Nihongojin Connect!
Issue No.4, December 2022

coined from NIHONGO (Japanese language) and JIN (person)- refers to native/non-native individuals involved in Japanese Language Education

Nihongojin Journeyin the New Normal!
As the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is in sight,
The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM) is delighted to finallyresume many of its programs in 2022, including the face-toface training of teachers, the Nihongo Partners (NP) program,the Immersion Program for teachers of the Course on Japanfor High School (CJH), and many more!

This edition of the Nihongojin Connect! covers
JFM’s programs and accomplishments during the newnormal. Now that restrictions are lifted, we are very excited
to meet with fellow Nihongojins in person and to continue
working together for the enhancement of Japanese language
education in the Philippines!
みなさん、
がんばりましょうもっと知ろう JFT-Basic

About JFT-Basic TeamThe JFT-Basic (Japan Foundation Test for BasicJapanese) Team supports Japanese language education
for those who wish to work in Japan under the Specified
Skilled Worker (SSW) visa and disseminates information
regarding the JFT-Basic and its corresponding teachingmaterial, Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan.
In 2022, the JFT-Basic Team conducted face-toface training in several strategic locations in the Philippinesand held regular online benkyokai (study sessions) on
Irodori textbooks. The team was also assigned as a leadteam in the JFM for the implementation of a six-month
Japanese language and cultural course for Nikkeijin: an
initiative to support the Nikkeijin communities by JFM and
the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai Rengokai. Last but not least,
the team has made regular visits to local Japanese language
schools across the Philippines to promote the JFT-Basic,
Irodori, and upcoming training for Nihongo teachers aswell as to gain more insights to the schools’ operational
challenges and needs, so that we improve our programs andserve fellow Nihongojins better.

NIHONGO TEACHERSDISCOVER IRODORIThe JFT-Basic Team has been conducting teacher
training seminars for Filipino Nihongo teachers who wish
to learn how to teach using Irodori: a Japanese coursebook
for foreign people to learn basic Japanese communication
skills that are needed for daily life and working in Japan.
This year, the team had seminars for experienced teachersin Davao (March 19-20), Baguio (July 14-15), and Cebu
(October 29-30) and also for those who are aspiring tobecome Nihongo teachers in NCR (June 25-26).
In these seminars, the participants discussed andshared their ideas and concerns about teaching Nihongowith the learner-centered, communication-based approach.
Upon attending the seminars, participants commented,
inter alia, “I learned a new way of teaching Nihongo that canalso be applied in other subjects. I appreciate how Irodori ispresented because it is very practical for both the teachersand students,” and “I learned a lot about Irodori and it willserve as a good supplemental teaching aid and I hope I could
use it in my next class.”
As for the JFT-Basic Team, the seminar provided
a valuable opportunity to finally meet Filipino Nihongo
teachers in person, to see their reactions to the new teachingmaterials, and to learn from the various interactions. The
team hopes that the participants will be able to maintain thepeer network beyond the seminar periods.
More seminars and events are planned in 2023.
Please visit our website and Facebook for announcementson our upcoming events. See you soon!

1

もっと知ろう JFT-Basic

Irodori Marathon Begins!

In August 2022, the JFT-Basic Team kickstarted
the IRODORI MARATHON; a workshop-style course(benkyokai) for Filipino Nihongo teachers who want to learn
more about how to use Irodori in their classes. In each class,the participants experience Irodori lessons in a classroomsetting to familiarize themselves with its contents.

They also discuss key points of teaching each activity speaking (話す), listening (聞く), reading (読む), and writing(書く) and conduct a mock class. It is a good platform to gain
teaching experiences on using Irodori, to get to know fellow
Nihongo teachers, and to engage in peer learning. IRODORIMARATHON will be held twice a month beyond 2022.

Nihongo for Nikkeijin
In total, 21 Nikkeijin who have been recommended by their respective Nikkeijin community are attending thecourse: 9 from the Mindanao (Davao, General Santos, and Cotabato), 7 from Visayas (Iloilo, Cebu, and Bacolod), and 5
from Luzon (Palawan and NCR).
In September, a six-month Japanese language and cultural course for Nikkeijin (Japanese descendants) began.
Titled Nihongo & Cultural Lessons for Nikkeijin, began, this is the first joint initiative by the JFM and the Philippine Nikkei
Jin Kai Rengokai to support Nikkeijin spread across the country. The course aims to expand employment opportunities inand outside the Philippines and strengthening the network of Nikkeijin communities.
The course will run twice a week from September 2022 to March 2023. As of writing, sessions have been ongoingfor over two months and the sense of camaraderie among course facilitators and participants is already getting stronger.
We hope that all participants will be able to complete the course and get to know each other better through the course!

2

もっと知ろう JFT-Basic

Story of a Nikkeijin Participant
by Jikko Albert E. Radaza
はじめまして。私はジッコです。30歳です。
フィリ
ピンのセブ市から来ました。
I am a Nikkei Jin or Filipino-Japanese descendant.
My late great grandmother, Aiko Nakasima, came to thePhilippines together with her father a long time ago, even
before WWII. Her father left her here and went back toJapan.
Every summer, my family used to stay at her place.
While we were there, she used to teach us a Japanesebirthday song and a few words in Japanese. Unfortunately,
none of them stuck in my head. In my defense, I was too
young. As I grew older I realized that having a Japaneselineage is much to my advantage. The special connection
to Japan provides an incentive to work and study in Japan.
To explore opportunities provided to Nikkeijin, I needed tolearn basic Nihongo; this is why I decided to be part of the
Nihongo and Cultural Lessons for Nikkeijin.
I am very thankful for JFM and the Philippine
Nikkei Jin Kai Rengokai for offering this course. Initially,
I was worried if I could survive the course as I did not havemuch prior Nihongo learning experiences. With the helpof our sensei (teachers), my course mates and I have alreadyobtained basic Nihongo skills. In just a short span of time,
we have become able to engage in basic conversations in
Nihongo! Now I can pick up on words and sentences when I
watch Japanese anime or movies. I also teach my nieces andnephews what I learn in class. I hope that when I complete
the course I will be able to communicate and write well.
Everyone in the class is working hard despite busy schedules,
as we are determined and excited to attend each class because
we know that we will learn new things.
After I complete the course, I would like to visit
Japan because one of my late great grandmother’s wishes
was to visit her hometown. When I make it there, I willvisit her tomb and tell her all about my trip- how nice herhometown was and how I enjoyed Japanese culture andmeeting Japanese people. I hope that after the course I will
open a new chapter in my life and achieve more.
For all the people who made my Nihongo learning
possible I would to like to say どうもありがとうございます!

JFT-Basic kun
Come To LifeIn 2022, our very own JFT-Basic kun came to life. He madehis first appearance at the Cosplay Mania 2022 held at theConvention Center SMX on October 2 and 3. Since then,he has been a regular visitor to our Facebook page (Irodori:
Japanese for Life in Japan by JFM). Visit our Facebook, learn
Nihongo with JFT-Basic kun, and take the JFT-Basic Exam!

3

Hello and Goodbye

Hello!
Hello!

TANAKA Yojiro
みなさん、
こんにちは！！田中洋二郎です。2022年4月にフィリピンに来ました。
まだフィリ
ピンのことは分からないことだ
らけ。皆さんにいろいろと教えてもらいたいです。
ちなみに好きなフィリピン料理は
「タホ」
で
す。
これから、
どうぞよろしくお願いします。

KUNO Gen
はじめまして。7月末に着任しました久野 元と申しま
す。EPA研修の教務を担当します。
これまでは、国際交流基金の仕事で、中等教育、高等教
育、教師研修などに携わっていました。
これからEPA研修やJFMのイベントなどを通して、
フィリピンの学習者や先生方とお目にかかるのを楽しみにしています。
どうぞよろしくお願
いいたします。

NISHIMURA Hisashi
はじめまして。西村 尚です。
2022年7月からJFMで働いています。
あかるくて、優しいフィリピンの みなさんと友達になりたいです。
おいしいものをた
くさん食べて、いろいろな所へ
行きたいです。
よろしく おねがいします。

HAYASHI Tsuyako
１０月末にフィリピンに来た林都矢子です。初めて来ました。
２年間日本の寒い冬に耐えな
くていいのと、おいしい果物・
きれいな海が楽しみです。
どうぞよろしくお願いします。

ABE Ayako
はじめまして！阿部 紋子です。
昨年まで１０年間住んでいた
セブからマニラに引っ越してきました。JFMでの仕事を通して、皆さんのお役に立てたら嬉しいです。
よろしくお願いします。

NYUI Kaori
みなさん、
こんにちは！はじめまして。乳井 香織と申します。2022年の7月に来ました。
またフィリピンで生活できて、
とてもうれしいです！フィリピンの明るくてやさしい人々と美しい自然が大好きです。
これからみなさんに会ってお話する
時間が楽しみです。
どうぞよろしくお願いします！

HIRUTA Yasuyo
みなさん、はじめまして！2022
年6月からJFMに来ました蛭
田 恭代です。EPA日本語講師
としてパンデミック前に２回、その前にセブに少し滞在していたのでフィリピンはこれが4回目です。暑い気候、人々の暖かさ…フィリピンに戻ってきた！と感じています。様々なことに挑戦し、そこで出会いを楽しんでいきたいと思います。
どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。

Kelly Kathlene Ko
Hi, I’m Kelly - Program
Coordinator for the
Course on Japan for HighSchool. I love Japanese
tea and history. I started
working at the JFM in
December 2021, but
I’ve already learned a
lot and am excited to
discover more. Yoroshiku
onegaishimasu!

4こんにちは NIHONGOJIN SUPPORT

About Nihongojin Support TeamThe Nihongojin Support (NS) Team provides
support and means to connect the community of Nihongo
learners, teachers, and institutions in the Philippines.
Building a reflective professional community of Nihongo
teachers in the Philippines is the primary goal of the NS
Team. Supporting the goal, the team has been focusing onteacher capacity development by utilizing the Marugoto
courses as a platform. Related activities include the Study
Group: Sensei no Wa (Teachers’ Circle), and the bi-annual
Philippine Nihongo Teachers’ Forum (PNTF). Meanwhile,learners can enroll in different course levels (A1 and A2 forbasic users) that are based on the JF Standard for Japanese
Language Education. The team also hosts events for Nihongo
learners such as the Nihongo Speech Contest and Oshaberi
Salon.

35th and 36th Nihongo
Teachers’ ForumThe Philippine Nihongo Teachers’ Forum (PNTF)
is a bi-annual event for Filipino Nihongo teachers to share
information on their professional development. The forum
serves as a venue for (1) discussion on recent developments
in Japanese language education, (2) exchange of ideas andresources, and (3) professional community building. Every
year, the first PNTF is hosted by JFM and the second one
is hosted by the Association of Filipino Nihongo Teachers(AFINITE).
The 35th PNTF was conducted online on May 21
under the theme of “Love teaching? Let’s step up together!
Building Reflective Professional Communities of Nihongo
Teachers.” The 36th PNTF was conducted in a hybrid

setting, online and on-site, under the theme of “Towards
a Student-Centered Japanese Language Classrooms: Using
Irodori for Filipino Learners.” The on-site venue was at
the Filipino-Japanese Foundation of Northern Luzon, Inc.
(also known as Abong) in Baguio City In her concluding
remarks at the 36th PNTF, Fujimitsu Yuko sensei, SeniorJapanese Language Education Advisor, colorfully described
AFINITE’s vibrant mentoring culture to nurture Nihongo
teaching skills of younger generations of teachers andits members’ commitment to professional development.
Through their work, JFM is looking forward to working
with Filipinos who are proud to be able to speak Japanese.
Good job, sensei!

5こんにちは NIHONGOJIN SUPPORT

Sensei No Wa 先生の輪
assessment, and exchange ideas with their peers to support
effective teaching.
Sensei no Wa (先生の輪：Teachers’ Circle) is aplatform or event developed with the aim of facilitating
information exchange and community and networkbuilding. It is open to all levels of Japanese language teachersand has been conducted every quarter.

The theme for the June session focused on reflective
practice and creating one’s own challenge action plan.
Participants from different language schools, institutions,training centers, and universities were introduced to JFM’s
own Reflective Practice Study Group composed of the
Marugoto Teachers who shared their own self assessments
and experiences on teaching Marugoto. Participants werethen encouraged to share their own experiences, self-“Being able to listen to other sensei’s challenges and insights.
It feels “kokorozuyoi” being in this community to have abetter quality of Japanese education in the Philippines
together”“Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the language. I feel like
I am in the room with many great people and I am theweakest link (which I think is true) and that I need to keep
up BUT EVERYONE is very welcoming and very warm so
I just need to motivate myself because this opportunity isvery educational for me.”Let’s Talk: Oshaberi Salon
Oshaberi Salon is a free event where Nihongo
learners who are interested in a particular topic can improvetheir Nihongo conversational skills with other participants.
The goal of this activity is to provide an opportunity for
Nihongo learners to experience and use the Japanese
language, form new networks, and to discover something
new about Japan and/or Nihongo.
This year, Oshaberi Salon was conducted online,
focusing more on speaking Nihongo and being moreaccessible to other Nihongo learners. The first session

since the 2020 pandemic was done last September 22. Thissession’s topic focused on the recent hobbies (最近の趣味)
of basic level Nihongo learners. Most of the participants
were JLPT N4 level and bonded easily with the topics
relating to manga and anime. The same topic was used byintermediate to advanced level Nihongo learners with anemphasis on the participants’ day to day routine.
For more information on the latest topics andregistration dates, please visit the JFM website and Facebookpage.

こんにちは NIHONGOJIN SUPPORT

Learn with Marugoto
Through the NS Team, JFM provides an onlinecourse for the general learners (beginner level) using theJF e-Learning Site Minato and “MARUGOTO: Japanese
Language and Culture.” Marugoto is a course book developedby The Japan Foundation; it focuses on communication,
understanding, and respecting other cultures. JFM’s
Marugoto classes usually have two parts: Katsudoo andRikai. Katsudoo is focused on practical communication
skills, while Rikai is focused on the sentence structure of
the Japanese language. The new batch is going to start inJanuary 2023.
Scan the QR Code to learn more
about MARUGOTO
and take the course on-line!

Scan the QR Codeto visit the
NIHONGO
FIESTAevent page on
Facebook!

Nihongo Fiesta 2023
The JFM is delighted to hold a face-to-face Nihongo
Fiesta at Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City on
February 25, 2023! This event offers the general public
an opportunity to experience different activities relating
to Japanese language, arts, and culture. It will feature thevideos for the fourth Nihongo Video Contest (NiViCon)

created by Filipino high school student finalists, a powerful
Taiko performance, as well as the main event: the Nihongo
Speech Contest. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the
Speech Contest in the Philippines. For more details, visit
our event page on our Facebook!

7

NIHONGOJIN STORIES

Nihongojin Stories
Young or old, just a budding student or already a seasoned professional, Nihongojins comefrom all walks of life. Despite a variety of differences, they are all united by one goal—that
is, to expand their world through learning Japanese. This is what Nihongojin Stories are
all about: depicting the struggles and successes of those who faced the challenge head on.
This edition of Nihongojin Connect! features three stories of Nihongojin from all three
regions of the Philippines - Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao- with one story that features
learning Nihongo in the midst of the pandemic. May our fellow Nihongojins be inspired
through their stories, and know that they are not alone in this journey.

From a Distance, I Am Learning Japaneseby Nel Jade
Nihongo Learner of 6 years from Botolan, Zambales

activities the Japan Foundation thoughtfully set up forlearners. In my first Oshaberi Salon, I had a taste of Japan’sculture while discussing with other learners of Japanese
language about anime. This event is where I first learned
how to properly do the 挨拶（Aisatsu: greeting) and 自己紹介（Jikoshoukai : self-introduction).
I love eating at aラーメン屋 (Ramen-ya: ramenshop), not just to appreciate the flavors but also to admire
the beautifully designed 暖簾(Noren：curtain) hanging infront of the shops. Inspired by the Japanese movie, Flying
Colors, I put up a lot of post-its around my house to help
familiarize myself with the Japanese words that say, forinstance, about time or the days of the week. Anothergreat way where I immersed myself in the language is by
watching Japanese movies at the Trinoma cinemas for the
Asean-Japan TV Festival 2017. But the best is yet to come! I
was one of the lucky people to get tickets to the ANA-Yose
Rakugo (Japanese sit-down comedy) in English. It was anexperience that I could not forget because the monologues
are very relatable and extremely funny. It made me realizethat comedy knows no cultural barrier. Human experiences
are universal. Moreover, what made it very memorable
is my short meeting and photo opportunity with the fine
Rakugo artists backstage.
Finally, even though my hometown’s internet isspotty, I was so glad to stumble upon the Minato Online
Learning website when it was in its early years. I was very
fortunate to enroll myself for A1-1 level with a Japanesetutor support in August 2016. The highlight of my days,
back then as a distance learner, is whenever I meet my kindand generous Minato teachers who are in Japan via Zoom.
My teachers made the Friday online class fun and engaging.
It was a beautiful experience! I keep trying to this day toenjoy the process of learning a language that I grew to love.
To be multilingual is a beautiful thing.

My name is Nel and I am a Japanese language
learner. I live in Botolan, a small town in the province ofZambales, right along the West Sea coast. I first took aninterest in studying Japanese in 2012 while I was living in
the Middle East. It was my big dream to be able to speak athird language. After dipping my toes in the beginner level
Kanji, I realized that I just cannot casually study a language
if I want to be proficient in it. There is no shortcut tomemorizing words or grammar. I have to live and breathe
Japanese if I want to reach my goal. So when I eventually
returned to the Philippines in 2013, I was so glad to find The
Japan Foundation in Makati. They even have a library.
As part of my immersion, I keep traveling back andforth from Botolan to Makati to immerse myself in various

8

NIHONGOJIN STORIESJapanese Language: Windows to theJapanese Kaleidoscope World
by Hiraya Manawari
Nihongo Learner of 6 years from Romblon and Quezon City, NCR

each letter as accurately and neatly as possible. There were a
lot of eraser crumbs and pencil shavings – but the rigorous
practice was all worth it. The writing practice helped
us remember the words but also the history behind thecalligraphy and the development of the system. It was like amirror of a thousand-year history – within his fingertips.
Learning the spoken Nihongo was one of themost interesting journeys as Nihongo is commonly used in
Anime. My brother progressed further in studying Nihongo.
From listening to simple dialogues in Anime, he carried onlistening to songs, short movie clips and TV talk shows. He
became familiar with understanding the lines, and reading
between these lines. He even understood jokes, and madethem himself. And when that happened, this journey opened
the door to a whole new world.
Through learning the language, we came tolearn about the uniqueness of Japan and its people, andeverything in between. Learning the language allows us tovisit Japan and come back swiftly, anytime as we pleased.
And we continue to understand Japan better and completely
immerse ourselves in it.

“Peek into another world through your eyes, immerse through its
language.”
My brother and I grew up learning three different
languages: Filipino (our mother tongue), English (used inacademics), and Bisaya (a language native to one of ourprovinces). Learning them was intrinsic – it did not take any
effort at all thanks to my still developing young brain. As we
get older, learning a new language becomes much harder;
it requires much effort, time and persistence. The question
then, will not be “How”, but “Why”.
This “Why” for us began with watching Japanese
anime. We wanted to watch anime without reading thesubtitles, so we started to learn simple expressions. We
would often find ourselves code-switching between these
two languages in daily interactions. “Can you make ichigo
shake?” “Hai!”
Learning Nihongo was both interesting andchallenging. In the process of learning how to write in
Nihongo, we were transported back to our kindergartendays when we were repeatedly practicing strokes and writing

A Certain College Freshman’s Japanese
Language Proficiency Storyby Leigh Gabrielle A. Roque
Nihongo Learner of 10 years from Davao City, Mindanao

I made my first contact with Nihongo through–yes, as you would expect–Japanese Anime. I started withlocal dubs, but once I found the Japanese-dubbed versions,
there was no going back. I entered a severe otaku phaseduring grade school. It got worse in my junior high years
as I became interested in every otaku’s worst nightmare:un-subbed content–visual novels and niche cooking shows!
Unlike most people that would simply find subbed content
to consume, I decided to power through.
I took my first JLPT (N5) in December 2017. To mydelight I passed it so I continued to challenge myself until I
hit the wall with N2 in July 2019. Between my N5 and N4
tests, I visited Japan. I was already out of my otaku phase, so
I was there as a tourist with pure admiration for the places I

was able to visit. It was spring and the cherry blossoms had
just finished blooming. The cool spring wind and brightscenery really felt like a breath of fresh air.
As they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Although I have not studied Nihongo much over the past
three years, I plan to retake JLPT N2 in 2023. Learning isa lifelong process. I will enjoy the process and hopefully
everyone who will be reading will do the same.

9

NIHONGOJIN STORIES

Learning Nihongo in the
Midst of Pandemic
by Migs
Nihongo Learner of 3.5 years from Pasig, Metro Manila

Sushi, samurai, anime, punctuality, discipline...they
are some of the most common answers people give when
asked to think about Japanese culture. For me, the first thingthat pops up is the Nihongo.
I grew up watching Japanese anime, such as Voltes
V, Naruto, and Kamen Rider, to name a few.
While these shows were dubbed in English or
Filipino, you can still hear Nihongo in the opening andending songs, or when they say phrases like henshin (変身：Transformation) and kage bunshin （影分身：shadow
clone）. I tried studying Hiragana and Katakana but it wasdifficult without proper guidance. In my last year at college(2019), my classmates and I found a free Japanese language
course and decided to jump at the opportunity. As the course
progressed, some of the students dropped out but we stayed
and completed the course. That same year, I took the JLPT
N5 and passed it.
I continued my study through the pandemic.
Around the middle of 2021, I mustered up the courage anddecided to find online conversation groups to practice myspoken Japanese. I browsed through Reddit and Twitter
until I finally found the Sakura Community foundedby Mari-san who lives in Tokyo. The most memorable
experience from being part of the community was when I
was invited to share my Japanese learning journey on Sakura
Tips YouTube channel. While my speaking ability was far
from perfect, it helped me get out of my comfort zone.
With the courage and the network of people gained
from there, I was able to discover other communities, suchas Saya’s Global Café, the JET Alumni Association of New
York (JETAANY) community, and Nihongo Salon Irori.
Through these platforms, I was able to attend very interesting
events such as eikaiwa (英会話：English conversation)
sessions with Japanese high school students from Tokyoand Hiroshima and talk with them about how they spend
their days. I also learned about unique local specialties from
Shizuoka, such as famous cherry beans potatoes and Aberiver fireworks, fun places to go in Hokkaido, and what it
is like to work as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in
Japan.
Learning Nihongo opened a gate to expand myhorizons through international and cultural exchange whilestaying in the Philippines. Despite the pandemic, I saw how
people can truly connect with, understand, and support eachother if they wish to, no matter where they are on the globe.
It helped me appreciate the importance of embracing ourown set of unique qualities and differences. It helped me see
the world in a better light.

10

ひろがれ！ CJH: Course on Japan for High School

About CJH TeamThe Course on Japan for High School (CJH)
Program was created by The Japan Foundation, Manila
in response to the Department of Education’s Bureau ofSecondary Education Memorandum No. 560, s. 2008, or the
Implementation of the Special Program in Foreign Language(SPFL), with Nihongo as one of the languages offered in the
program.

The CJH Program has two distinct features,
including various training for high school Nihongo teachers
and the creation of enTree Halina Be a Nihongojin, a setof teaching materials exclusively designed for Filipino highschool students. When the program began, only 13 schools
were part of it. In 2022, three new schools joined the CJH
community, bringing the total number of Philippines highschools currently offering Nihongo classes to 59.

CJH BATCH 5 GOES TO JAPAN!
After a long time of waiting, 21 teachers from thefifth batch of CJH trainees finally attended the Immersion
program in Japan from August 15-26, 2022. This programis the last stage of the two-year CJH training, where theteachers are required to apply what they have learned fromthe training that they have participated so far. The purposeof the Immersion Program includes the following: to deepen
knowledge about Japanese society and culture, and to collectmaterials and information for creating supplementaryteaching materials to be used at their respective Japanese
language classes back in the Philippines.
The teachers went on fieldwork in Kyoto andTokyo with Japanese university students, experienced 生
け花（ikebana：flower arrangement) and 茶道（sadou：
tea ceremony), visited host families’ homes, as well as a11Japanese secondary school. In addition to these, the teachers
also roamed around in Kita-urawa near the Nihongo
Kokusai Center, where they gathered materials for theirpresentations about “The Japan that I Discovered.” and,indeed, they have found and realized many things in Japan.
It was the first time they used the language they had studied
and taught for so long in a real, authentic setting. While theteachers struggled to understand and use it, they challenged
themselves and became more confident because of theirexperiences.
Upon their return from the Immersion Program,
most of the trainees said that they will go back to visit Japanagain someday. It is our hope that the teachers were able tolearn a lot during their stay and they will share what theylearned with their students.

ひろがれ！ CJH: Course on Japan for High School

New Instructors for CJH
On April 30 and May 14, the CJH Team conductedtraining for instructor candidates for Batch 6. Ten candidates- five from Luzon and five from Visayas - underwent the
hybrid training. On the first day of the training, which washeld online, they reviewed the enTree module and deepened
their understanding of the materials. The second day of
the training was conducted in a face-to-face setting at two
locations NCR and Cebu. The training covered essential
know-how required by CJH instructors, such as how tocreate a video, summarize enTree, and facilitate a demo
lecture.
Before the training, the candidates were trainees
from Batches 4 and 5. Initially, some of them expressed
nervousness and lack of confidence in becoming instructors.
With the successful completion of the training, they are
now equipped to take on the responsibility of sharing theirknowledge and skills to the new Batch 6 trainees. We believe
in you!

SUMMER INTENSIVE TRAINING (BATCH 6)
On August 22, 2022, 49 Filipino teachers started theschool year as new Japanese language teachers at their publichigh schools. They are the sixth batch of CJH Teachers andare the latest additions to the 110-strong roster of Japanese
language high school teachers in CJH schools. With thisnew batch, the number of total CJH schools in the country
has increased to 59.
The teachers are completers of the Summer
Intensive Training, a five-week training program for highschool Japanese language teachers, held from July 4 toAugust 5. Majority of the training was held online, with
only the Opening and Closing Ceremonies held face-toface. The training had a demanding schedule, taking place 6hours a day, Monday through Friday.
It was divided into two parts: first was to develop
the Japanese language proficiency required to be a Japanese
language teacher by using The Japan Foundation’s textbook
Marugoto, and Minato, an online self-study course. Second,
was to focus on concept, usage, and teaching methods forthe enTree: Halina Be a Nihongojin!, the module used12

ひろがれ！ CJH: Course on Japan for High School
as a Japanese language textbook for high schools in thePhilippines.
Some of the instructors were also past CJH trainees
from the previous batches. Under the warm guidance of
their senpai, and with the encouragement of their peers, thetrainees quickly mastered the contents of the training andwere able to confidently teach a new language inside theirclassrooms.
The training is far from over yet though, as thetrainees still have to face the Follow-Through Training
from September 2022 to May 2023, followed by the second
Summer Intensive Training, and the second follow-throughtraining the year after that.
Batch 6 先生たち、
がんばりましょう！

13

Voice of an Urawa Training Participant
by Charry S. Sarmiento
Pitogo High School, CJH Batch 4
Course: Japanese-Language Program (dispatch period: July 4-August 17, 2022)

I went to Japan to attend the Japanese-Language
Program and met wonderful Japanese teachers and thirtynine other participants from around the world. Despite
our diverse backgrounds, we came together, bound by one
language. Over the six weeks of our stay in Urawa, thelanguage center became our home and we became eachother’s family.
Aside from language classes, we learned Japaneseculture through cultural workshops like (e.g., wadaiko,kamigiri, and furoshiki), and field trips where we took partin tea ceremony and hand-painted our very own traditional
Kaga Hachiman Okiagari (colorful doll). What really left a
big impression was our project work, in which we were
tasked to discover the mieru bunka (visible cultural markers)
and the mienai bunka (invisible cultural markers) of Japan.
Through the project, I have come to know Japan, theJapanese people, and its culture even more.
I was amazed by how Japan is not just the
progressive country like how the world sees it, but it is acountry just like the Philippines that continues to strive.
Majority may think that Japan and the Philippines are in theextreme opposite, but during my six weeks stay, I have cometo see how similar these two countries are. For example,
Japanese and Filipinos are both very hospitable and bothhave warm hearts especially for strangers in need. There ismore to Japan than meets the eye.
As they say, experience is the best teacher. I want
to believe that I became better, more confident in my
Nihongo. I now know new methods and strategies on how
to teach the language. My overall understanding about
Japan becomes clearer, which will benefit me as a history
teacher. Lastly, I can say that my experience is nothing but
happy memories. I was able to visit new place like Kanazawa
and Nikko, discover new things that I can only experiencein Japan (like the different matsuri [festivals] in Tokyo andSaitama), book shopping with my former CJH teachers, andeat mouth-watering Japanese sweets, the famous wagyu,
and my new favorite raw shirasu-don. I cannot remember
a day that I did not smile or laugh. It was indeed a beautiful
hot summer in Japan. I came home with tans and sunburns
and a few pounds added to my weight, but I also broughthome with me the warm feeling in my heart.

Teacher Training in Urawa, JapanThe Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa offers training opportunities in Japan
to Filipino Nihongo teachers. The available on-sight courses for Filipino Nihongo teachers are:1) Basic Training Program (six-month program)
2) Japanese-Language Program (six-week program)3) Comprehensive Japanese Teaching Method Program4) Japanese Teaching Methods Program for Teachers of Specified Skilled Worker Candidates(one-month program)

14

はばたけ！NIHONGO PARTNERSABOUT NIHONGO PARTNERS PROGRAM
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the NihongoPartners (NP) Program in the Philippines has resumed
with the arrival of 14 NPs on September 30. This program
dispatches Japanese citizens mainly to secondary schools
in order to support the educational activities of the local
Japanese-Language teachers and to spread the charms of
the Japanese language and cultures through their learning

support and cultural activities in and outside the classroom.
After a week-long orientation in Manila, nine NPs weredispatched to different parts of Metro Manila and five NPs
were dispatched to Cebu. They will work in assigned publicschools for six months until March 2023. We wish our
NIHONGO Partners all the best!

15

はばたけ！NIHONGO PARTNERSMEET OUR NIHONGO PARTNERS!
Name: Renon Nonoue
Assigned School: Captain Albert Aguilar National
High School in Las Piñas, Metro Manila.
In Japan, I am a university student majoringin Filipino in the School of Foreign Studies. My career
aspiration is to teach social studies in high school. In my
sophomore year in university, I met children who have roots
outside of Japan. The encounter inspired me to experiencevarious education settings and become a compassionate andbroad-minded teacher who is conscious that each student
has his/her own unique background and upbringing. This is
why I applied to this program.
As a NIHONGO partner, I would like to provide
meaningful support for the futures of students and teachers
I will be working with. In my effort to promote mutual
respect for each other’s culture, I hope to serve as a bridge
between Japan and the Philippines. In the next six months,
I will work hard every day so that people I meet will findJapan interesting and will want NIHONGO partners tocome to their schools and communities again.

Name: Hiromu Mitabe
Assigned Schools: Compostela National High School
and Compostela Science and Technology High Schoolin Cebu
I applied to the NIHONGO Partners Programas I have always been interested in education programsfor children who have roots outside of Japan and ininternational cultural exchange. In the Philippines, I lookforward to meeting many people and making as manyfriends as possible. Through the interactions with the newpeople I meet, I hope to deepen my understanding of theircultures and languages, and I hope they can also learn fromme. Upon my return to Japan, I would like to work in the
education sector where I can give back what I have learned
here. I envision my role here is to be a bridge that connects
Japan and the Philippines by sharing valuable experiences I
will have in the next six months as a NIHONGO partner.

16

Hello and Goodbye

Goodbye!
Goodbye!

IMAMURA Michiko
JFMで日本語の仕事をして、た
くさんの人に出会うことができました。
みなさんとの出会いに感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです。
ありがとうございました！また、お会いしましょう。

MUTA Aya
3年間お世話になりました。
みなさんと新しいことにチャ
レンジできて、
とても楽しかったです。
みなさんのやさしい笑
顔、わすれません！またいつか
フィリピンに帰ってきたいです。
ありがとうございました。
どうぞお元気で！！Maraming
salamat sa inyong lahat!

NAMIKI Kanami
3年半、大変お世話になりました！ 私は、
マニラ日本文化セン
ターでの文化芸術事業を担当
してきましたが、いろいろな経験をさせてもらい、とても楽しかったです。
これまで日本映画祭に参加しサポートしてくだった皆さん、
ありがとうございました。
またどこかでお会いしま
しょう！

MATSUSHITA Kayo
皆様、2年半の間大変お世話になりました。
フィリピンの方々の優しさと明るさにいつもいつも助けられてきました。Hinahangad ko ang
tagumpay ninyong lahat.
皆様のご幸運を祈っております。
ありがとうございました。
Maraming salamat po!

WOW!
25 YEARS!

KAWAMURA Masashi
赴任から早くも3年間が過ぎ去ってしまいました。
コロナの影響で一時帰国したり、働き方が大きく変わったりと、いろ
いろなことがありましたが、こうやって乗り越えられたのも皆さんのおかげです。
また戻ってくることがあると思うので、その際はまたお会いしましょう! Maraming salamat at
hanggang sa muli!

IDE Gohei
3年間たいへんおせわになりました。2年目からは、コロナの影響ですべてオンラインになってしまい、
みなさんと会う機会がなかったのがとても残念です。
いつも、みなさんの明るさとエネルギーに元気をもらっていました。
みなさんとまた会え
る日を楽しみにしています。
ありがとうございました

Cecilia Aquino
Mrs. Aquino had been with
JFM since its establishment
in 1996. For over 25 years,
she looked after newcomers
to JFM with motherly
affection. Her role insuccessful implementation ofmany projects, especially theJapan Language Proficiency
Test (JLPT), cannot be
understated. Mrs. Aquino,
thank you for your longyears of service.  

17夢に向かって JPEPA

About EPA Team

“シンリソウ” is a slogan for EPA Japanese language lecturers this year. It is coined from the thematic concept, “新しい理解と総合日本
語強化の授業 (New Angles to Comprehension and Comprehensive Strengthening of Nihongo Skills).” The EPA team is working tirelessly
to prepare nurse and care worker candidates for their upcoming journeys in JapanThe Japan Foundation, Manila implements a sixmonth special intensive Japanese language course for nurse
and care worker candidates who will work in Japan and aim
to pass national examinations there as professionals under
the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement(JPEPA). The training program is designed to equip thelearners with Japanese language skills that they can use attheir workplaces, such as hospitals and care giving facilities
in Japan, as well as the knowhow to adapt to a new culture
and society which is different from their own.
The EPA Team is tasked to teach and support
candidates. This year, approximately 50 staff members,

18

Thanks for reading
Nihongojin Connect!

ありがとうございます!

See you soon!
またね!

comprised of Japanese language advisors, Japanese lecturers,
Filipino lecturers, and coordinators, are involved in the
training process.
To prepare for Batch 15, JPEPA course lecturers
frequently got together on-line and off-line in September
and October and studied effective ways of teaching andmanaging the course. Batch 15 started on November 16,
2022. The candidates are learning Japanese enthusiasticallyand are improving their Japanese skills day by day to prepare
themselves for their upcoming new and exciting chapter inlife.

Message from the
Director

This is the first edition of
Nihongojin Connect! since the start of thecurrent Administration of the Philippine
government. After two long years ofhome-based learning, in-person learning
has finally been resumed in schools acrossthe country.
Face-to-face Nihongo learning
outside formal school settings have also
slowly started to come back. The JapanFoundation has resumed the NihongoPartners Program, dispatching 14 NihongoPartners (9th Batch) to the designated highschools at the end of September 2022.
Lastly, the tests for all JLPT levels (NI-N5)
was finally conducted in December 2022
for the first time in three years! Despite
the challenges brought by the pandemic,
so many have stayed with their Nihongo
learning journeys. In the “New-Normal”
era, the Japan Foundation, Manila willcontinue to stand with all Nihongojin to getthrough the pandemic-related challenges
and respond to the new learning needs.
SUZUKI Ben
Director
The Japan Foundation, Manila

IRODORI Japanese Online Course, a Japanese language
learning website, is now open to anyone free of charge.
Learn Japanese for daily life using videos, audios, andillustrations. Launched in October 2022, the Starter-levelcourse has been added to the course series.
www.irodori-online.jpf.go.jp

Published by The Japan Foundation,
Manila (JFM)
23F Pacific Star Building, Sen. Gil Puyat
Ave., Cor. Makati Ave., Makati City ,Philippines 1226

m (632) 8811-6154
K www.jfmo.org.ph
Q E JFManila