The commemorative installations crafted with sustainable components are inspired by Japanese design, reinterpreting Philippine landscapes and cultural icons
VIA GRAPHIC PLUS | Manila, Philippines – For 70 years, the Philippines and Japan have built a partnership rooted in shared values, cultural exchange, and a common commitment to improving everyday life.
As the two nations commemorate this milestone, UNIQLO joins the celebration through new store experiences and offerings that reflect the enduring connection between both countries.
As part of the celebration, UNIQLO introduces a series of commemorative installations across select stores nationwide, transforming retail spaces into immersive experiences that celebrate the friendship between the Philippines and Japan through art, culture, and thoughtful design.
Japanese koi riding the waves of Siargao, cranes hovering around coconut trees, and lotus flowers dotting the famed rice terraces. The scenes showcase the enduring connection and natural harmony between the Philippines and Japan, depicted in UNIQLO’s new artistic in-store displays launched recently at the UNIQLO Manila Global Flagship Store in Glorietta 5, Makati City.
“As a Japanese company that has proudly called the Philippines home for the past fourteen years, UNIQLO is honored to be part of the story between the two countries,” says Osamu Ikezoe, UNIQLO Philippines Chief Operating Officer. “This celebration is not only about reflecting on the past, but an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the future.”
UNIQLO collaborated with Salcedo Auctions for the three designs of the monuments, one for each major island group of the Philippines. The artworks are crafted with sustainable components inspired by the Japanese design of origami, reinterpreting the Philippine landscape and culture, and creating an immersive environment rooted in craft, community, and nature.
The Luzon design carries the title “Rice Terraces x Lotus Flowers.” In it, the scenic Banaue Rice Terraces, which represent ingenuity and harmony between people and land, are paired with the lotus, a symbol of purity and renewal in Japanese culture.
The Visayas iteration, “Coconut Trees x Cranes,” reflects natural continuity and balance, showing the Japanese emblem of longevity and grace alongside the coconut, the proverbial “tree of life.”
Completing the collection, the Mindanao edition titled “Siargao Waves x Koi,” channels transformation and resilience, featuring the koi thriving within Mindanao’s coastal and inter-island landscape.
Present at the event to launch the monuments were Japanese Ambassador H.E. Endo Kazuya, Department of Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay, and Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
Aside from the artistic installations, UNIQLO also celebrates Philippine and Japanese cultures with anniversary-exclusive offerings.
Through the Re.UNIQLO initiative, Japanese and Filipino cultural icons come together through exclusive embroidery patches, made in collaboration with creative director Wilson Limon and local artisans from indigenous groups in different provinces across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Crafted using traditional embroidery techniques and RE.UNIQLO fabric scraps, each patch celebrates the distinct artistry and stories of the country’s regions while giving new life to LifeWear through sustainability.
The collection features Itneg artisans from Abra, whose embroidered motifs symbolize abundance, hard work, and a deep connection to agriculture; Panay Bukidnon artisans from Iloilo, who preserve the traditional Panubok embroidery through patterns inspired by nature, oral traditions, and ancestral beliefs; and T’boli artisans from Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, whose intricate designs draw from mountains, wildlife, and dream imagery that reflect their community’s rich cultural identity. Together, the collection showcases the diversity of Filipino craftsmanship while helping preserve these living traditions for future generations. Collaboration also meets creativity and customization with the upcoming Japanese UTMe collection, featuring the legendary anime One Piece and popular Japanese car brand Toyota.
Lastly, fans of UNIQLO Coffee can look forward to a seasonal café concept developed in collaboration with Salcedo Auctions’ Café Salcedo, translating Filipino flavors through a refined, Japanese-inspired lens. Available until January is the Ube Kome Cloud, featuring burnt rice milk, lightly sweetened Bohol ube cream foam, and coconut nectar for an airy, creamy, lightly toasted flavor with a soft caramel finish. There’s also the Mango Sakura Iced Tea—with its floral, lightly sweet taste and bright tropical acidity—and Cocoa Hokkaido—presenting silky, milky richness and deep chocolate warmth—both available until June next year.
With these displays and promotions, UNIQLO lives up to its role as a cultural bridge that continues to foster meaningful connections between Japan and the Philippines through art, design, and everyday experiences.
