THE Philippines will be putting its best foot forward as it participates in the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai in Japan.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco made the announcement on Saturday, at the opening of the two-day Japan Fiesta 2023, underscoring the country’s desire to further strengthen its ties with Japan. The Philippines’s participation in the next world expo from April 13 to October 13, 2025, “will show the best of the Filipino people,” she stressed. The Philippines also participated in the last World Expo, which was held in Dubai from October 1, 2021 to March 3, 2022.
Held at the Glorietta Activity Center and Palm Drive Activity Center in Makati, Japan Fiesta 2023 was organized by the Embassy of Japan, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Japan Foundation Manila, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc. (JCCIP), and Japanese Association Manila Inc., collectively known as the Japanese Fiesta Council. Japan’s Ambassador to Manila Koshikawa Kazuhiko described the event as a “joyous celebration,” where visitors were able to have “an authentic experience of Japan right in the heart of Makati.”
He added, “I am delighted that Filipinos are becoming more interested in Japanese culture and using their ingenuity to make it their own, thus creating a unique blend of both our cultures.”
For her part, Frasco confessed to being a fan of Japan products, like many Filipinos. “I myself am a huge fan of sashimi, sake, and sakura. And through this Japan Fiesta, you’re giving our fellow Filipinos an opportunity to take a peek into the window of Japan, and hopefully, visit your beautiful country. This mutual relationship, we hope to be able to develop in the next few years through the help of our good Ambassador.”
According to local outbound travel agencies, Japan is one of the favorite tourist destinations of Filipinos, with over 600,000 visiting the country in 2019. In turn, there were 682,000 Japanese tourists in the Philippines that same year. (See, “Revenge travelers unfazed by weak peso, bookings up,” in the BusinessMirror, November 7, 2022.)
In his visit to Tokyo in February, however, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appealed to the Japanese government to lift its travel advisories against the Philippines. A Level 3 advisory was issued on November 1, 2019 instructing Japanese nationals to avoid visiting several provinces in Mindanao, likely as a result of the Jolo Cathedral bombing earlier that year. (See, “Boy band member is new ‘Tourism Ambassador’ for Philippines in Japan,” in the BusinessMirror, February 10, 2023.)
With the goal of strengthening the friendship of Japan and the Philippines, the Japan Fiesta Council gathered major airlines and travel agencies at Japan Fiesta 2023. Visitors were able to book their tickets, schedule their tours, and buy their travel essentials from the council’s partner airlines and agencies during the event. Filipinos still need a tourist visa to visit Japan, but no longer need to get a Covid test as long as they have received three doses of Japan-approved Covid-19 vaccine.
Also present at Japan Fiesta 2023’s opening were JNTO Executive Director Makoto Watanabe, Japan Foundation Manila Director Ben Suzuki, and representatives of the JCCIP and Japanese Association Manila.
Aside from travel booking options, visitors to Japan Fiesta 2023 were also able to get a taste of Japan at through kiosks offering Pocky snack, takoyaki (grilled balls with octopus chunks), gyoza (pork-filled dumplings), and Japanese beer among others.
Providing entertainment to the guests were performances by the Namahage Satokagura, composer and taiko player Leonard Eto, Taiko Drummers, all-female groups MNL48 and R RULES, and cosplay group OtaCutE. Stars of the upcoming GMA series Voltes V: Legacy also made an appearance at the event.
Image credits: Embassy of Japan/Facebook