THE NIPPON FOUNDATION         My heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in hosting the 9th Nikkei-jin Convention!         We, the Nippon Foundation, together with Philippine Nikkei-jin Legal Support Center, have been working to support the stateless-Nissei to restore their Japanese nationality. I am deeply grieved that many Nisei still remain affected by World War II, even though 70 years have since passed. We promise that we will keep our priorities clear and do our best to move forward as fast as possible. Our most recent step towards the solution took place in July 2015, when we met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to ask for urgent support, as well as made declarations to relevant ministries and agencies to urge for assistance in resolving this issue.         I believe that there will be challenges ahead for each Nikkei-jin Kai and the Rengokai; however, the Nippon Foundation, we will continue to assist you, the best that we can.         Once again, Congratulations on the holding of the Nikkei-jin Convention, and please accept my best wishes to all of you for the greatest success in your endeavors.                                    … Read More »

  Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai Rengokai     It is with great pride and immense pleasure that I welcome you all to the 9th National Convention of the Filipino-Japanese Descendants. I am honored and privileged to be with everyone here today, uniting ourselves, and our voices as we recall the experiences and struggles of the Japanese descendants after the Second World War, and to likewise discuss the role and mission of the succeeding generation. We cannot deny the fact that this might be the last Convention of the Filipino Nikkei-jin that could be attended by many 2nd generation or the Niseis around the country, by reason of their advancing age.         As a Sansei or 3rd generation, who is at the helm of the Rengokai or the Federation of Nikkei Jin Kai in the Philippines, I have come to realize that I, and the rest of the officers and members of our organization, have a great responsibility to continue the legacy of our forefathers to contribute productively not only to the local community, but across the nation, and to the international society as well.         As a young president of an association that is national in scale, I believe that… Read More »

PNLSC PHILIPPINE NIKKEI JIN LEGAL SUPPORT CENTER (PNLSC)   Congratulations on the 9th National Convention of Filipino-Japanese Descendants. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of the diplomatic relation between the Philippines and Japan. And this convention today, on the occasion of the visit of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan to the Philippines, might be the best timing to think deeply about the history and the past of the Nikkei-jin who has been carrying on their shoulders the history of both countries.         As a result of the World War II, a pitiful history of ours, the lives of Filipino, about one million and one hundred thousand were lost and the society of Japanese immigrants and descendants in the Philippines were destroyed at the same time.  Needless to say, the war-displaced Filipino-Japanese descendants were faced with hardship due to the anti-Japanese sentiment in the Philippines after the war.         During the conduct of the research project of PNLSC, I have seen with my own eyes how it is delighting and healing for the displaced Filipinos to be granted the Japanese Nationality by the Japanese government and to meet with their family in the later stage… Read More »