Filipinos got to experience how fun and exciting Japanese culture can be right here in Manila as dynamic Japanese multinational company Hallohallo Inc. makes history in bringing prestigious celebrity performers and artists together for a weekend of cultural and economic exchange and friendship at Cool Japan Festival 2015 at the TriNoma Activity Center in Quezon City. Appearing and performing as they headline the event are wildly popular idol group AKB 48 represented by Team 8 and world-renowned cosplayer Alodia Gosiengfiao, with up-and-coming idol group Akishibu Project. Special attractions like Japanese drum performances, a unique drawing aquarium, a sushi-making workshop, a Hello Kitty display, and Japanese street food stalls were all over the venue to provide a memorable and enjoyable experience of Japanese culture for everyone.
arkadymac.com is an official media partner for Cool Japan Festival 2015, and helping us bring the action is our Cosplay Correspondent Steph who also got to enjoy the sights and sounds of this fresh, amazing event and getting to meet the wonderful special guests.
Bringing this incredible event together is Hallohallo Inc., an outstanding Japanese multinational company which garnered the Grand Prix of the “Cool Japan Business Matching 2015” held last year. With the earnest desire and interest of further promoting cultural and economic exchange and friendship between the Philippines and Japan, they have conceptualized a grand festival where the best best and coolest aspects of Japanese culture will be put on display in front of a curious and receptive Filipino audience.
At Cool Japan Festival 2015, Japanese companies from various fields come together under the Cool Japan banner to introduce and showcase the pride of Japan to the people of the Philippines. An exclusive appearance of Team 8 of the renowned idol group AKB48 definitely showcased the unique charm of Japanese music and pop culture.
These 12 members of AKB48, the group most representative of Japanese idol pop-culture, made their first-ever appearance in the Philippines. By singing onstage and conversing with the audience, they promoted all that is good about Japan. Their performances were cool, cute, bubbly and energetic, with their Filipino fans, still probably in disbelief that an AKB group got to perform their very eyes in the country, wildly cheering them on, singing along and waving their light sticks, all happy to witness this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
World-renowned cosplayer Alodia Gosiengfiao had a cosplay show at Cool Japan Festival 2015 with up-and-coming Japanese idol group Akishibu Project, and they had an amazing, well-received performance on-stage.
NHK’s popular TV drama series “Amachan” has begun airing in the Philippines and has been emulating the traditional values of Japanese. At Cool Japan Festival 2015, Filipino girl quintet unit “Kawaii5” had a live show and had games with the audience as they spread the appeal of the show around.
Drums have a long history in Japan, and it is said they were used from the Jomon period to convey messages. To introduce this ancient, traditional Japanese instrument, a drumming group from Japan, “Tokoro Taiko,” had performances on stage to deliver the compelling sound of the taiko to the people of the Philippines.
Cool Japan Festival 2015 is not just about the great guests and performers on stage. A variety of interesting attractions and exhibits are available to the public at the venue. At the Drawing Aquarium, attendees can freely color in pieces of paper, make their own patterns, then scan their drawings of fish. The fish then swim out into a giant aquarium display alongside with the fish drawn by other children. Similar shaped fish swim in schools, and when you approach the aquarium, it is possible to ‘feed’ them.
At teamLab Camera, visitors stand in front of a camera that automatically detects their presence, takes a photo then automatically alters the image.
“Washoku” is registered on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. As the flagbearer, “sushi” is tremendously popular in the Philippines and around the world. A sushi chef from Japan will be conducting workshops on how to make sushi at the event.
Street food stalls like those seen in Japanese local festivals are recreated at the event, showing off the best delicacies of Japan, with iconic Japanese food like okonomiyaki and takoyaki as well as sweets like shaved ice.
A Makeup Classroom was on hand to have attendees get a unique makeup experience by seasoned makeup artists, with samples of Kawaii Concept products.
Hello Kitty and other Sanrio character merchandise will also be available at the event, along with commemorative photo taking and costumed characters.
Doraemon Philippines also had a show with their cute and funny mascots, proving that the classic show is still loved by Filipinos. They had a trivia game where those who can answer the many fun facts of the show were given some nice prizes.
On top of all of these, the premier Japan specialty store Cool Japan Shop will also be offering for sale merchandise truly unique to the Japanese market, along with authentic ‘yatai’ for a truly Japanese festival atmosphere. Cool Japan Shop will display its best-selling items and invite everyone to visit their booth at the event where they can get novelty goods by filling out a questionnaire and receive coupons and catalogs by becoming a Hallo Hallo member.
There were some cosplayers who were there having fun at the event as well, having their photos taken with the crowd, like our friends Richard as Saitama of One Punch Man, and Lia.
And the excitement has only just begun as the public is still very welcome to drop by and experience all that is cool about Japan with Cool Japan Festival 2015: Day 2. We hope to see you there as we do a special coverage of both days of the event, so stay tuned at arkadymac.com for more updates for Cool Japan Festival 2015.
Please click on an image to view slideshow.
About The Author
