“Mabuhay ang pagkakaisa ng Pilipinas at Japan at ang talento ng Pilipino! Maraming salamat po! (Long live the unity between The Philippines and Japan and Filipino talent! Thank you very much!).”

Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya impressed with his superb Filipino speaking skills while delivering his speech — only made more awesome by him and Suyen Corp. chairman and chief executive officer Ben Chan making a high-five — at the Threads of Dreams fashion show last Saturday, marking the 70th anniversary of the friendship between The Philippines and Japan.

The show, said Kazuya, was “where creativity and culture take center stage” and was “not only a testament to seven decades of friendship” but “a moment to look forward to with shared purpose” such as bringing the two nations’ “futures together” in “peace” and “prosperity.” The event, he added, “demonstrates the power of collaboration and regional understanding.”

“Just as fashion weaves a dress into a beautiful design, our two nations have woven a strong bond of trust, cooperation and mutual respect,” he said. “Even I can fully recognize that fashion is more than just style. It is a powerful medium of expression and identity. It protects our history, our values and our aspirations.”

According to him, since coming to the Philippines, he has “grown fond of the traditional Filipino attire.” He has been wearing the barong Tagalog “proudly,” while his wife Akiko “has likewise been captivated by the elegance and the exquisite craftsmanship of Filipino textiles.”

“In the same way, we also take pride with our own heritage – the Japanese kimono, which again, Akiko wears so beautifully,” affirmed the ambassador, wearing a denim kimono at the gala. “These personal appreciations have only deepened our admiration for the rich cultural heritages…”

“Particularly, as we face serious shared challenges both in our region and around the world, we must keep on weaving our futures together,” he vouched, opening the possibility of coming up with a new fashion line mixing “Japanese elegance with Filipino flair.”

At his speech, Chan recalled that the idea about the fashion show came during a casual chat “one easy afternoon” at the ambassador’s Manila home. According to him, while His Excellency Endo reminisced about his fond memories in the Philippines, he retorted with fond childhood memories in Japan.