FilCom Chorale marks 70 years of Philippines-Japan friendship with Kizuna 70 charity concert in Shibuya

The FilCom Chorale and the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Cultural Dance Troupe performed Filipino and Japanese songs and dances at the Kizuna 70 concert in Shibuya on 28 October, with proceeds going to the CFC Japan ANCOP Scholarship Program, the Philippine Embassy in Japan said.

The FilCom Chorale held its "Kizuna 70" concert on 28 October 2026 at the Shibuya Cultural Center Owada – Sakura Hall in Tokyo, with the support of the Philippine Embassy in Japan, the embassy said in a release dated 30 October.

The embassy described the concert as the chorale's contribution to the year-long celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Japan.

Songs and dances from both countries

The FilCom Chorale partnered with the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) Cultural Dance Troupe for a selection of Japanese and Filipino songs and traditional dance numbers. According to the embassy, the dance troupe performed traditional Filipino and Japanese dances highlighting the heritage of various provinces and prefectures from the two countries.

Proceeds for scholarships

The embassy said proceeds from the event will go to the Couples for Christ Japan Answering the Cry of the Poor (CFC Japan ANCOP) Scholarship Program, which provides educational assistance to deserving but economically disadvantaged college students in the Philippines.

What the ambassador said

In her message for the concert, Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano lauded the FilCom Chorale for its partnership with the embassy in promoting Philippine culture and heritage across Japan.

"Culture and the arts are vital threads that have woven our two nations together over the past seven decades. It is truly fitting that the FilCom Chorale has chosen the theme 'Kizuna' — a Japanese word that beautifully captures the deep people-to-people bonds between our two countries, masterfully expressed through Filipino and Japanese classical melodies and traditional dances," she said.

Members of the Filipino community attended, along with Archbishop Francisco Escalante Molina, the Apostolic Nuncio to Japan, and other members of the diplomatic corps, the embassy said. Japanese and international audiences also supported the concert.

About the chorale

According to the embassy, the FilCom Chorale was formed in 2010 when a group of Filipinos from Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama came together to sing during a eucharistic celebration. Since then it has held six concerts, including one during the 60th year of Philippines-Japan friendship in 2016.

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