Cool Japan 2015
At long last, we have experienced a Cool Japan Festival brought to us by Hallo Hallo Alliance! Hallo Hallo Inc. “is the biggest Japanese Alliance on-the-works in the Philippines”. They offer services, which range from having an online shopping mall with 8,000 online shops and 200,000 products (Hallo Hallo Mall) and provider and services index (Hallo Hallo Town) and company and job index (Hallo Hallo Job).
Just this previous weekend from November 7th until the 8th, we have experienced a festival focusing on modern and contemporary Japanese culture.
The main highlight of this festival was the live concert of AKB48 Team 8!
Aside from AKB48 Team 8, we have a freshly formed idol unit from Akihabara and Shibuya named Akishibu Idol Project.
A cosplay show featuring our Cosplay Queen, Alodia Gosiengfiao
And also a performance of The Filipino idol unit, Kawaii5
And of course, a Japanese drum performance by Tokoro Taiko
The cast of Doraemon and Hello Kity also came!
EVENT CONTENTS
As you enter the venue, you will be welcomed by one booth featuring Hallo Hallo Café and another booth featuring Hallo Mall, Hallo Town and Hallo Hallo Job. Hallo Hallo Café was giving out free 100 Amachan shirts during the first day. You just need to show that you liked the local Amachan facebook page! I tried it but I was unlucky.
As you head straight from the entrance, you will be welcomed by Japan made goods in Cool Japan Shop. They have goods ranging from household amenities, electronics, jewelry and cosmetics among others. According to the event pamphlet that was handed to convention goers, Hallo Hallo Alliance targets to build 120 shops in Metro Manila alone by March 2017!
As you immerse yourself further unto Japanese culture, enthusiasts were also welcomed by Japanese food! My friends and I got to try okonomiyaki (150 pesos) and takoyaki (100 pesos). They were flavorful! We also got to try the matcha drink for 70 pesos, which I tried twice. I sure love Matcha!
IMMERSING IN JAPANESE CULTURE
On Day 1, my friends and I watched AKB48 Team 8 up close. I was just in awe during their performance since it felt surreal. I felt that Japanese idols are indeed real; they’re not just on your laptop or TV screens. Our lovely idols from AKB48 performed Aitakatta, Iiwake Maybe and Koisuru Fortune Cookie among others.
On Day 2, my friends and I went inside the venue as well but it was too cramped again so we decided to watch the performance from the 2nd floor and 3rd floor of TriNoma. Even though we were so far from the stage, some of the members of AKB48 Team 8 noticed us waving from upstairs!
THOUGHTS / RECOMMENDATIONS:
I’m really happy that there is now a convention promoting Japanese idols. We need more events regarding Japanese music. AKB48 is something really huge in Japan and it was brought here in the Philippines with the help of Hallo Hallo Alliance.
However, I would like to suggest getting a larger venue next time. The event organizers brought a popular act from Japan so you’ll be expecting a huge crowd. The two-day event was jampacked proving that Philippines is a potential market for J-Pop!
Congratulations to the people who made this happen and thank you for making our dreams come true. We hope you could bring more J-Pop acts again next time! <3
All the photos are from Cool Japan 2015's facebook page