HCDC-IDS co-hosts Davao’s first Japanese heritage forum The Institute of Davao Studies (IDS) of Holy Cross of Davao College (#HCDC) co-hosted Davao City’s first historical forum dedicated to its pre-war Japanese community, titled “Shared Spaces, Shared Histories: Japanese Communities in Pre-War Davao,” on February 27, held at Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku in Lanang, Davao City. The event aimed to deepen public appreciation of the early Japanese presence in the city and its lasting influence on modern-day Davao. Spearheaded by Davao of the Past - The Memory Project (DOTP) and Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku, the forum featured third-generation Japanese scholar and Nikkeijin studies expert Dr. Ines Yamanouchi P. Mallari, alongside DOTP founder Paul E. Corpus through a video discussion. Dr. Mallari delivered a comprehensive lecture titled “Life in Little Tokyo: The Davao Japanese Connection,” where she traced the flourishing community life and deep-rooted relationships established by Japanese migrants in pre-war Davao. Corpus followed with a visual presentation of rare and historical photographs, offering a glimpse into everyday life in Davao before the Second World War and highlighting the shared spaces that defined Filipino-Japanese coexistence during that period. The event was graced by Consul General of Japan in Davao City Ono Hirotaka. Also present were Davao historian and HCDC-IDS consultant Antonio V. Figueroa and IMIN, The Philippine-Japan Historical Museum Head Curator Karina Cadiogan. In his message, Figueroa encouraged students, tour guides, and history enthusiasts in attendance to actively engage in historical research and writing to further strengthen appreciation of the Philippine-Japanese heritage in Davao. HCDC-IDS remains open to the public, particularly to students, researchers, and enthusiasts who are interested in history writing and in deepening the study of Davao’s rich cultural and historical heritage. #HCDCTrailblazerUpdates
