Media and Information Literacy

Article: JAPAN: NOT JUST TRADING ANYMORE

(Courtesy: Otaku Asia Magazine December 2015 Issue)

A. Who wrote this article?

The OA team but the article stated that the article was written by the name “Kanddy” (one of the OA team)

B. Who published it?

PSICOM Publishing

C. What is the purpose of this article?

The main purpose of this article is to inform the readers that Japan and Philippines are not only trading merch but
also established companies from Japan (like Bandai, Toei, Japan Home, Uni Qlo, etc.) which wishes to imply the
benefit from those, for us consumers we won’t have to buy expensive imported products from Japan because
there is already companies that would serve us a much cheaper deal of doing so.

D. Is there a bias in this article? Describe if so.

Based on my own reflection on this article, yes. Because not only that the article promotes foreign trade but also
kind of bias on the way it was being promoted, instead of pilipino products and companies being promoted.

E. Would everyone take the same message with meaning from this article? Why or why not?

No, because not everyone can simply believe or take the information that is given in the article because we have
different thoughts and opinions about it, and not everyone could take this article in a positive way.

F. How might others see it differently?

Like I said earlier, not everyone could be interested in this article or take it in a positive way, others might
still see it as boring, others might give their opinions with a grain of salt, others might read the article and
find it interesting, it still depends on the person reading it if they’re information literate

G. Does this article influence your thinking in any way? Why or why not?

No, because even before reading the article I was already informed with it’s contents like company trade from
Japan and there wasn’t really much that could changed in my perspective for it
 It’s old news to otaku to hear that there is a Toei Animation Philippines and I’m sure you’ve seen a Ryo Aki taxi
which is a japanese brand. We’ve also witnessed the rise of Family Mart and Lawsom in the metro. Cheap buys are
brought to you by Japan Home and Daiso. In fashion, we have Uniqlo and Bobson. In beauty we have Pixy Heroine Make
and don’t get me started on the food industry because 2015 is the year of japanese dining in the PH.

There is already a Bandai Philippines and Furukawa Automotive Systems Lima Philippines Inc. In Lipa, Batangas.
Over 200 of Japanese manufacturing companies in China will be relocating to the PH according to Japanese Chamber of
Commence and Industry of the Phlippines Inc. head, Noburo Fujii

What is happening and why are japanese doing this right now? In my perspective, we have the aquino
administration to thank. DTI-Industry Promotion Group (DTI-IPG) Undersecretary Ppnciano C. Manalo Jr. and President
Aquino made expensive trips to Japan early this year and came back with the best pasalubong ever. While this does not
promote small and medium enterprises (SME) this does bring in jobs and opportunities.

Too much industrial talk for an otaku? Well then let’s talk entertainment. Cool Japan Project was Launched
during the cool japan Festival last November 2015 and it was the first time AKB48 was in our land. What brought them
here is HalloHallo Inc. which is a japanese multi-national company.

What I appreciate the most is that these companies also take into consideration our country’s culture: Japan
products like Champion, Systema, and Hana by Peerless Lion extensively use Fulipino models in adverts. Hallo Hallo Inc.
Promotes the first Filipino idol group, Kawaii 5 while AKS has announces the organization of MNL4i group , Japanese
practice to embrace one’s own culture. Culture is just as important as profit for these Japanese Investors.

Railways is a big part of the contemporary Japan culture and during Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum,
PM Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged a P 93-billion overseas development assistance for the Philippines North-
South Railway Project.

The project aims to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila by constructing a commuter railway between
Malolos, Bulacanand Tutuban, Manila. The Project is expected to be completed by the year 2021.