Japan Embassy holds J-Pop tilt

MANILA, Philippines – The Embassy of Japan recently celebrated the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month with the grand finals of the J-Pop Animé Sing and Dance Contest at the SM Cinema Centerstage of the Mall of Asia.

A joint project of the Embassy of Japan, the Japan Foundation (Manila), the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and SM Cinema, the event commemorates 59 years of longstanding cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.

Now on its seventh year, the contest has been a venue for Filipino amateur performers who can sing and dance their favorite J-Pop or animé songs.

Maychell Hernandez won first place and an all-expense paid trip to Japan; while Kenichi Go Uang and Lou Angeline Buenaventura Ulanday placed second and third, respectively.

In the dance category, Fluffy Unicorns won first place while Seishun Kakumei came in second.

Special awards were also given to other finalists: Bandai’s Best for Lou Angeline; Hero Choice Award for Kenichi and Fluffy Unicorns; Toei’s Favorite for Maychelle and Seiza; and the Doraemon Special Award for Sachii and Kiss-My-Boys.

The Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa graced the annual contest. Adding more fun to the show, the No Plan Band, which is composed of the Japan Embassy’s diplomats, performed animé songs.

Hikari*, which won first place last year in the singing contest, performed for an encore. The event also featured a special appearance of Doraemon and friends — Shizuka, Suneo, Nobita and Takeshi — as well as Koala’s March and Yakult.

The 2015 J-Pop Animé Sing and Dance Contest was made possible with the support of All Nippon Airways, Animation International, Ajinomoto Philippines, Bandai Namco Philippines, Inc., Bobson, Canon Information Technologies, Inc., Canon Marketing Philippines, Center for Pop Music Philippines, HERO TV, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc., Lotte Confectionery Pilipinas Corporation, Nihongo Center Foundation, Panasonic Philippines Corporation, Sony Philippines, Toei Animation Philippines, Inc., Yakult Philippines and Yoshinoya.