Meet Japan’s new ambassador to the Philippines, Kazuhiko Koshikawa, who is enthusiastic about everything, including the barong Tagalog, sinigang, Astroboy, and Pikachu
Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa is not the first ambassador I interviewed but he’s the first one who made an effort to wear a barong to lunch in his own home. Relaxed and rather affable, he admits he’s not a fan of neckties and finds the barong a lot more comfortable and quite suitable for the climate in this part of the world, even in Japan.
His wife, the elegant and ever so gracious Madame Yuko, wore a kimono in a midnight hue, adorned with dainty flowers reminiscent of spring in her home country. “It’s the first time my wife got to wear a kimono here in the Philippines,” said the ambassador. Having arrived in the middle of the pandemic, he has found this posting rather different. There are no receptions and hardly any face-to-face meetings but that doesn’t mean the embassy hasn’t been busy.
Friends, not foes
“We are currently enjoying our golden age of bilateral relations,” Ambassador Koshikawa said. The Philippines and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1956 and we’re currently on the 65th year of that friendship. “It’s incredible because Japan was an ex-enemy. We invaded and caused damage to the Philippine people, so it took a long time to overcome and to cure the wounds,” he acknowledged. When the ambassador found out he was getting posted to Manila, one of the first things he did was visit the memorial to Elpidio Quirino in Tokyo’s Hibiya Park.
The former President is credited for a great act of magnanimity, normalizing relations with Japan and even granting clemency to some Japanese prisoners. This, even after he lost his wife and three children in the hands of the Japanese forces in 1945. Quirino’s act of forgiveness went a long way, as nowadays, Japan is the Philippines’ top development partner.
Currently, the Japanese are involved in building major thoroughfares and the country’s first subway. They’re also helping out in disaster risk reduction as well as in the peace process down south.
Cultural exchanges
Nowadays, Filipinos and the Japanese are closer than ever. The ambassador credits it to personal interactions between members of each community. More Filipinos have been visiting Japan since the ’80s and, among the Japanese, the Philippines remains to be a great vacation option. With visa requirements eased, numbers have started to balance out with both countries sending over 600,000 tourists per year. All pre-pandemic, of course.
Among such Filipinos is Dr. Romeo Balderrama who spent time in Japan studying ikebana. Just like Madame Yuko, he practices the ancient art of Japanese floral arrangement. He has proven to be quite an ambassador in his own right for the craft. “We continue to hold exhibitions online during the pandemic,” he said of his fellow ikebana enthusiasts in the Philippines. His arrangement for that day consisted of foliage—some standing proudly while a few were showing signs of age as they begin to turn yellow. In the middle, a lone chrysanthemum is at its peak. “I wanted to show the cycle of our life,” he added. Ambassador Koshikawa came a little closer to the vase and quipped that he was now represented by the yellowing leaves yet we all agreed that his energy proved otherwise.
‘It’s incredible because Japan was an ex-enemy. We invaded and caused damage to the Philippine people, so it took a long time to overcome and to cure the wounds.’
Lunch was prepared by Chef Daisuke Suzuki who received the Foreign Minister’s commendation as “Excellent Executive Chef.” He expertly prepared the classics like tempura, sushi, grilled ayu (a popular, sweet river fish from Japan), and teppanyaki-style Omi beef. He also served a fresh oyster with vinegar gelèe—lying on a bed of ice to keep its freshness—as an appetizer. The dish that caught everyone’s attention, however, was the guava sinigang ala Japan, the Philippines’ sour-savory soup cooked with distinctly Japanese flavors. It’s Chef Suzuki’s original dish which represents a cultural marriage between Japan and the Philippines.
Lunch went from noon until four in the afternoon but it still felt like it passed too quickly. This publication's Lifestyle editor, AA Patawaran, shared a lot of life and context to the lively discussions ranging from culture to politics with the ambassador and his team of bright and young officers.
In times like this, one is definitely reminded that the best way to share culture is over a fine meal and great conversation.
Anime diplomacy
“We are proud of our traditions. Our paintings, ikebana, tea ceremonies… but we are also proud of our pop culture,” Ambassador Koshikawa said while standing in front of a Yayoi Kusama artwork.
Born in the mind-1950s, the ambassador witnessed the success of manga and anime. When asked for his favorite, he mentions Osamu Tezuka, the father of manga and creator of AstroBoy. “I was born in 1956 and the television started appearing in homes in the ’60s,” the ambassador shared. His career also provided him a front seat to witness his country’s pop culture successes, experiencing it firsthand as ambassador to Spain. One university was offering Asian language classes and the ambassador was surprised to find out that Japanese had the most enrollees. “When I asked why they said it was to read manga and watch anime,” he said.
One of the most famous visitors in his residence here in Manila even set Filipino netizens abuzz. Pikachu came over in early January to enjoy some ketchup-omurice with the ambassador.
When it comes to keeping traditions alive while embracing their culture’s more modern aspects, Ambassador Koshikawa definitely understood the assignment. We’re all excited to see what he’ll be doing and sharing with us next.