EMBASSY
JAPAN'S OTHER AMBASSADOR
70 years of friendship, somehow Totoro said it better than any diplomat ever could.
An 83-piece orchestra performed Joe Hisaishi's music from Studio Ghibli classics at Solaire in a recent concert marking the 70th anniversary of Japan-Philippines diplomatic relations.
The concert featured performances of original scores for films including Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl's Moving Castle and Kiki's Delivery Service.
Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya and Madame Endo Akiko attended the performance alongside Tourism Secretary Dita Mathay, Foreign Affairs Secretary Tess Lazaro and Japan Foundation-Manila director Suzuki Ben.
The concert formed part of the official activities commemorating Japan-Philippines 70, a milestone both governments have marked this year through cultural, educational and people-to-people exchanges.
The performance was led by conductor Gerard Salonga, violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. and pianist Nikko Rivera joined the orchestra as featured performers.
Studio Ghibli's films have long enjoyed a devoted following in the Philippines, with Hisaishi's orchestral works becoming as recognizable as the animated classics they accompany.