as well for our upcoming FREE events: 👣 TOY TRAILS | Guided Tours Saturday | 9 May 2026 | 11:00AM Thursday | 14 May 2026 | 1:00PM Saturday | May 2026 | 1:00PM 🤖 TOY STUDIO | Built for Battle: Gundam Model Making Saturday | 9 May 2026 1:00PM - 5:00PM 🧸TOY STUDIO | Craft Your Creature: Cardboard Figure Crafting with Baste Cacho Sunday | 17 May 2026 2:00PM - 5:00PM 🎤TOY TALKS | Custom Collabs: Creative Partnerships Through Art with Quiccs Sunday | 31 May 2026 4:00PM - 5:00PM REGISTER NOW: 🔗/OmochaJFMPrograms #OMOCHAJapaneseToysToday #TravellingExhibition

“Hana Matsuri: Rebirth of Life”, STAGE BEYOND BORDERS’ original “Traditional and Folk Performing Arts” series, is now available As the strength of the sun wanes at the winter solstice, Hana Matsuri is a call to revitalize the fading life force of the earth 🌞🔥 With roots in the 14th century, it's thought to have been spread by trainee monks in the local mountains👹🥁 Today the festival is held in ten neighborhoods in Toei Town, Aichi prefecture between November and January. A bubbling cauldron of sacred water is a symbol of overflowing vitality. Once carried out on an epic scale of seven days and seven nights, the rites have evolved into a festival of restoration that brings good health and abundant harvests still celebrated today🌾 Discover it in the video ✨ https://youtu.be/UQVlJvxmaL4

Take a look at these behind-the-scenes moments from the STELLA DANCE JAM Press Conference at Waterside, Solaire, and the auditions for the "Stellas" - Rising young talents - held in Manila and Davao. From the official Press Conference to the intense energy at the Manila and Davao auditions, the road to this historic collaboration is paved with incredible talent. We can’t wait for these rising young dancers to shine alongside world-class icons this June!

"What does it mean for Butoh, an art form born in postwar Japan, to move across borders and take root in new cultural landscapes?" Moving Roots, Moving Cultures: The Asia Butoh Gathering 2026. Organized by Kapwa Movement Project with the support of The Japan Foundation, Manila, the gathering created a rare platform where Butoh practitioners from different countries could meet, share their practices, and reflect on the evolving presence of Butoh in Asia. Read more about ASIA BUTOH GATHERING 2026 on SUKI, the official magazine of JFM: .ph/performing_arts/moving-roots-moving-cultures-the-asia-butoh-gathering-2026/

Tickets are now available for 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐆𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢! 🍃 Film Concerts PH presents this purely-orchestral program in partnership with The Japan Foundation, Manila (@jfmanila ), and endorsed by Studio Ghibli. Featuring the original suites by Joe Hisaishi from 𝙃𝙤𝙬𝙡‘𝙨 𝙈𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙡𝙚, 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝘼𝙬𝙖𝙮, 𝙈𝙮 𝙉𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙗𝙤𝙧 𝙏𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙤, and 𝙆𝙞𝙠𝙞’𝙨 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 performed live by the 83-piece Filharmonika Orchestra (@filharmonika ), under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga (@gerardsalonga ) at The Theatre at Solaire. 🎟️ Get your tickets today at the link in our bio. #StudioGhibli #LiveConcert #Orchestra #FilmConcert #FilmConcertsPH

Celebrate 70 years of Philippines-Japan friendship with STELLA DANCE JAM (SDJ)! Experience the historic, long-awaited collaboration between global dance icon RIEHATA and Kings of P-pop, SB19. Joining them on stage are the "Stellas"—rising young dancers from both nations selected to perform alongside these world-class artists. Special Performers: Philippines - SB19 (June 20) , XONARA / J2X (June 21) Japan - RIEHATA, RHT (A dance collective of dancers trained by RIEHATA) 🗓️ June 20 & 21, 2026 📍 The Theatre at Solaire 🎟️ Tickets: On sale via TicketWorld starting May 23. (Date subject to change; Audience: 18y.o. and above only) Don't miss this 70th-anniversary milestone! Organizer: The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) Co-organizer: Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Supported by: JTI Philippines, All Nippon Airways (ANA) In cooperation with: 1Z Entertainment Production Support: Nippon Television AX-ON Inc. Photo & Video Co-Production: First Light Studios (FLS)