Philippine E-Journals

The Turmoil of Change in Philippine-Japan Relations, 1565-1945

Aurelio B. Calderon

Discipline: Cultural Studies

 

Abstract:

Although contacts between the Philippines and Japan have increased during the past few years, with an estimated 9,000 Japanese businessmen residing in the Philippines, the "cultural distance" between the two peoples, sad to say' is nearly what it was at the end of World War II. This is because the two countries have related to each other during the recent period almost purely on commercial terms. In the absence of broader efforts at cultural diplomacy, the drift toward closer solidarity based on mutual respect is hardly visible. True enough, there has been the two-way flow of capital and goods between the two countries, but not necessarily goodwill and understanding.