Filipino-Japanese Journal May 2022

ISSUE #64 • MAY 2022 • FREE

& The Magic Continues Kathryn Bernardo

www.filipinojapanesejournal.com

Daniel Padilla

FILJAP MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012

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Contents

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Editor's Note n this month’s issue of FilipinoJapanese Journal (FJJ), we are lucky to have not just one but two cover stars – and they’re not just anyone – they’re Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, fondly called “KathNiel” by fans.

The reel and real-life couple marked their first decade in show business last year as the Philippines’ premier love team and is currently starring in their much-awaited teleserye comeback after five years titled, “2 Good 2 Be True (2G2BT).”

Our Cover Story (pp. 8-9) tells the lessons they learned from the series, the struggles they faced during the lock-in shoot, and their message for their fans in Japan and around the globe, as shared by the two Kapamilya superstars courtesy of ABS-CBN. It seems like luck is on our side as we also have a feature on Fumiya Sankai, the “Konnichi-Wonder Vlogger ng Japan” who is also a “Hapon na may pusong Pinoy.” He granted us an exclusive interview to give us an update on the last two years of his life that has seen major ups and downs (Spotlight, pp.

12-13).

Being the only Japan-based Filipino media that covers Hollywood premieres here, we have news on Tom Cruise’s planned visit to the country to promote his highly-anticipated film “Top Gun: Maverick.”

We also have the details on Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming charity marathon event in Tochigi City.

Last March 26, the Filipino-Japanese Journal was featured in an exclusive article published by Philippine-based Englishlanguage broadsheet publication Daily Tribune.

The article, “Filipino-Japanese Journal: Rising to new heights,” highlights how FJJ has grown “from its humble beginnings in the Philippines as a blogsite in 2011” to “slowly, but surely, reaching new heights in providing Filipinos not only in Japan but in the world credible news and information for Pinoys, Japanese and other nationalities.”

The same article was also published in the newspaper’s website, and we couldn’t be any prouder of our humble publication.

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IN THE NEWS

ON THE COVER

Japan Says it Wants Close Ties with New Philippine President

Kathryn Bernardo & Daniel Padilla: The Magic Continues

Tom Cruise to Make 24th Visit to Japan to Promote ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

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SPOTLIGHT Fumiya Sankai: A Life Update

Manny Pacquiao Foundation to Organize Charity Run in Japan for Poor Children in Philippines DA Allots PHP3-M for Promotion of Philippine Bananas in Japan

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Philippines’ Taho Now Available in Japan

Japan Confers One of Its Highest Honors on Manny Villar

Florenda Corpuz Editor-in-Chief

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IN THE NEWS

Tom Cruise to Make 24th Visit to Japan to Promote ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ PHOTOGRAPH BY DIN EUGENIO

TOKYO – Actor Tom Cruise will visit Japan later this month to promote his highly-anticipated film “Top Gun: Maverick.” It will be his 24th visit, the most by a Hollywood star.

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ruise, who last visited the country in July 2018 for “Mission: Impossible - Fallout,” the sixth installment in the MI film series, will be joined by producer Jerry Bruckheimer for the Japan premiere of the movie on May 24.

In his latest film, a sequel to his 1986 classic “Top Gun,” Cruise reprises his iconic role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell.

The long-awaited sequel will fly into Japanese cinemas on May 27. Florenda Corpuz

Japan’s Kishida Congratulates Marcos Jr. on Philippine Election Win MANILA – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on May 13 congratulated Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. following his victory in the Philippine presidential election last May 9.

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ccording to the Japan Embassy in Manila, Kishida sent a congratulatory letter to Marcos Jr. and expressed his determination to “further promote cooperation” between Japan and the Philippines as “strategic partners in a wide range of areas toward the realization of a Free and Open IndoPacific.”

Marcos Jr., the son of a former dictator, got more than 31 million votes in the 2022 national polls. Florenda Corpuz

Manny Pacquiao Foundation to Organize Charity Run in Japan for Poor Children in Philippines TOKYO – The Manny Pacquiao Foundation has joined forces with H3 Co., Ltd. to host its first charity marathon event to help children who are in dire conditions in the Philippines.

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he “Manny Pacquiao Charity Marathon,” to be spearheaded by Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, will be held at the City Football Station in Iwafune Sports Park, Tochigi City on May 22.

“Hello to Tochigi City and Mayor [Hideko] Okawa. Thank you for all your support. I hope to see you soon in Japan,” Pacquiao said in a video message.

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Participants can choose from three distances, namely the 3-km course, 5-km and 10-km. Pacquiao will run the 5-km route.

In addition, a charity concert will be staged with live performances from Pacquiao, The Brow Beat, Sho Kiryuin (Golden Bomber), CyberJapan Dancers, AKB48 (Saho Iwatate, Shinobu Mogi, Ayana Shinozaki, Kaori Inagaki, Minami Sato, Mizukii Yamauchi, Nanami Asai, and Erii

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Chiba) and MNL48 (Sheki, Jan, Coleen and Amy).

Proceeds from the one-day sport and entertainment event will be used to build schools for poor children in the Philippines and also reconstruct infrastructure damaged by Typhoon Odette. - Florenda Corpuz

IN THE NEWS

DA Allots PHP3-M for Promotion of Philippine Bananas in Japan DAVAO CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is providing PHP3 million as marketing and public relations campaign fund of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) to promote Philippine bananas in Japan.

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he campaign aims to strengthen the market access and possible price increase of Philippine bananas in the international

market.

“Davao Region is the agribusiness capital of the country. Seeing that the banana industry has remained still in spite of the pandemic is a manifestation that agribusiness needs private sector

to succeed,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a press conference on May 3.

For his part, PBGEA Executive Director Stephen Antig expressed his gratitude to the DA for their support to help the recovery of Davao Region’s banana sector.

“We thank the DA for its commitment and support for the banana industry. The domestic banana industry is optimistic that the

marketing campaign would enable producers to secure the support of Japanese consumers in our bid to adjust prices,” Antig said.

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), the Philippines exported $1.66 billion worth of bananas in 2020—making it the second largest exporter of the fruit in the world—with Japan ($749 million) being the top destination. Florenda Corpuz

Japan Confers One of Its Highest Honors on Manny Villar MANILA – The Japanese government announced on April 29 the conferment of The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, the principal Japanese decoration for foreign nationals, on former Senate President and House Speaker Manny Villar in recognition of his contributions to strengthening economic bilateral relations between Japan and the Philippines.

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he Japan Embassy in Manila, in a statement, said that during Villar’s term as Senate President, the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) and the “Protocol Amending the Convention Between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Income Taxes” were ratified in October and September 2008.

It also mentioned that as senator, he supported the ratification of the “Agreement on

Technical Cooperation Between the Government of Japan and the Republic of the Philippines,” which was adopted into a Senate Resolution in March 2011.

“Japan highly valued his efforts in supporting and promoting the bilateral and economic relations between Japan and the Philippines,” the Embassy stated.

Villar, in response, thanked the government and the people of Japan for its conferment of the distinguished decoration.

“I humbly accept this eminent recognition—the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government in 1875. This comes at a

time when the relationship between our two countries is blossoming. Japan has, for decades, been an important partner of the Filipinos as we endeavor to achieve prosperity. Japan has been our top investor, being the Philippines' biggest source of bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) since 2001. It has also been a leading partner in modernizing our infrastructure,” he said in a statement.

“Japan will always be our friend and I am certain that this friendship will endure as it has for centuries,” Villar added.

The Order of the Rising Sun was Japan’s first official decoration. Florenda Corpuz

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ON THE COVER

“Dancing through life with you and enjoying every single step.

Remember that you and I are always in sync, and no matter what the music is, there’s no better rhythm than when we’re dancing TOGETHER.”

Kathryn Bernardo

&

Daniel

Padilla

The Magic Continues WORDS BY LEN ARMEA PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF ABS-CBN

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his was the message of Kathryn Bernardo to her reel and real-life partner Daniel Padilla on his birthday last April, which she posted on her Instagram account. And it perfectly encapsulates the dynamics of their personal and career relationship through the years.

As a love team, KathNiel, as the duo is fondly called, was oftentimes a favorite tabloid fodder and subject of online trolling but Kathryn and Daniel called, braved and surpassed them all together.

More than ten years since they were first paired on the youth-oriented show “Growing Up,” their magic to bring happiness and kilig to their legion of fans continues with a new romantic-comedy series, “2 Good 2 Be True,” which is now airing on Netflix Philippines, iWantTFC, Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, and TV5.

Kathryn and Daniel admitted that there is no exact formula on the strength and longevity of their love team.

“There’s no exact formula but if there’s something that we did since day one, it’s giving each other respect and, of course, teamwork. Iyon ang nagwo-work for us.

Teamwork is very important, na hindi niyo nakikita iyong isa’t isa as competition, kasi dapat nagtutulungan kayo paakyat.

“And with DJ [Daniel’s nickname], hawak-kamay kami. Through thick and thin, nariyan kami para sa isa’t isa, na tinutulungan namin ang isa’t isa to be better,” Kathryn said in the recently held grand media presscon.

A ‘RomCom’ Comeback Kathryn and Daniel have chosen “2G2BT as part of their comeback in the teleserye format, their last was in 2017 when they made the fantasy and action series “La Luna Sangre.” The new series is their first romanticcomedy series in eight years, after the popular hit “Got To Believe” in 2013.

In “2G2BT,” Kathryn and Daniel play the role of Ali and Eloy who crossed paths at a hotel where a robbery happened on that day. Ali is out to prove that Eloy has something to do with it and in the process they fall for each other.

Kathryn and Daniel are ecstatic for the viewing public to watch the series and find a good escape to be entertained and to take some lessons with them.

“The series tackles life lessons about family, friendships, and self-realizations. Kahit kami kapag binabasa namin ang script ang dami mo talagang matututuhan. Bawat character may nire-represent talaga siya. So kahit iyong maliliit at malalaking character, iba-iba iyong lesson na gustong iwan sa mga manonood na unti-unting mari-reveal kapag napanood

na nila,” Kathryn shared.

It is also challenging for the two to do the series because of the pandemic. They were on lock-in shoots for days as part of the safety protocols.

“More on personal naman iyong struggle, more on homesick ka na tapos siyempre ‘pag paulit-ulit na iyong ginagawa mo parang minsan nakakapagod, di ba? At least kapag nakakauwi ka, pwede kang tumambay saglit sa bahay mo, nakikita mo iyong mga kapatid mo at pamilya mo. Okay din naman kasi napapabilis iyong trabaho, mas nakikilala mo iyong co-actors mo, at sa prod din mas maayos iyong schedule nila, mas nakakatulog sila,” Daniel said.

The cast includes Ronaldo Valdez, Gloria Diaz, and Irma Adlawan, along with Gelli de Belen, Romnick Sarmenta, Cris Villanueva, Smokey Manaloto, Matt Evans, Jenny Miller, Yves Flores, Pamu Pamorada, Gillian Vicencio, Kristel Fulgar, Bianca de Vera, and Alyssa Muhlach.

Too Good To Be True Moments Kathryn and Daniel have an overflowing gratitude for how their careers have turned out. Today, they remain at the top of their game with a comeback on the small screen, endorsements left and right, and retaining the magic of being the love team to beat.

It seems too good to be true for the well-loved tandem, and they can only express how grateful they are.

“So many things actually. Iyong may trabaho tayo, too good to be true na iyon. Having to celebrate 10th year anniversary with DJ, to have the kind of supporters na may ganoon kabigay magmahal, too good to be true na totoo na iyong show namin na nag-presscon na at finally eere na. Ang daming bagay na dapat ipagpasalamat if you look at the little things na mga nangyayari,” Kathryn answered on what seems to be too good to be true moments for them.

The love and support that they have been receiving is enough reason for them to continue working on a series that allows them to be part of Filipino households anywhere in the world.

“Here we are still creating and trying to bring smiles to their faces, especially sa mga Filipinos kahit diyan sa abroad.”

“We also want to thank the fans for standing by our side kahit na ang daming nangyari. They patiently waited para sa ganitong proyekto. So hindi lang sila tumindig para sa amin, kundi pati sa kumpanya [ABS-CBN] na kailangan sila. Nakaka-proud iyon,” she added.

Kathryn and Daniel have come a long way – achieving milestones, earning praises from millions of people, and having a fair share of challenges – but they remain strong through it all because they have each other to rely on.

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SPOTLIGHT

Fumiya Sankai: EXCLUSIVE

A Life Update WORDS BY LEN ARMEA INTERVIEW BY FLORENDA CORPUZ

If you happen to chance upon Fumiya Sankai’s vlog on Youtube for the first time, you will be surprised that most of his videos have Filipino contents relating to food, pop culture, showbiz, his learnings and views about the Philippines, and more.

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t is quite entertaining to watch him sing to Ex Battalion’s “Hayaan Mo Sila,” to eating itlog na maalat and the popular Filipino instant noodles, to letting his friends drink the famous local beers, to cooking Bicol express and sisig for his family to try, and speaking a few Filipino words from time to time.

With 2.31 million subscribers and growing, it is not surprising to know that the young and perky Japanese vlogger has a deep and sincere fondness for the Philippines which began in 2017 when he came to the country to study English.

At first, he was warned by his family and friends not to go because it might be dangerous but he was unfazed.

“Kasi their image of Manila is negative, that it is delikado. Pero for me, I asked them, ‘Have you been to the Philippines? Have you been to Manila?’ They said no. That is why I really wanted to see it for myself,” said Fumiya in an exclusive interview with the Filipino-Japanese Journal (FJJ).

Love Affair with the Philippines He started posting videos of his life in the Philippines to update his family and friends back in Japan. Soon enough, he started gaining traction when he made a reaction video on Sarah Geronimo’s “Kilometro” and song covers of Iñigo Pascual’s “Dahil Sayo,” Daniel Padilla’s “Simpleng Tulad Mo,” Juan Karlos’ “Buwan,” among others. He also documented his auditions on “Pinoy Big Brother Otso.”

He became popular to Filipino fans when he made it to the Big Five of PBB in 2019 and started appearing in some local shows such as “Home Sweetie Home: Extra Sweet” and “Make It With You.” “In the PBB House, I learned not to give up. It was hard but my housemates were there. I didn’t feel alone,” he answered when asked about the lesson he learned from his PBB stint.

When the pandemic began, Fumiya went to Japan to fulfill his dream of having his own clothing line, “Brige.”

“And then, 2020 I started my clothing line called ‘Brige.’ For five years, I worked hard – Youtube, showbiz, everything – para sa pangarap ko, para sa clothing line,” he beamed.

The Untold Story Things were shaping up for the

27-year-old charming vlogger when the pandemic happened. He came back to Japan to launch his clothing line. After the success of the launch towards the end of 2020, Fumiya admitted to feeling burnout.

“Last year, I was burnout. I didn’t do anything, I became depressed. I didn’t go outside. I didn’t meet my friends. For eight months, no socializing. I didn’t go to work. Last June or July (2021), I thought it was okay if I was dead. I was thinking I’ve already achieved so many things. That time, I was 26 and I am still young but I also experienced a lot,” he divulged.

“I was not myself. Parang ganoon. Too much negativity. And then, I remembered my life. Di ba dati I was working sa hotel, I went to the Philippines, I started Youtube, and then showbiz and I’m like successful.

But then I realized I am always alone. I have friends but my feeling is may kulang.

I got money because of showbiz but may kulang,” he added.

Good thing that his friends noticed the sudden change in his behavior so they went to Fumiya to talk to him and to help him get out of that hole he was in. It was during this time when he started opening up to his friends more about his feelings, going out, and spending time to think things over.

“I realized kaibigan is more important than pera. Daming pera but I felt alone, I was not happy. I realized after that I want to be successful but not alone. That’s why I decided to start my company with my friends.”

Moving Forward and Making Things Happen

“I interviewed many Filipinos here. I noticed that the main problem is language.

They can talk in Japanese but they cannot read. I thought ‘so we will do yahoo shopping’ pero Tagalog and English. It is difficult selling and marketing. Konting items muna, test marketing,” he said of the shopping website that will be launched soon.

He is also planning of establishing a city in Japan, “Brige City,” within 10 years.

“In Japan, the population is declining and in 2050 most cities in Japan is walang tao. This is a problem in Japan. So we are thinking, Philippines maraming tao, sa Japan wala tao. We were thinking to move people here.

“We are planning to make totoong city in Japan where Filipinos can live. I want to make it in 10 years. We will make a city and help them get jobs, learn the language, and other services,” he shared.

He is also determined to join the entertainment industry in Japan.

“I am trying to join showbiz here in Japan. And I want to promote the Philippines if I become famous. If Japanese people are interested about me, and they search about me, they will see I am famous in the Philippines then they will be interested in the Philippines,” he said.

With all this and more, it looks like the tie that binds the “Konnichi-Wonder Vlogger” of Japan to the Philippines (and his growing Filipino fans) is now set in stone. *This article contains a discussion on suicide and depression that may act as triggers. Please continue reading at your own discretion.

Fumiya chose to keep going and to continue finding a purpose regardless of what life throws at him. He put up a company, M.S. Lab, where it stands for “Maraming Salamat” and “Minsan Lang ang Buhay.” He wants to create an atmosphere of gratitude and living life to the fullest by establishing several projects catering to Filipinos and Japanese.

Under the M.S. Lab umbrella, he will open a coffee shop in Roponggi, “Kape Tayo Tokyo,” which he hopes will be a haven for Filipinos and Japanese alike to hang out, unwind, and spend time with friends. He is also set to launch “Sana Mall Japan,” an online shopping platform selling different products including the goods ones from Hamamatsu, his hometown, with English and Filipino product descriptions.

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FOOD

A selfie stand in front of the restaurant for customers to take pictures and videos

Philippines’ Taho Now Available in Japan WORDS BY FLORENDA CORPUZ PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF GOKAYAMA TOFU

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TOKYO – Filipinos in Japan who miss eating taho can now satisfy their cravings—all they need to do is go to Gokayama Tofu restaurant.

ocated on the border of Saga and Fukuoka prefectures, Gokayama Tofu introduced last March its new taho product that is comprised of the following ingredients: soft tofu that is made with natural spring water from Mount Sefuri, premium soybeans produced in Saga Prefecture, tapioca balls, and brown sugar.

“We started making taho, the classic sweet snack from the Philippines, with

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the thought of providing an enjoyable experience for customers during the pandemic when it is hard to travel abroad,” the company said in a statement.

The Gokayama Taho is a sweet, delicious, and healthy dessert with no animal fat and sugar added. It is specially made for customers who are health conscious.

Bonnie, a well-known social media influencer in Japan who is part Filipino, was named as the brand ambassador for

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Gokayama Taho.

“With her help in collecting advice from the Philippine Embassy and the Filipino community, the original Filipino dessert was born,” the company noted.

Due to the popularity of the Gokayama Taho, Filipino customers from the prefectures of Fukuoka, Saga, and even those from Kanto area come to the restaurant to enjoy a taste reminiscent of home.

Website: www.gokayamatofu.com

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