a member of the Japan Foundation Nihongo Network, also known as the “Sakura Network.” The goal of the members is to enhance Japanese language education in their region or country utilizing various programs provided by the Japan Foundation. With 55 member institutions in Southeast Asia, in the Philippines, the membership includes De La Salle University, Philippine Normal University, University of the Philippines–Diliman, Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku, and The Japan Foundation, Manila.
In the first orientation with fellow member institutions, Mr. Mamoru Morita, Manila Japanese Language Education Adviser for the Japan Foundation Manila, provided examples of projects conducted by other members in the world. Given that the Philippine membership was primarily based in Manila, one of the goals was to make sure that the programs would be inclusive of areas where there is no membership. One of the suggestions was a hiragana/katakana design competition called “Kanakon.” The competition was launched in Korea in 2015, where high school students would use hiragana or katakana as the motif for a graphic design.
Kingyo Sukui
(Goldfish Scooping), 2017 Karasu (Crow), 2015
Kujira no Uta (Whale Song), 2016
On January 2017, the Japanese Studies Program conducted a nationwide Kana Competition, an art competition involving the creative use of Hiragana and Katakana characters by Filipino Nihongo learners. The competition aims not only to encourage current Nihongo students to study Japanese further but to also attract the attention of non-students regarding the beauty of the language. The goal is to make this a long-running competition.
For Filipinos, learning a new language proves to be difficult given that from the onset, most of the population is already tri-
nationwide, it also de-centers the Nihongo language learning programs from primarily Manila-based institutions to some institutions in Davao and Cebu as well, to promote language learning from existing partners of Japan Foundation in the Philippines.
With the cooperation of Japan Foundation through its network of teachers via their teacher training programs, as well as the networks of the Association of Filipino Nihongo Teachers (AFINITE), the initial run of the competition would have six winners, with three winners per category: Category A: grade school to high school and Category B: college to professionals.
The top three winners overall was flown to Manila for the awarding ceremonies at the Ateneo de Manila University.
Due to the lack of promotion, however, we only received 8 applications for the junior division and 11 applications for the open division. We received 5 entries from Young Achiever’s International School, 1 entry from National College, 1 entry from Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School of Davao, and 1 from Spurgeon School Foundation, Inc. For the open division, 9 entries were from Ateneo de Manila University, 1 entry from the professional sector, 1 entry from the National College. The meager number is due to the short time when the call for participation was made, while looking for prizes took long. We are hoping for more active participation from our Sakura Network partners.
Ushi (Cow), 2017 by Hannah Kim Spurgeon School Foundation, Inc.
Butoukai (Dance), 2017 by Marc Lenin Yaneza The National College
Anime (Anime), 2017 by Sweet Sherahzel Irlandez Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School of Davao
Ahiru (Duck), 2017 by Alyssa Cuan Ateneo de Manila University
Usagi (Rabbit), 2017 by Kristi Ingco Ateneo de Manila University
Erebeta (Elevator), 2017 by Sabrina Sandoval Ateneo de Manila University
Despite the previous year’s response, the Japanese Studies Program decided to push through with a 2nd Philippine Kana Art Competition, partnering with Japan Foundation and National Bookstore. The competition began on October 17, 2017, and ended on March 9, 2018. There were several changes that were introduced to the contest, including the conduct of Kana Art workshops—two in Manila and two in Cebu—by
Kosho (Black Pepper), 2018 by Stephanie So Grace Christian College
Kotatsu, 2018 by Lara Angelica Lupo Cordova National High School, Cebu
Kikku (Kick), 2018 by Noel Zmed Bag-id Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial School, Cebu
Koi, 2018 by Kiara Maria Aribal Ateneo de Manila University
Kabedon, 2018 by Nicole del Rosario University of the Philippines, Diliman
It is the hope of the Japanese Studies Program that more and more people become interested in learning about Japanese language in the future.
Karl Ian Cheng Chua Department of History Japanese Studies Program kchengchua@gmail.com
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