Eiga Sai’s Familial & Culinary Bonds

Japan Amb H.E. Toshinao Urabe. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

The futuristic design of the new East Wing in Shangri La Plaza Mall played host to the successful opening of Eiga Sai. The annual fest organized by the Japan Foundation, which allows audiences to watch the best contemporary Japanese films for free has garnered a lot of fans over the years. It will run from July 3-13 at the Shang Cineplex.

3rd from left: Japan Amb H.E. Toshinao Urabe, from left: AKIRA Co Owner & Managing Director Ricky Laudico, Japan Foundation Managing Dir Shuji Takatori, Shang Rila Plaza Mktg. Div. Head Marline Dualan, FDCP Head of Cinema Evaluation & Coordination Wilma Isleta, Shu Uemura Mktg Head Dyan Warren and JICA Sr. Representative Kunihiro Nakasone. Photo was taken at the Shang East Wing where the opening of Eiga Sai fest was held. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

AKIRA-Shang East wing and SUMOSAM provided authentic & sumptuous sushi during The Eiga Sai Opening. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

This year’s opening was made extra special by the participation of AKIRA and SUMOSAM. Both restaurants in Shang Mall are from celebrity restaurateur Marvin Agustin who is now also a concert producer. They created a truly Japanese atmosphere by serving authentic sushi, with master chefs assembling them fresh on site. Although the dashing Marvin Agustin the actor was not in the opening, Co owner Ricky Laudico ably represented the latest brand in Japanese dining in the new East Wing.

Eiga Sai literally meaning film festival, features 16 titles. Among them is Cannes Jury Prize winner LIKE FATHER LIKE SON directed by Karee da Hirozaku. HOMELAND is likewise one of the celebrated films in the Berlin Film festival.

(center) Japan Amb H.E. Toshinao Urabe was interviewed from left by GMA News’ Cata Inocencio and TV5 Aksyon Anne Cabral. Photo was taken at the Shang East Wing where the opening of Eiga Sai fest was held. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free run from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe emphasized the importance of family as the theme of the fest, “Movies are universal everyone enjoys it. There’s no better way to start the Philippines Japan Friendship month than Eiga Sai. Last year almost 20,000 people attended this festival. This year’s movie line up will focus on family. The modern society’s abundant amenities allow people to live alone. However no one can live in solitude. People need relationships to be human. Among such relationships family ties are most important. The American writer Richard Bach, author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull wrote ‘the bond that links true family is not of blood but of respect and joy for each other’s life”

Newly Wed Karylle was shopping at East Wing during the Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival, which will screen films for free, from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

Urabe linked familial bonds of the two countries from bilateral relations of governments to food, “The relationship which is building up between Japan and the Philippines in recent years are linked with such things. Renewed respect to the Philippine economy by Japanese investors, the frequent summit meetings between our leaders, the surge of Filipino tourists to Japan and the Filipino fad for Japanese Ramen, Tonkatsu and other Japanese food.” No wonder, this year organizers tapped two of the best Japanese restaurants AKIRA and SUMOSAM as food sponsors.

3rd from right: Japan Amb H.E. Toshinao Urabe from left: Japan Foundation Managing Dir Shuji Takatori, Shang Rila Plaza Mktg. Div. Head Marline Dualan, Etsuko Urabe, FDCP Head of Cinema Evaluation & Coordination Wilma Isleta and JICA Sr. Representative Kunihiro Nakasone. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free run from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

Marline Dualan, Division Manager for Marketing Shangri La plaza Corp. encapsulated what can be seen among the many titles of the fest, “This year’s edition of Eiga Sai features 16 carefully selected films that span the last 5 years of contemporary Japanese cinema. Starting tonight with the screening of HOMELAND until the next ten days, the Shang Cineplex will play host to an excellent line up of well-chosen films that center around the theme of family. From coming of age dramas to real life accounts depicting the aftermath of the Great East Japan earthquake that shook Fukushima on March 2011 to award winning Anime films.”

There were long queues for the opening film HOMELAND. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

from right: AKIRA Mktg Dir Sheryl Laudico, AKIRA Co-Owner & Mng Dir Ricky Laudico, Japan Foundation Prog Coordinator Roland Samson and Japan Foundation Managing Dir Shuji Takatori. Photo was taken at the Shang East Wing where the opening of Eiga Sai fest was held. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

According to her the relationship between Shang Plaza and the Japan foundation has been a long and fruitful one, “We would like to thank the Japan Foundation of Manila, for entrusting to us this wonderful partnership that showcases Japanese filmmaking at its best. We congratulate you for another successful undertaking of this event. We look forward to many more years of partnership and friendship. We would also like to thank the invaluable support of the Japanese Embassy and the FILM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF THE PHILIPPINES for making this project a reality. We would like to thank our retail partners AKIRA, SUMOSAM and SHUEMURA for generously supporting Japan Foundation as one of the sponsors of this event.”

Japan Foundation Managing Dir Shuji Takatori and FDCP Head of Cinema Evaluation & Coordination Wilma Isleta. Photo was taken at the Shang East Wing where the opening of Eiga Sai fest was held. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

The role of cinema is more than just entertainment. FDCP Head of Cinema Evaluation & Coordination Wilma Isleta explained, “As you know both the Philippines and Japan have suffered devastating disasters in the past few years that have resulted in the loss of many lives. And cinema has the capability to unite us by respecting the value of the family in putting up with disasters and heightening efforts to rebuild lives and communities.” These inspiring stories can be gleaned in films like REUNION, HOMELAND and many more in this year’s Eiga Sai line up all for free.

CORO TOMASINO performed Hana Wa Saku (Flowers Will Bloom) a Japanese song composed to raise funds for the Great East Earthquake. Photo was taken at the Shang East Wing where the opening of Eiga Sai fest was held. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

from right: Instituto Cervantes Manila Managing Dir Carlos Madrid and Instituto Cervantes Deputy for Cultural Affairs Jose Fons at the Shang East Wing where the opening of Eiga Sai fest was held. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

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from left: Vietnam Emb 2nd Secretary Le Thi Thu Thuy, Laos Emb 2nd Secretary Phoungern Soukvilai, JICA Sr. Representative Kunihiro Nakasone and Japan Foundation Managing Dir Shuji Takatori at the Shang East Wing where the opening of Eiga Sai fest was held. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

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It was a full house for the opening film HOMELAND. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

Shu Uemura Mktg Head Dyan Warren and Shu Uemura Mktg officer Jam Soriano
The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

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from right: JICA Sr. Advisor Juro Chikaraishi, JICA Sr. Representative Kunihiro Nakasone and JICA Prog Officer Tracy Decena. Photo was taken at the Shang East Wing where the opening of Eiga Sai fest was held. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

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from right: AKIRA Co Owner & Managing Director Ricky Laudico and Japan Foundation Managing Dir Shuji Takatori at the Shang East Wing where the opening of Eiga Sai fest was held. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

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ADMU Ricardo Leong Center Dir. Sidney Christopher Bata with wife Gyeong-min Bae. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

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Japan Amb H.E. Toshinao Urabe with Chevalier Virginia Moreno at the Shang East Wing where the opening of Eiga Sai fest was held. The Eiga Sai Japanese Film Festival will screen films for free from July 4 to 13, 2014 at the Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall. Photo by Jude Bautista

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