IMIN: Philippine-Japan Historical Museum

THE PHILIPINE-Japan Historical Museum of the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai, Inc. in Calinan was reopened last January 23, Thurday, after going through a major renovation and enhancement for almost a year.

Now dubbed as IMIN, a Japanese word which means Migration, the museum lives on to tell the story of how the Japanese came to Davao and how their community had left a great impact in the development of Davao at the turn of the 20th century. The museum will transport you once more to 1903, the year when the Japanese arrived in Davao in a quest for a better life. Traces of how the Japanese persevered, hustled against poverty, and finally lived their dreams are made tangible once more in the museum. Likewise, it reminds one of the destruction brought about by war and shattering countless noble dreams but then again, it also reveals the beauty of how life goes on and

to emphasize that darkness won’t last forever.

“We dedicate our museum to the Iminsha, our Japanes forefathers whose resilience and industry helped, to a great extent, in the progress and development of Davao City. We also hope that the present and future generations will be find our museum to be an exciting place of learning our history,” said Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai President Antonina Escovilla during the opening ceremony.

Members of the curation team include Dr. Id Acaylar as the adviser and with PNJK President Antonina Escovilla, Carmen Apigo, and Karina Melissa Cadiogan. Nihongo teachers from PNJK Shigeo Kaneko, Takakazu Machida, and Toru Kishi translated the texts and narratives into Nihongo. Charisse Puentespina created the amazing interiors.

IMIN was made possible by the Grassroots Grant of the Japanese Government. H.E. Ambassador Koji Haneda flew all the way from Manila to attend the ceremony. Japanese Consul General Yoshiaki Miwa was also present, together with Local Government officials, including Councilors Augusto Javier Campos (representing Mayor Sara Duterte), Alberto Ungab, and Mr. Rodrigo Duterte, II.

RIBBON Cutting Ceremonies (From L-R): Mrs. Carmen Apigo, Mrs. Ines Mallari, Reverend Masataka Ajiro, Councilor Augusto Javier G. Campos, His Excellency Ambassador Haneda, Koji Consul General Miwa, Yoshiaki, Ret. Judge Antonina Escovilla, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte II, Dr. Id Acaylar

KAGAMI-biraki is a ceremony performed at celebratory events in which the lid of the sake barrel is broken open by a wooden mallet and the sake is served to everyone present. Kagami refers to the lid of the sake barrel and biraki means “to open” so kagamibiraki literally means “opening the lid.” Because of the lid’s round shape, the kagami is a symbol of harmony. The kagami-biraki, therefore, represents an opening to harmony and good fortune. In the photo: Mrs. Ines Mallari, Reverend Masataka Ajiro, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte II, Councilor Augusto Javier G. Campos, Ambassador Haneda, Koji, Ret. Judge Antonina Escovilla, Consul General Miwa, Yoshiaki

FROM L-R: Mr. Kiyoshi Uehara, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte II, Mrs. Ines Mallari, His Excellency Ambassador Haneda, Koji, Consul General Miwa, Yoshiaki Councilor Augusto Javier G. Campos, Reverend Masataka Ajiro, Ret. Judge Antonina Escovilla

THE MUSEUM Curatorial Team with special guests (from L-R): Karina Melissa Ibabao-Cadiogan, Rev. Masataka Ajiro, Ret. Judge Antonina Escovilla, Mrs. Ines Mallari, Ambassador Haneda, Koji, Councilor Augusto Javier G. Campos, Consul General Miwa, Yoshiaki, Mr. Rodrigo Duterte II, Mrs. Carmen Apigo, Dr. Id Acaylar

FROM L-R: Rev. Masataka Ajiro, Mrs. Carmen Apigo, Councilor Augusto Javier Campos, Consul General Miwa, Yoshiaki, Ambassador Haneda, Koji, Mrs. Ines Mallari, Councilor Alberto Ungab, Mr. Kiyoshi Uehara, Ret. Judge Antonina Escovilla

MRS. Ines Mallari showing the Commercialization Area of the Museum (from L-R): Ambassador Haneda, Koji, Mrs. Ines Mallari, Consul General Miwa, Yoshiak

MRS. Ines Mallari showing the hag-utan artifact to Ambassador Haneda and other guests.