DAVAO CITY – The Davao City government is hopeful that Philippine cinema will one day carve out its niche in Japan as the Japanese Film Festival 2024 here kicked off at SM City in Ecoland on Friday, February 23.
Committee on Education, Science, and Technology, Arts and Culture head Councilor Pilar C. Braga, who welcomed the guests, media, and spectators at the festival’s opening, said the films connect one country to another.
JAPAN Foundation in Manila representative Carlos Ortiz (left), Davao City Councilor Pilar Braga (second from left), Japan Embassy in Davao Consul General Ishikawa Yoshihisa (third from left), and Engr. Jonathan Nick Santos (right), assistant vice president for Mindanao operations of SM Supermalls, share a toast during the opening of the Japanese Film Festival 2024 at SM City Davao on Friday, February 23. (Ivy Tejano)
“The movies are powerful tools or platforms to highlight the culture, the arts, the traditions, and the values of a country and people. It promotes goodwill, brotherhood, and peace between Japan and the Philippines,” Braga said.
Braga recalled that long before the outbreak of World War II, Davaoeños welcomed Japanese migrants, who put up various businesses, especially the abaca industry in Davao City. The city has been called Little Tokyo, particularly in Mintal.
“We hope that the Philippine films will also find their place in Japan while we’re here experiencing and enjoying Japanese films,” said Braga, who thanked the Japanese Embassy, Japan Foundation, and SM Supermalls for organizing such a significant event.
The Japan Foundation in Manila teamed up with SM Cinema to reintroduce on-site screenings of the Japanese Film Festival, which showcased 13 commended full-length films screened at the SM City malls in Davao, Cebu, Baguio, Iloilo, and Metro Manila.
Engr. Jonathan Nick D. Santos, assistant vice president for Mindanao operations of SM Supermalls, said it is part of their advocacy with the Japan Foundation to reach out to the community and showcase Japanese traditions and culture for everyone’s better understanding.
The film festival also featured “Voltes V Legacy: The Cinematic Experience,” a Filipino live-action adaptation and reinterpretation of the well-loved anime series Voltes V produced by the Toie Company and animated by Nippon Sunrise aired from 1977 to 1978.
Consul General Ishikawa Yoshihisa of the Japan Embassy in Davao said he hopes the 14 movies in this year’s festival will continue to promote friendship, coordination, and understanding between Japan and the Philippines.
Japan Foundation in Manila Director Yojiro Tanaka, in a message read by his representative Carlos Ortiz, said that Davao holds a special place as a vibrant metropolitan in the south, hosting the rich history and diverse culture of the Japanese.
“In acknowledging Davao’s rich culture, it is also worth highlighting the significant population of Japanese and Japanese descendants who have made Davao their own, contributing to the city’s diversity and holding culturalism,” Tanaka said.
Tanaka said the Japanese Film Festival is just one of their initiatives to deepen their engagement in the Davao region. He added that they look forward to further nurturing and strengthening the partnership with the people of Davao and Mindanao.
“If I may personally recommend a film in the lineup, ‘Angry Son’ stands out as the powerful story of the Philippine-Japan relationship,” Tanaka said, expressing profound gratitude to the Filipinos for supporting Japanese cinema.
Ortiz said that SM is an avid supporter of Japanese cinema in the country. He added that the festival is Japan’s way of showcasing Japanese films from different genres for free to show their appreciation to Filipinos.
The entire theater erupted with enthusiastic cheers for Team Shohoku as “The First Slam Dunk” was screened during the opening of the film festival, which, Yoshihisa said, is the certified movie hit in Japan, earning more than 15.74 billion yen or $112 million.
“Watching The First Slam Dunk is nostalgia! Film festivals like this can be a great opportunity to explore and appreciate the diverse cinematic offerings from different cultures,” Quinn Florence Astillo of the Ikigai Animation Studio in Davao said.
Astillo said Japanese cinema, in particular, is known for its unique storytelling, rich cultural themes, and artistic expression. He added that discovering and enjoying Japanese films could be a wonderful experience if people can attend the festival.
Kyla Abella, a student of the Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku, said she could not wait to watch more of the films at the festival, mainly “We Made a Beautiful Bouquet,” with her friends. She added that Japanese movies give another kind of movie style.
Yoshihisa thanked the Japan Foundation in Manila and the SM City Davao for hosting the festival in various areas of the country. He said he believes that movies are instruments that unite people between Japan and the Philippines.