AMBASSADOR Kazuya Endo and Madame Akiko Endo recently led notable events that further strengthened cultural linkages between Japan and the Philippines.
On October 21, the couple received a courtesy call from the Philippines’ representative to the 2025 Miss International Myrna Esguerra at the Ambassador’s residence in Makati City.
In preparation for Esguerra’s exciting journey to Japan to prepare for the Miss International Beauty Pageant, Ambassador and Madame Endo shared insightful knowledge on Japan’s rich culture and treasured traditions. The candidate also learned about the enduring and ever-flourishing friendship between Japan and the Philippines, as both countries will celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Friendship next year.
Fully immersing herself in the beauty and wonders of Japan, Esguerra had the rare opportunity to join Madame Endo in a captivating traditional tea ceremony, where the former gained firsthand experience of the practice’s intricate preparation and deep cultural heritage.
The Embassy of Japan congratulated the Philippines’ candidate on ‘this wonderful milestone. We look forward to seeing her shine as she showcases Filipino beauty and excellence on the world stage in Tokyo, Japan this November.’
Crowned as Binibining Pilipinas International 2024, Esguerra is set to fly to Japan next month for the 63rd Miss International Beauty Pageant at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Shibuya, Tokyo to be held on November 27.
Supporting fashion
MEANWHILE, Ambassador and Madame Endo attended the final awarding ceremony of The Grant by Fashion Aid Philippines’at the Centro Turismo de Intramuros in Manila on October 2.
The Grant is Fashion Aid Philippines’ flagship initiative aimed at providing broader opportunities for emerging Filipino talents in the fields of fashion and design. Apart from supporting new generations of Filipino creatives, Fashion Aid also aims to promote the cultural, social, and economic consciousness of the Filipino public on the Philippine fashion and creative arts industries.
This year, three of The Grant’s recipients will be participating in the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths Programme or JENESYS. Focusing on Japanese Language and Culture, the participants will be part of the Philippines’ official delegation traveling to Tokyo, Japan for a unique cultural immersion experience.
A Top-5 awardee of The Grant is Monica Castillo who is a former MEXT or Japanese government scholar who completed her master’s degree at the Faculty of Fine Arts-Global Art Practice at Tokyo University of the Arts.