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GMA Network
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Rare performance opens the 2025 international Silent Film Festival
There are only 20 modern-day benshi or narrator still active in Japan, and one of them flew to Manila from Japan to open the 2025 International Silent Film Festival on Friday, after a two-year hiatus. Nanako Yamauchi served as narrator of the opening film, the lesbian-themed Japanese film made in 1935 entitled "The Scent of the Pheasant's Eye' directed by Jiro Kawate. The live score meanwhile was composed of Mariah Reodico, Teresa Barrozo and Pat Sarabia, three acclaimed Filipina sound artists who banded just for this occasion. 'It was hard for me,' admitted Barrozo, 'because one of my practices is I'm a film composer, and I work alone. So to be very honest, it was difficult to collaborate for me. But now we're best friends.' The three sound artists only had a few rehearsals together — and only met Yamauchi at lunch hour on opening night. There were no jamming sessions via Zoom. Yamauchi recorded her narration performance and sent it to the one-time-only band. In Japan, the practice of having a narrator or benshi came about more than a century ago, during the silent film era and was very much in demand. Yamauchi proudly pointed out that back then, the film was not decided by who the director or the actor will, but which benshi will perform. And it is indeed a performance. The narration is not simple. It not only provides dialogue to a silent film, but an emotional journey that is a unique interpretation of the story by the benshi. In his introduction, Japan Foundation Director Tsutomu 'Ben' Suzuki said it would be his first time to hear a female benshi. 'She will be narrating in Japanese just as it was done a century ago,' Suzuki said. 'But the emotion she carries will beat you in a way anyone can understand.' It was not Yamauchi's first time to narrate "The Scent of the Pheasant's Eye." Each performance is different because she also adjusts to the musical score. 'After I heard the sound of music, from the musician, I actually omitted some of the narration part,' Yamauchi said. 'And even, on the spot, at the theater, I also listen carefully to the reaction from the audiences. And if there's a big reaction or, like, laugh, then I actually minimize my narration part.' The musicians also listened to the nuances of the narration. 'The way we thought about it is we're not afraid to have silence because Yamauchi's voice was also an instrument,' Reodica said. Since 2007, the International Silent Film Festival has given Filipino audiences remarkable visual and aural experiences. Founded by The Japan Foundation, Instituto Cervantes and Goethe Institute, the film festival has screened more than a hundred films from 12 countries, with live scoring from contemporary Filipino musicians from all kinds of genres. This year, the line up was composed of films made in the 1920s from Japan, Spain, Germany, Italy and Austria with scoring by Filipino sound artists and groups Psychic Surgeons, Joee Mejias & Alyana, Pepe Manikan and ProgHarmonic Orchestra and Hearlife Partner Artists. Hearlife is a non-profit organization of a hearing cochlear implant company in Austria. According to Madeleine John of the Austrian Embassy Manila, there are Filipinos who have received the cochlear implants here and for this festival, the cultural office of the Embassy partnered with artists who are implantees of cochlear implants. 'And what's interesting is since we could not really find an appropriate film, the film archive in Austria gave us a movie that's very safe for everybody–familiar to the Filipino: it's Beethoven [The Life of Beethoven], the famous composer who experienced hearing loss.' The 17th International Silent Film Festival was held at the Red Carpet Cinema in Shangri-La Plaza Mall where beginning this year, in October, it will be the new home of the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. — LA, GMA Integrated News
Japan Times
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Japan Foundation to distribute Japanese movies in Africa
The Japan Foundation will begin distributing Japanese movies online for free in all 54 countries of the African continent on Tuesday. The move comes ahead of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD 9, to be held in the city of Yokohama Aug. 20-22. The movies will be distributed on JFF Theater, a movie distribution website operated by the government-affiliated organization. Two works, including zombie film "Kamera wo Tomeruna!" (One Cut of the Dead), are slated to be offered initially. More movies will be distributed later. Subtitles will be available in Arabic, English, French and Portuguese. The site has about 100,000 registered users, according to the foundation. This is the first time since the August 2024 launch of the site that its movie distribution service is offered in a limited area. Many of the users in Africa are concentrated in North Africa, particularly in Egypt. "We hope that this will be an opportunity for a number of people to know about Japanese movies," an official of the foundation's film business division said, noting that many people in Africa enjoy watching movies with relatives and friends.
The Mainichi
10-07-2025
- The Mainichi
Japanese language proxy test taking thought to be rampant among foreign technical trainees
OSAKA -- Osaka Prefectural Police have arrested at least five people in connection with cases of Vietnamese technical intern trainees acting as "proxy test-takers" in the Japanese language test required to switch residency status in Japan. For foreign technical trainees to work under better conditions or stay longer in Japan, they need to change their status of residence. In some cases, passing the Japanese language test is a requirement. The five arrested include those who requested proxy test-taking and those who performed it. It is suspected that technical trainees with poor Japanese language skills have asked Vietnamese nationals who have lived in Japan for a long time to take the tests on their behalf. The presence of their intermediaries has also been confirmed, and the prefectural police believe that such cheating methods are widespread within the Vietnamese community in Japan. The issue first came to light after The Japan Foundation, the organizer of the Japanese language test, grew skeptical over the prominently high pass rate at the Osaka exam venue when the rate normally stands at around 40%. At one point, almost all examinees at the Osaka venue were passing. This led the foundation to suspect that impersonators were taking the exams in Osaka. After being consulted by the foundation, Osaka Prefectural Police arrested a 31-year-old Vietnamese woman in December 2024 for allegedly taking the test by posing as another individual. "I've done it 10 times or so," the woman was quoted as telling investigators, raising suspicions that proxy test-taking is rampant. Playing the central role in her case was a broker who connected the clients requesting the cheating and those who carried it out. To take the test, the examinee needs to have their own residency card and other documents. The broker allegedly contacted the clients via social media and obtained their residency cards and other necessary materials, before handing them over to the proxy test-takers with instructions to take the exam in their place. In the case of a group allegedly involved in this crime, the client paid 160,000 yen (approx. $1,090), of which the broker received 100,000 yen (some $680) and the remainder went to the proxy exam-taker. It is believed that there are multiple such mediators, and the prefectural police arrested one Vietnamese man in June. Many technical trainees aspire to pass the Japanese language test as their labor conditions vary significantly depending on their residency status. Technical trainees are not required to take a Japanese language test when entering Japan, but they are prohibited from changing jobs. Their average monthly wage stands at around 180,000 yen (approx. $1,230). Under the specified skilled worker residency status introduced in 2019, foreign nationals are allowed to change jobs, and they receive an average monthly wage of roughly 210,000 yen (about $1,440), higher than that of technical trainees. As of 2024, there were about 450,000 foreign technical trainees and some 280,000 specified skilled workers in Japan. By nationality, Vietnamese account for more than 40% of both groups. On social media, there are many posts in Vietnamese asking for proxy test-taking. At a court hearing, the 31-year-old Vietnamese woman who repeatedly took the test on others' behalf explained her motive, saying, "I wished to be of help to those wanting to work in Japan."
Business Standard
21-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Aakansha Srivastava Crowned Miss Sake India 2025 at the Japan Foundation
BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], April 21:Hirohama India successfully hosted the prestigious Miss Sake India 2025 contest at The Japan Foundation, crowning Aakansha Srivastava from Lucknow as the new cultural ambassador for Japanese Sake in India. The elegant ceremony was graced by distinguished guests including H.E. Ono Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan to India; Koji Sato, Director of Japan Foundation, New Delhi; Kotoko Yamada, Miss Sake Japan 2023; Mika Onishii, Chairman of the Miss Sake Association, Japan; Menakaa Rai, Miss Sake India 2024; and Mika Eoka, renowned Sake sommelier also known as "Sake Mom India." The event commenced with an insightful introduction by host Kojiro Honda, Co-owner and founder of Hirohama India Pvt. Ltd. and Kuuraku India Pvt. Ltd. who emphasized Sake's growing potential in the Indian market. This was followed by an introduction of the five exceptional finalists competing for the coveted title. Kotoko Yamada and Menakaa Rai delivered a comprehensive presentation about Sake and the Miss Sake initiative, highlighting its cultural significance and global presence. In his address, Ambassador Ono Keiichi highlighted the versatility of Sake, noting how it can be successfully paired with traditional Indian curries, showcasing its untapped potential in the Indian market. He referred to the Sake reception held recently at the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi, where such pairings were well received. The reception was also graced by Miss Sake India 2024, Menakaa Rai, and Miss Sake Japan 2023, Kotoko Yamada. Ambassador Ono also encouraged the five finalists to do their best and take pride in becoming cultural bridges between India and Japan. During the event, attendees were introduced to an impressive lineup of Sake labels poised to make their mark in the Indian market. These included Miyazaki Sake Brewery, which has been crafting premium Sake since 1866 using carefully polished rice and pristine water from the Boso area; Hakutsuru Sake, founded in 1743 in the famous Sake region of Nada and now available in over 55 countries; and Matsukuraya Co. Ltd.'s Kumanbachi Liqueur, a craft liqueur containing over 40% real fruit that offers a unique, fruit-forward experience. After a competitive selection process evaluated by a distinguished jury comprising Koji Sato, Mika Eoka, Menakaa Rai, and Kotoko Yamada, Aakansha Srivastava, a marketing professional with five years of brand-building experience, was crowned Miss Sake India 2025 by her predecessor, Menakaa Rai. Sonu Rani, a content writer and finance professional based in Japan, and Yengkhom Nganthoi Devi (Thoi), a certified Sake sommelier, were named as the runners-up. In her acceptance speech, Aakansha expressed her commitment to promoting Sake culture across India and encouraging more people to explore this refined beverage. "Sake has tremendous potential in the Indian market, and I'm excited to use my marketing background to help it gain greater appreciation across the country," she stated. The other finalists who participated in the competition included Sakshi Sudhir Deshmukh, an IT professional from Mumbai, and Navneet Kaur, who works in the administrative department of a Japanese company and also teaches Japanese. As Miss Sake India 2025, Aakansha will engage in promotional activities throughout the year and represent India at the prestigious Miss Sake Japan Final contest to be held on 13th June 2025 in Kyoto. For updates on Miss Sake India's journey and upcoming events promoting Japanese Sake culture in India, follow @miss_sake_india on Instagram and join the movement to discover the versatility and elegance of Japanese Sake.
