6FEATURECultural V<strong>is</strong>itText and Photo by Raul M. Sunico, Ph.D.First of all, I would like to thank the <strong>Japan</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> for theirkind invitation for me to v<strong>is</strong>it <strong>Japan</strong> and learn more aboutits culture, people, and important h<strong>is</strong>torical and cultural sites.<strong>The</strong> travel period from November 1 to 14 was a productive,informative, and pleasurable one, indeed a rare opportunityprovided to me. <strong>The</strong> meetings with top government and culturalofficials were definitely the highlight of my v<strong>is</strong>it, which shouldhopefully lead to a more active cultural collaboration betweenour two countries. <strong>The</strong> tour<strong>is</strong>t and art<strong>is</strong>tic attractions made the<strong>Japan</strong> experience even more memorable.<strong>The</strong> initial meeting on Day 2 with Mr. Naoki Murata, DirectorGeneral of Public Diplomacy of the Min<strong>is</strong>try of Foreign Affairs,was an auspicious beginning of my official trip. It was a courtesycall with the expected formality and cordial exchanges, and anopportunity to inform the Min<strong>is</strong>try of my v<strong>is</strong>it and purpose. Alater trip to the Philippine Embassy also enabled the Charged’Affaires Belen Anota to be aware of my v<strong>is</strong>it. On the day’s finalmeeting, a friendly encounter with Mr. Yoshiyaki N<strong>is</strong>hizawa andMr. Ben Suzuki provided me the chance to thank them and the<strong>Japan</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> for my trip.Day 3 was marked by interesting v<strong>is</strong>its to the Mori ArtMuseum and the Suntory Museum. Mori’s prevailing exhibitspresented various <strong>Japan</strong>ese art<strong>is</strong>ts in their perceptions of nature,(November 1-14, 2010)<strong>Japan</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> Cultural Leaders Programwhich were expectedly unconventional and modern, whileSuntory offered a more traditional <strong>Japan</strong>ese v<strong>is</strong>ual collection. Incontrast, they provided a healthy variety.Day 4 provided a v<strong>is</strong>it with Mr. Masayuki Shibata, DirectorGeneral of the Comm<strong>is</strong>sioner’s Secretariat from the Agency forCultural Affairs. It was also a very cordial meeting and a chanceto exchange information regarding our respective governments’cultural policies. In a way, the Cultural Center of the Philippines(CCP) <strong>is</strong> the counterpart of th<strong>is</strong> agency as the CCP also overseesthe country’s cultural programs and activities.Day 5 featured a trip to Hiroshima, where I met withthe Chancellor of El<strong>is</strong>abeth University of Music, Fr. LawrenceMcGarrell, Mr. Yuji Kawano, President, as well as other schoolofficials. In my concurrent position as Dean of the Universityof Santo Tomas (UST) Conservatory of Music, the meetingcentered on the status of our present and future exchanges,as our schools have an ex<strong>is</strong>ting Memorandum of Agreement.Presently, the UST has four scholars attending its Masteraldegree program, while a couple of faculty members andofficials are due to v<strong>is</strong>it UST in the coming months. <strong>The</strong>Hiroshima experience was also capped by a memorable andpleasurable v<strong>is</strong>it to Miyajima as one of <strong>Japan</strong>’s most reveredshrines.“My two-week v<strong>is</strong>itto <strong>Japan</strong> was a veryrewarding experience,as the opportunityto meet and d<strong>is</strong>cusspolicies and futurecollaborations withthe various headsof <strong>Japan</strong>’s culturalagencies andinstitutions was asignifi cant one withhopefully far-reachingimplications regardingour programs.”With Shigeki Tominaga,Director Kyoto Arts Center
FEATURE 7Outside theImperial PalaceWith Naoki Murata, Director General of PublicDiplomacy, Min<strong>is</strong>try of Foreign AffairsWith Professor Yuji Kawano, President of theEl<strong>is</strong>abeth University of Music, HiroshimaDay 6 started with a trip to Kyoto, withv<strong>is</strong>its to various Buddh<strong>is</strong>t shrines whichwere quite awesome and h<strong>is</strong>toricallyimportant, as well as a stroll through theold d<strong>is</strong>trict. <strong>The</strong> following day (Day 7), av<strong>is</strong>it to Nara was highlighted by the tripto the famous giant Buddha shrine. <strong>The</strong>hordes of people and tour<strong>is</strong>ts attest to thesignificance and tradition of th<strong>is</strong> venerablesite. <strong>The</strong> Kyoto v<strong>is</strong>it was concludedwith a v<strong>is</strong>it to the Kyoto Arts Center,where Director Shigeki Tominaga and h<strong>is</strong>able Secretary General Keiko Yuri wereextremely accommodating in showingme the different rooms and galleries of th<strong>is</strong>premiere Kyoto art<strong>is</strong>tic venue. As Kyotonever had any cultural exchange withthe Philippines, the v<strong>is</strong>it provided us theopportunity to be aware of each other’sex<strong>is</strong>tence. Before coming back to Tokyoon Day 8, we had the chance to enter theManga Museum, a pleasant d<strong>is</strong>covery ofa widely popular medium.Day 9 was a busy one for meetingswith top officials of the various Tokyoart<strong>is</strong>tic institutions. We started with theTokyo Opera City Cultural <strong>Foundation</strong>and the New National <strong>The</strong>atre, led byits officials Mr. Akiteru Yamasaki, ShuichiSegawa, Tomiaki Amano, Naoki Ema(TOCCF) as well as Hiroshi Nirasawa andH<strong>is</strong>ayuki Ito (NNT). <strong>The</strong> meeting was quiteinformative with respect to theatre policies,backstage and technical preparations andequipment, and rehearsal procedures.A glimpse into a choral rehearsal underAtsuko Nakagomi and Toshimitsu Kimurawas a joy to witness, especially in termsof their d<strong>is</strong>cipline and professional<strong>is</strong>m.I also learned that Mr. Nakagomi andToshimitsu had been to <strong>Manila</strong> beforefor their respective art<strong>is</strong>tic projects withPhilippine producers.Day 10 included a v<strong>is</strong>it to Mecenatand the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space.For the former, their main advocacy ofcultural ass<strong>is</strong>tance <strong>is</strong> presently curtailedby the difficult economic condition of<strong>Japan</strong>, while the latter tries to makethe arts survive in the busy d<strong>is</strong>trict ofIkebukuro. A v<strong>is</strong>it to the Android-Human<strong>The</strong>atre afforded me to see a fantastichuman-robot interaction in a 20-minuteconversation between the two.Day 11 featured a relevant andfriendly conversation with the <strong>Japan</strong>Arts Council and its Executive Director,Mr. Yasufumi Sakitani. It was a furtheraffirmation of the country’s commitmentto the arts and its international exchanges,although presently limited due to a policychange of the government regardingculture as well as the prevailing economicrecession. A <strong>Japan</strong>ese dinner hosted by the<strong>Japan</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> through Mr. TomoyukiIsakurai, Executive Vice President, providedus the chance to further d<strong>is</strong>cuss thefuture possibilities between the <strong>Japan</strong><strong>Foundation</strong> and the Philippines.Days 12 and 13 were earmarkedfor Okinawa, where a v<strong>is</strong>it to Prof BienPanganiban, Founder and Director ofthe Ryukyu Academy of Music, enabledme to meet with the other musicalpersonalities of the <strong>is</strong>land. Finally, Day 14was an opportunity for me to v<strong>is</strong>it theSophia University campus and hear Massat the St Ignatius Church before leavingfor the airport.All in all, my two-week v<strong>is</strong>it to <strong>Japan</strong>was a very rewarding experience, asthe opportunity to meet and d<strong>is</strong>cusspolicies and future collaborations with thevarious heads of <strong>Japan</strong>’s cultural agenciesand institutions was a significant onewith hopefully far-reaching implicationsregarding our programs. My exposureto various <strong>Japan</strong>ese art and culture thatincludes Noh/Kyogen, Kabuki, Koto/Sham<strong>is</strong>en concert, Tea Ceremony, Gagaku,Android <strong>The</strong>atre, Mori Museum, SuntoryMuseum, Kyoto Arts Center, Buddh<strong>is</strong>tshrines and temples, Imperial Gardens,Miyajima, as well as the typical cu<strong>is</strong>inesranging from sushi to okonomiyaki, werea very fulfilling and pleasant one. Myoverall guide, Ms. Takako Shimizu, <strong>is</strong> veryhelpful and friendly, taking initiativesto suggest places to v<strong>is</strong>it and providinguseful h<strong>is</strong>torical and other anecdotes tothe various people and places that I wouldbe meeting and v<strong>is</strong>iting. My interpreterswere very qualified, with special mentionto Ms. Miyako Yoshida, who <strong>is</strong> extremelyintelligent and articulate. What furtheradded to my pleasurable experience wasthe opportunity to savor <strong>Japan</strong>ese foodwhich I love.I am hopeful that in spite of theimpending cutback in the activities ofthe <strong>Japan</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong>, there will be futurepersonalities from around the world thatwould have the opportunity for th<strong>is</strong> rareexperience. <strong>The</strong> significant impact thatthe <strong>Japan</strong> <strong>Foundation</strong> had provided overthe years certainly enhanced the country’scultural and political relationships withother countries. <strong>The</strong> care and hospitalityit had exerted to the utmost detailfurther strengthened its positive imageas a highly professional and efficientgroup of people. In closing, may I alsoreiterate my country`s desire, throughthe Cultural Center of the Philippinesand the UST Conservatory of Music,to further strengthen our cultural tiesin support of the strong diplomaticrelations between our two countries. Inspite of prevailing economic difficultiesexperienced by both countries, thereare surely many imaginative projectsthat can be mutually affordable and stillattain their desired purpose. For th<strong>is</strong>,we remain enthusiastic towards furtherd<strong>is</strong>cussions. Domo arigato gozaimasu!Raul Sunico <strong>is</strong> the President and Art<strong>is</strong>tic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and concurrently the Dean of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music in <strong>Manila</strong>.He holds a Ph.D degree in Piano Performance from the New York University, and a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School. He also holds degrees in Mathematics and Stat<strong>is</strong>ticsfrom the University of the Philippines, as well as an honorary doctorate degree in Humanities from the Far Eastern University in <strong>Manila</strong>. He <strong>is</strong> an active concert performer, textbook author,recording art<strong>is</strong>t, and lecturer.
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