<<CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO APPLY FOR THE JFM ARTS & CULTURE GRANT>>
In 2021, The Japan Foundation, Manila’s Arts and Culture Grant Program continued in its mission to foster cultural exchange between the Philippines and Japan through imaginative initiatives. 42 applications were received, and 20 projects were given the grant across the different areas of Film, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Literature, Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange.
The Japan Foundation, Manila proudly presents this round-up of grantees for 2021.
FILM
- Lost Frames: Movements in Auto-restraint, Moving Image and Culture in the time of Precarity
September 30 – November 30, 2021
Virtual Event; Quezon City
Headed by Cocoy Wilson Lumbao, Jr., Lost Frames is a three-part online screening of moving image works produced in the time of quarantine, lockdown, or other impositions during the time of global pandemic protocols.
Link : https://www.lost-frames.org/
Session 1: Community (September 30, 2021)
https://www.lost-frames.org/session1
Session 2: Memory (October 30, 2021)
https://www.lost-frames.org/session-2
Session 3: Precarity (November 30, 2021)
JAPANESE STUDIES & INTELLECTUAL EXCHANGE
- AghamTao Journal Volume 28, Official Journal of the Anthropological Association of the Philippines
July 10 – August 10, 2021
University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City
The Japan Foundation, Manila supported the printing cost of the publication of the Anthropological Association of the Philippines’ official journal. The 28th volume highlighted the significant contributions of Tadao KANO, a Japanese anthropologist who underwent field work in Taiwan and the Philippines during the Second World War.
- Resilience in Context
November 23, 2021
Virtual Event; Tokyo, Japan
Organized by Salikhain Kolektib (formerly: Prodjx Artist Community), Resilience in Context is an online forum that shares insights about the meaning of Resilience in different fields. Speakers include Hirokazu NAGATA, chair of +arts (Plus Arts) – an NPO which aims to educate the public on disaster preparedness. The forum also launched the documentary of their works in Sulu-an, Eastern Samar and Dingalan, Aurora.
Links:
Resilience in Context Online Forum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEfQ9CXJYRA
Art for Resilient Communities: Stories from Sulu-an & Dingalan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCqqupB5gogz
LITERARY ARTS
- Performing Translations: Exploring feminist theater pedagogies in translation work
September 1 – November 27, 2021
Virtual Event; Quezon City
Performing Translations is a series of writeshop sessions of Filipina cultural workers and the B.G.U. Queer and intersectional Feminist Zine, which culminated in a web-based article of the translated essay of Artist-Migrant worker, Yllang Montenegro’s Kalakasan at Pag-asa sa Sining – Covid-19.
Link: https://sites.google.com/view/performingtranslations/home
PERFORMING ARTS
- Educational video production of Japanese music for Filipino learners
June 1, 2021 – November 1, 2021
Virtual Event; Quezon city
This project, spearheaded by Dr. Hiroko Nagai of Ateneo De Manila University’s Japanese Studies Program, articulates the technical aspects of koto music to those who are expected to be the local practitioners of Japanese music. It does not only promote the appreciation of Japanese culture in general but it also shows the depth and universality of the music by non-Japanese experts.
Links:
Basic techniques for the koto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g6bmEPTKGM
Tunings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa1cf9IBn0U
Rokudan no Shirabe (Sections 1-2): https://www.youtube.com/watch
Rokudan no Shirabe (Sections 3-6): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUsMID7mLeM
Rokudan no Shirabe (Full performance demonstration): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z96gPcasz5s
Tsuchi Ningyo (Sections A and B): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyzQTOsXFx8
Tsuchi Ningyo (Section C, D, E and F): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hreDaGJg4o
- Ang Alimango, Ang Bao, Ug ang Unggoy
October 1 – November 29, 2021
Virtual Event; Ozamis City
An online collaborative theater production exploring stories between Japan and the Philippines. This was collectively designed and performed by three actors: one Tokyo-based actor (Miyuki KAMIMURA), and two Mindanao-based actors (Felimon Blanco and Ted Nudgent Tac-an). The three collaborating artists are alumni of Singapore’s Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI). The main objective of this project is to create a story about friendship, support, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/LSUTG/videos/454976339309439
- Kapwa – Movement Project
October 8 – December 10, 2021
Virtual Event; Quezon City
A butoh online workshop series organized by Ms. Sasa Cabalquinto who invited six Japanese Butoh dancers/choreographers as resource persons. The workshop revolved around the three notions of Kapwa: buhay (life), pag-ibig (love), and hininga (breath).
Links:
Yumiko Yoshioka Workshop recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SBPBHnbRLF6SKUH33GoFVoSlwtIaVjH-/view?usp=drivesdk
Atsushi Takebouchi Workshop recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/102TB7Ynngi2MWvEJ-xG8_UmeaSaFtgBX/view?usp=drivesdk
Yuko Kawamoto Workshop recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QcX8zTPnKt-bJ08a1C5eFkA8QdvtTSZj/view?usp=drivesdk
Minako Seki Workshop recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-j56QT2o04kt27ifjCvwwxIenyFo4opY/view?usp=drivesdk
Emiko Agatsuma Workshop recording: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1bqzg6pNGG99_1a3gZ6Ht8MEJl9YyiPWo
Dai Matsuoka Workshop recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11h-61tJKWElAN_GjpccMvEB8zKGr9gC6/view?usp=drivesdk
- Wor(L)d Of My Bodies
July 11 – November 20, 2021
Virtual Event; Quezon City
A hybrid theater-film project that aims to rediscover and realign the intersectionality, interconnectedness, and intentionality demanded by the global crises we face in these troubling times. The online performance was organized by Black Canvas and it featured Japanese movement artist-choreographer, Tomohiko Kyogoku, and Filipino multi-platform storyteller, Abner Delina Jr.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xzuuj-TbiQ
- Asian Dance Film Category under the FIFTH WALL FEST Competition 2021
October 8 – 17, 2021
Virtual, Manila
The second edition of Fifth Wall Festival, Philippines’ first international dance film platform that was established in 2020. The 10-day festival featured fifty-five (55) dance films from all over the world. This year’s short dance film competition garnered entries with the rawness and vulnerability built in the midst of isolation. Complementing the film screenings, the grantee was able to secure four Butoh films and a panel discussion last October 12 via Zoom with Butoh dancer Mitsuyo Uesugi, Toshio Mizohata of NPO Dance Archive Network, and Dance Media Japan Director, Naoto Iina, who moderated the discussion.
Link: www.fifthwallfest.com
- Likha Asya III – Online
February 26, 2022 – March 27, 2022
Virtual, Tagbilaran City, Bohol
LIKHA ASYA or “Create/Creations from Asia 3” is a four-part digital series where artists-leaders from Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines talked about Asian Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Industry in the time of Pandemic. Japanese artists include Satoh Makoto, Tomoko Kawaguchi, and Keiko Yokota. This project was presented by the Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage Council in cooperation with Kasing Sining.
Links:
Online Presentations on THAILAND and CAMBODIA: https://www.facebook.com/kasingsiningcommunity/videos/644281136842776
Online Presentations on INDONESIA and SINGAPORE: https://www.facebook.com/kasingsiningcommunity/videos/300941685356978
Online Presentations on JAPAN and the PHILIPPINES: https://www.facebook.com/kasingsiningcommunity/videos/651319442762098
Culminating activity: The Creative Industries in Asia in the post-pandemic Asia: https://www.facebook.com/NCCACDA/videos/319276700102315
- The Making of the Filipino Replication of Kanjincho
Aug. 1, 2021 – Feb. 15, 2022
Virtual, Quezon City
With the aim to publish a complete documentation of the 2003 production of DUP and UPCIS’ Kanjincho, from conceptualization to staging. Months of research and online gathering were done in order to trace, gather, and review all the academic papers written about the production. Gaps were identified and the artistic, production staff, and performers of the production filled in the gaps through interviews and active participation in online gatherings. Mr. Mochizuki Takinojo, the nagauta master-teacher of Kanjincho, was present during the webinar as well as some faculty members of UPCIS.
Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xF5Z5i1yotifNDoEYmg0iMKKxalsWkjp
- Asian Youth Theater Festival
November 18 – 21, 2021
Virtual, Dumaguete City
An online theater festival hosted by the Philippines through YATTA in collaboration with four other theater groups in Asia. The theme for this year tackles Colors of Asia, and will be interpreted from the prism of each participating theatre group. The festival aims to offer a platform for youth artists to share their stories through theatre, reflect on their creative process, and connect on multiple artistic levels. The second goal is to lead in the creation of a stronger network of Asian artists to further the development and practices of theatre within the region especially during the pandemic. Lastly, it aims to highlight and tackle social issues relevant to the region such as Cultural Identity and Diversity, inclusion and respect.
Links: https://aytfest.com/
- Japan-Philippines Exchange Virtual Residency (Music for 1000 Bicycles)
November 18 – 21, 2021
Virtual, Dumaguete City
A virtual exchange residency between composer Makoto Nomura from Japan and artist-curator Dr. Dayang Yraola from the Philippines. The project is part of Music for 1000 Bicycles, a brainchild of Dr. Yraola, which is an outdoor moving sound performance inspired by the unrealized work of National Artist for Music Jose Maceda titled Music for 1000 Automobiles in the Freeways, 1969. Music for 1000 Bicycles is a multi-locale and multi-faceted project. However, the virtual exchange residency is exclusively for the composition and production of audio work which does not include the performance and video documentation.
Link: http://compositenoises.dayangyraola.com/2021/12/project-update-residency-japan.html
VISUAL ARTS
- Stopover: Virtual Studio Visits
August 28 – November 13, 2021
Virtual Event; Quezon City
“Stopover” is a series of virtual studio visits with artists from various cities in Japan and the Southeast Asia region. The studio visits were conducted online with a total of 6 sessions held in the span of 3 months.
Links:
Stop Over No. 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RNvPcLNMr4
Stop Over No. 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7zZReAyYRg
Stop Over No. 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcsx7SKjXJM
Stop Over No. 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7cUdNi1SrE
- Laswa and Miso Soup Diaries
July – December 15, 2021
Virtual Event; Quezon City
Laswa and Miso Soup Diaries (LMSD) is composed of 12 interviews, one essay, and one online “exhibition” featuring interactions between Visayan and Japanese artists. Organized by Green Papaya Art Projects, it aims to revisit, recover, and share more stories surrounding and occurring in parallel to these forgotten yet productive interactions.
Link: https://greenpapaya.art/laswa-miso
- Social Problems are Design Problems – An Online Community Gathering
October 8 – 9, 2021
Virtual Event
Social Problems are Design Problems is a LIVE online event hosted by And A Half Studio’s social design and learning arm in partnership with DTI Design Center Philippines. The virtual discussion brought together four change-makers to talk about design-thinking in their industry and field of work.
Link: https://spdp2021.and-a-half.ph/
- EMERGING ISLANDS: Dialogue Series
January 26, 2022
Virtual Event; La Union, Ilocos Region
A series of dialogues exploring different facets of ”islandness” with resident artists and collaborators from Japan and the Philippines. Organized by Emerging Islands, the series aims to facilitate and engage in an exchange between different island communities from around the Philippines and the Asia region.
Link: https://www.emergingislands.com/
- Pili Pino Mentorship and Exhibit 2021
July – August, 2021
Virtual Event; La Union
Pili Pino is a type design mentorship program and exhibit of Tipong Pilipino, that provides a learning platform for Filipino graphic designers to explore type design and master the fundamentals of creating a typeface. The mentorship included a keynote talk from Morisawa Inc., the oldest Japanese font foundry based in Tokyo and Osaka.
Link: https://tipongpilipino.com/
- Project Displaced
September 30 – November 4, 2021
Virtual Event; Quezon City
Project Displaced is a virtual event that highlights the context of being static
in relation to the pandemic and the context of reverb in relation to online creative engagements. The project revolved around the concept of community mapping in relation to the respective homes or places of sanctuary of Japanese and Filipino participants.
- Art School Now
September 26 – November 7, 2021
Virtual Event; Quezon City
An online workshop on care and community service for artists to learn about the practical ways that community care work has been done by guest speakers who talked about projects in their local communities in Japan and the Philippines.
