Hyakuen shop Saizen will be holding a month-long wipe out sale at all of its branches: the flagship Robinsons Galleria branch, the second store at Marquee Mall, and its newest outlet at Trinoma. The sale starts the 1st of August and ends 31st of August 2010.

Hyakuen shops are Japanese discount dry goods stores that sell everything from kitchenwares and travel accessories to crafting items and toiletries, all at one price: 100 yen (hence the name, hyakuen). In Japan the largest chain is run by Daiso. Saizen is the official licensed Philippine store chain of the Daiso group.

Saizen is an authentic hyakuen shop, offering the same wares available in their stores in Japan and all over the world. They also stuck to the Japanese principle of offering all merchandise at just one price. Everything in the store no matter how miniscule or how large, is just PhP 85. And with the month-long sale, prices are even lower!

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Tokyo Fashion blog reports that toy paradise and Harajuku icon Kiddyland will be closing its flagship store for two years for massive renovation work.

To help toy-starved locals and tourists survive the temporary loss of one of Harajuku’s biggest draws, an alternate location will be opened in September.

The Cat Street outlet will serve as a stop-gap to keep the retailer and their customers happy while the main store goes through some changes.

The new store will be located a quick 150m stroll down the corner of Omotesando and Cat Street, two storefronts before their current location. For more details, visit TOKYOFASHION.COM.

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Always wanted to hang a wish on a Tanabata tree but can’t find one in a five hundred meter radius? Never fear — the Internet has you covered with Web七夕 (Japanese only).

If the prospect of sounding like a weaboo scares you too much to post in Japanese, there is also a Formspring Tanabata account with a bilingual Orihime who answers in English :DDDD

Lastly, if you want to make your own miniature Tanabata tree at home to make personal wishes to, decorate it with these festive Tanabata origami to spruce up your plain old house plant. Happy Tanabata eve!

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After years of study and consideration, the Japanese Language Proficiency Test has been re-designed from four levels to five. The new test levels are pegged at N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5.

The N3 level is a newly created level between Level 2 and Level 3 in the old test, which aims to overcome the large learning hurdle between the two and encourage more students to take the exam.

The 2010 Japanese Language Proficiency Test will be held on 5th December (Sunday) commencing simultaneously at 1:00 PM in Manila (De La Salle University, Taft Campus), Cebu City (University of San Carlos), and Davao City (Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku).

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test is administered once a year worldwide by the Japan Foundation to evaluate and certify the Japanese language proficiency of non-native speakers.

Criteria

The examination covers writing-vocabulary, listening, and reading-grammar. Examinees are free to select the testing level which best corresponds to their Japanese-language proficiency and classroom training.

N1: The examinee has mastered grammar to a high level, knows about 2,000 Kanji and 10,000 vocabulary words, and has an integrated command of the language sufficient for life in Japanese society.

N2: The examinee has mastered grammar to a relatively high level, knows about 1,000 Kanji and vocabulary 6,000 words, and has the ability to converse, read and write about matters of a general nature.

N3: NEW! The examinee has mastered grammar to a limited level, knows about 600 Kanji and 3,000 vocabulary words, has the ability to take part in everyday conversation and to read and write simple sentences.

N4: The examinee has mastered grammar to a limited level, knows about 300 Kanji and 1,500 vocabulary words, has the ability to take part in everyday conversation and to read and write simple sentences.

N5: The examinee has mastered the basic elements of grammar, knows about 100 Kanji and vocabulary 800 words and has the ability to engage in simple conversation and to read and write short, simple sentences.

Application Procedure

Application forms will be available from 7th July 2010 at the following locations:

The Japan Foundation, Manila (JF, Manila)
12/F Pacific Star Bldg.
Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. (Buendia Ext.) cor. Makati Ave.
Tel. # 811-61-55 to 58 Fax # 811-61-53

Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku (MKD)
Angliongto Ave., Lanang, Davao City
Tel. # (082) 233-0013 / 0081

Japanese Association Cebu, Inc.
5/F Clotilde Commercial Center
M. L. Quezon St., Casuntingan, Mandaue City
Tel. # (032) 343-7662 / Fax # (032) 343-7663

Examination fees are to be paid in full upon submission of duly accomplished forms, along with two 2″x2″ ID photos, at the offices listed above on or before 3rd September 2009 at 5:00 PM.

N1: PhP 900.00
N2: PhP 900.00
N3: PhP 800.00
N4: PhP 800.00
N5: PhP 800.00

Payments made out as company checks are accepted for groups composed of ten employees or more. All others are requested to settle their fees in cash.

Announcement of Results

Successful examinees will be issued Certificates of Proficiency by March 2011. All examinees will receive a Score Report.

For more information on the JLPT, please visit the Japan Foundation Manila website.

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The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM), the SM Supermalls, and Cebu Pacific Air, together with the Embassy of Japan, The Manila Bulletin, Yoshinoya, and ClickTheCity.com bring back Yamato: Drums of Japan. This special three-night engagement is for the celebration of Philippines-Japan Friendship Month.

Yamato will be performing on 8th July 2010 at the SM Mall of Asia Center Stage (special gala invitational), 9th July 2010 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall (MAP), and 10th July 2010 at the SM North EDSA Sky Dome (MAP).

Yamato is one of the best taiko ensembles from Japan, formed in 1993 by Ogawa Masaki in Yamato-no-kuni — the present day Nara Prefecture. The group is composed of 17 members who combine traditional Japanese musical formats with modern rhythms and themes.

For more information, please visit the Japan Foundation Manila website.

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