Love of anime prompts young Filipinos to pursue Japanese studies in select high schools

As such, it was only natural for them to decide to enroll in the Japanese language and culture course that Makati Science High School has been offering ninth- and 10th-graders over the past few years. "My reason for joining the nihongo (Japanese-language) class was initially for anime. But halfway through, I realized I can use it to be able to experience going to Japan," 16-year-old Franza, who took the elective course for two years starting in 2015, said in a recent interview. Chee, who is a year younger than Franza, said, "One of my life goals (includes) watching anime without subtitles. The Filipino Department of Education started offering the Japanese language and culture program to high school students in 2009, together with Spanish and French, to prepare young Filipinos for both local and international opportunities that would require communicative competence in a second foreign language, after English. Mandarin Chinese and German have subsequently been added. The foreign language programs are offered in selected schools across the country, with Japanese taught in 38 schools, mostly in Manila. So far, more than 3,000 students, nearly all avid viewers of Japanese anime, have enrolled in the Japanese program while in grades nine and 10. "We have to recognize the fact that the globe is getting smaller and smaller," Education Secretary Leonor Briones said of the program's relevance. Many students want to go on to further their studies, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and Japan is one of the preferred overseas destinations, given the availability of many scholarships to study there, the secretary said. "So it helps if they take lessons.