Four years ago, the Federation President Mallari together with PNJK President Escovilla and JPIC Coordinator Eve went to Japan for a courtesy visit to the different JPIC companies and to meet the nikkei jins sponsored by the companies.
One of the objectives of the meeting was to encourage the Nikkei jins to create a group in their locality to address their concerns and to make the Philippine Nikkei Jin Society in Japan solid and strong.
On May 31, 2017, one Nikkei jin group was successfully organized in Kagoshima, Japan. The group is named CHIRAN-CHO ENU CHICKEN NIKKEI JIN CLUB. The club has 31 members. The objective focuses on the following: to serve as the support system to its members especially during hard times, to help members to learn the Japanese language, understand and appreciate Japanese culture at the same time promote Filipino culture to the Japanese people and most specially to promote camaraderie among its members and company staff, administration and people of the community.
The officers took their Oath during the company’s festival on August 2017. Their activities are Nihongo Lesson every 2nd Sunday of the month and community service among others.
The club organized a Sport fest on November 26, 2017, and was participated by the Nikkei jins, Japanese and Vietnamese trainees. The activity was very successful. This year they are planning for a group tour in Kagoshima.
Kudos to Chiran–Cho Enu Chicken Nikkei Jin Club!!!!
Sunday, October 22, 2017, in the afternoon, one of the PNJK officials Ms. Elizabeth Tagud joined the 3rd International Nikkei Karaoke Festival a singing contest held prior to the start of the convention. It was the first time for the Philippines to join the contest and with no rehearsal and alone Ms. Tagud received a special award
for her rendition of Teresa Teng’s “Toki no Nagare” with much gusto.
The “58th Kai Gai Nikkei Jin Tai Kai” or the Convention of Nikkei and Japanese Abroad with the theme “Working together for Tokyo 2020!” was held on October 23–25, 2017, in Tokyo, Japan. The Davao delegation was headed by the Federation President Mallari, PNJK President Escovilla, PNJK Board members Ms. Apigo, Ms. Iwamoto, Ms. Tagud, and Ms. Kita while the Manila delegation by Nippi President
Buni, Nippi director Mr. Darauay, Mr. Garidan, and the Nakachi Family of Palawan. They were joined in Tokyo by JPIC President Tokumitsu and JPIC Coordinator Eve. A great number of participants came from the Philippines noting the presence of delegates from Davao and Manila Nippi Chapters.
In the evening of the same date the delegates had a Fellowship Dinner hosted by JPIC. The dinner even became special as Atty. Kawai, Atty. Mochizuki, Mr. Inomata, and Ms. Ishii graced the event. Everyone was excited when Atty. Kawai announced that he is going to produce a movie about the descendants, those who are still active and well might be asked to play cameo roles to showcase the travails encountered by the Nikkei jins. The movie will be titled “Forgotten by the Japanese.” The evening became even livelier when Ms. Tagud was requested to sing her winning piece and accompanied by Mr. Sekino. All left sporting a happy mood despite the heavy downpour.
October 23, 2017, was the official opening of the convention at Kensei Kinenkan. A Welcome Party was hosted by the Imperial Family and attended by no less than their Royal Highness Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko.
October 24, 2017, was the International Symposium. The topics for panel discussion were: @ Collaboration with the Nikkei Communities through Sports @ Nikkei Business Collaboration and @ What does “2020” mean for the Nikkei Youth. Some delegates opted to join the Official Tour but everyone gathered in the evening to attend the Welcome Reception hosted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. The new minister H.E. Taro Kono gave an inspiring message. Afterwards the attendees were afforded with picture taking together with the good MOFA minister.
October 25, 2017, was the Announcement of the Conference Declaration. It was announced that the 59th Convention of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad will be held in Hawaii. It is also the 150th Anniversary of migration abroad. In commemoration of this, the 59th International Nikkei Competition will be held in Hawaii. “ALOHA.”
Hon . Consul Shiro Furihata of The Ministry of Foreign Affair in coordination with the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai Legal Support Center headed by Mr. Inomota, Norihiro together with The Nippon Foundation represented by Ms. Ikuko Okubo came to Davao City, purposely to interview members of the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai, Inc. (PNJK) Davao City Chapter.
This is one project that started last year involving the Ministry of Foreign Affair. In year 2015, Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai Rengokai headed by Mrs. Ines P. Mallari together with members-chapter presented to His Excellency Prime Minister Shinzo Abe documents containing more than 27,000 signatures, whereby an appeal had been interposed to give war-displaced descendants belonging to Category C classification the chance to present proofs evidencing their affiliation with the Japanese national. The Japanese government took notice of the plight of Category C descendants that it consented to take part in conducting interviews to somehow help them secure their own family registration by way of shuseki petition.
With this arrangement, Japanese consuls have been assigned to go to various chapters, meet the descendants that needed assistance, conduct an interview and weigh their evidence presented in order to qualify for shuseki petition. The petition is being handled by Japanese lawyers headed by Atty. Hiroyuki Kawai.
With the presence of Consul Furihata, on February 22, 2017 in the morning, two Category C descendants were interviewed at the PNJK Inc. board room namely:
Ceriaca – Ayako Konno Odoy whose father was from Fukushima, Japan and migrated to Davao, worked as abaca farmer in Tamugan. Allegedly the father joined the Japanese army during the war. Nothing was heard from him thereafter.
Tomasa –Masae Sejima Geraldes. Tomasa known as Masae believed that the surname of her father was Oshima. Per baptismal record her father’s name is Sausima Daguidor. Neighbors said the last name of her father is Sausima Sejima Senichi. The father was killed during the war. These are the only facts so far that the concerned descendant could relay to the screening committee.
In the afternoon of February 22, 2017, Cirilo Kimura was called and this is his story: his father Onna Lundas from Tamayong Bagobo tribe arrived in Calinan in 1929 and engaged in abaca farming. Cirilo Kimura was four years old when the war broke out. They took refuge in Samal and merely heard that his parents were killed.
Another descendant named Alicia chico Kodaira was asked about her background. Her father came to Davao and engaged in abaca farming under Ohta Development Company. Her Japanese father met Hanumaria Boholano. They got married in Cebu in 1935. Two children were born out of this marriage, namely: Hisao and Chiko. During the war the Japanese father was a driver of a Japanese Army while the mother and children left for Bohol. They survived the war and in 2005 they came to Mindanao and sought the assistance of the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai. With research work coming from PNLSC they found the koseki of kodaira.
On February 23, 2017, two siblings were interviewed, namely: Rosalina Tamae Habuchi and Hitche Habuchi. Before the war the father was working as storekeeper owned by Ohta Development Company in Sta. Cruz. Later, the Japanese father opened a new store in Barangay Maglibas. He met Diola Manga and got married through tribal marriage. Nine (9) children were born. Three children went to Japanese school. During the war three children with the father were captured. The children later were released but the father was shot to death. They ran to the mountains and during peace time they came down and upon hearing the association of nikkeijins they became members. Later the koseki of the father was located with the help of the association.
All descendants who were interviewed are appealing that they be recognized to enable them to see relatives in Japan if still living. Moreover, once they are recognized it is a one legacy that can be left to their children and the young generations to come.
Four years ago, the Federation President Mallari together with PNJK President Escovilla and JPIC Coordinator Eve went to Japan for a courtesy visit to the different JPIC companies and to meet the nikkei jins sponsored by the companies.
on the following: to serve as the support system to its members especially during hard times, to help members to learn the Japanese language, understand and appreciate Japanese culture at the same time promote Filipino culture to the Japanese people and most specially to promote camaraderie among its members and company staff, administration and people of the community.
