Nihongo Fiesta 2010 is the fifth Japanese language and culture festival organized by the Japan Foundation Manila. This year’s events were held at the SM Mall of Asia on the 27th of February 2010.

Nihongo Fiesta 2010 was highlighted by the 37th Nihongo Speech Contest, the Nihongo Quiz Bee for High School Students, the Street Fashion Exhibit held in conjunction with Team Manila and chuvaness.com, and the Street Fashion Contest. The Fiesta was capped off by a concert by pioneer Japanese pop-punk group Shounen Knife at San Miguel by the Bay.

The crowds turned out for the final judging of the Japanese Street Fashion Contest, where twenty pre-selected finalists paraded their best Harajuku looks for a panel of judges which included style pundit Cecile Von Straten of chuvaness.com. A good mix of decoraa, fruits, gothic lolita, punk, and street, Manila’s teens and young adults showed that they too have a good grasp of fashion and style just like their more affluent Tokyo counterparts.

Some of my favorite outfits from the competition was number 16 Ka-chan’s gothic lolita hoop dress, number 13 Donna’s take on Osaki Nana’s punk rock vibe, and number 11’s h_matsumoto’s Shibuya back-street layered look. The competition was won by entry number 09 who went by the stage name Siberian Claw. Dressed in a suede jacket, a graphic tee, deconstructed cargo pants, and platform boots, the entire outfit exuded Takeshita Doori chic.

Thank you very much to the Japan Foundation for the invitation.