Wherever I am, the world comes after me.
It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it.
Now I understand why the old poets of China went so far
and high into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.
"The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver

Fostering Critical Inquiry and Cross-Cultural Dialogue: Highlights from the 8th Japan Studies Research and Development Competition Finals

Details

The Eighth Japan Studies Research and Development Competition (JSRDC) was held on 21 March 2026, at the UP Asian Center, Diliman, with the undergraduate category in the morning and the graduate category in the afternoon. Organized by the UP Asian Center and the Japan Foundation Manila (JFM), the event brought together ten finalists—five undergraduate and five graduate—whose research explored Japan’s culture, history, philosophy, and its intersections with Philippine society.

UNDERGRADUATE CATEGORY

The undergraduate category opened the day with presentations that ranged from historical narratives to philosophical and cultural analyses from young scholars. Merian Daphne M. Dapon of UP Mindanao won first place with her paper, “Memories of the Japanese Occupation: The Bagobo-Klata–Japanese Relationship Before and After the Second World War.” Her work excellently explored indigenous narratives shaped by wartime encounters. Second place went to Charles M. Perolino of MSU-IIT, whose study on Japanese moral education offered insights into Philippine pedagogy reform. Mark Joseph B. Borja of UP Baguio placed third with his research on the Japanese presence in Abra during World War II. Following this, Bianca Ysabelle P. Tagarda of UST took fourth place with her analysis of Japan’s post-war cultural diplomacy through the Cool Japan Project. Rounding out the finalists was Khent Bryll M. Jarales of MSU-IIT, who examined Nishida Kitaro’s dialectic of self-negation in the context of tourism in Japan and Siargao.

The undergraduate judges panel was composed of Ms. Hanna Miyashita, Assistant Director at the Japan Foundation Manila, who oversees projects on Japanese Studies and global partnerships in the Philippines; Prof. Nappy L. Navarra, a professor at the UP College of Architecture and coordinator of the Integrated Graduate Program and Environmental Landscapes Studio Laboratory; and Dr. Patricia Ysabel E. Wong, Assistant Professor at the Ateneo de Manila University’s Department of History.

GRADUATE CATEGORY

In the afternoon, the graduate category pushed intellectual boundaries further.  Vincent Jhun O. Dorias of MSU-IIT emerged as the champion with his ecolinguistic study, “Kyōjo and Bayanihan in the News: An Exploration of Disaster Solidarity in Japan and the Philippines.” His research drew compelling parallels between Japanese and Filipino traditions of mutual aid, emphasizing how language shapes collective resilience. John Adrianfer Atienza of UP Diliman took second place with his analysis of Japanese wartime newsreels and the Indonesian agency, while Ma. Kamille M. Untalan, also from UP Diliman, placed third with her ethnographic study on the transmission and adaptation of Reiki in the Philippines. Patricia Belle J. Adolfo, of UP Diliman, secured fourth place with her exploration of Japanese Catholic identity on YouTube, while Sheilla L. Pamittan, likewise from UP Diliman, completed the roster with her autoethnographic sketch on the commercialization of Japanese bathing culture.

The judges for this category consisted of JFM Assistant Director, Mr. Eisuke Matsuda, who is also a community organizer and researcher; Mr. Shigehiro Matsuda, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines and Director of the Japan Information and Culture Center; and Associate Professor, Dr. Maria Thaemar Camañag Tana,  from the Japanese Studies Program of the Ateneo de Manila University.

The JSRDC 8 Finals reaffirmed the vitality of Japan Studies in the Philippines. More than a competition, it was a celebration of intellectual curiosity and cultural dialogue, where Filipino scholars demonstrated academic rigor and creativity in bridging cross-cultural perspectives. The event concluded with a strong reminder of the role of scholarship in connecting histories, cultures, and communities across borders, affirming the JSRDC as a vital platform for cultivating the next generation of Japan Studies scholars in the Philippines.

PHOTOS FROM THE COMPETITION

    ABOUT THE COMPETITION

    The research competition aims to encourage Japan-related research among Filipino students, to disseminate knowledge, and exchange perspectives on Japanese Studies. It is organized by the UP Asian Center and Japan Foundation, Manila.