Sample column: On winters, sinigang, and second languages
Member contributor
A short personal essay on the first year in Japan — the lab, the language, and the small rituals that made a rented room feel like home.
Est. 1954 — 70+ Years, Nationwide
Your Filipino Community
in Japan Starts Here
The pioneering and largest association of Filipino scholars in Japan since 1954 — serving students in every region, from Hokkaido to Kyushu, and officially recognized by the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo.
About AFSJ
The Pioneering Association of Filipino Scholars in Japan
Founded in 1954, AFSJ is the pioneering and largest association of Filipino scholars in Japan, with a nationwide mandate serving students in every region from Hokkaido to Kyushu. We help students and graduates achieve holistic excellence throughout their stay in Japan, so that they become a source of pride and inspiration to the Filipino people — through research, culture, and a community that keeps going long after graduation.
Founded
1954
Reach
Hokkaido to Kyushu
Recognized by
Philippine Embassy, Tokyo
Officially recognized by the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo
AFSJ is officially recognized by the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo and works with it on joint initiatives — including the Paghayo Rites, our bi-annual graduation recognition ceremonies, and the Executive Committee Oath-Taking Ceremony, held at the Embassy each term.
Academic Support
DUNONG, our research colloquium with the Philippine Embassy, and the HIRAYA lecture series give Filipino scholars a place to present their work and learn from each other.
Cultural Celebration
Salo-Salo, our once-a-year feast, and the Paghayo graduation ceremonies are where you get to speak Tagalog all afternoon, eat Filipino food and feel at home again.
Community & Alumni
Students and graduates from universities all over Japan, connected long after the degree finishes — for friendship, advice and the occasional favour.
Nationwide Network
Regional Partner Organizations
AFSJ works in solidarity with Filipino student organizations in every corner of Japan. Wherever you are studying, there is a community close by.
PHUSO
Philippine Hiroshima University Student Organization
Hiroshima
FAST
Association of Filipino Scholars in Tsukuba
Ibaraki
KAPS
Kyoto Association of Pinoy Scholars
Kyoto
HAFS
Hokkaido Association of Filipino Students
Hokkaido
PAW
Philippine Association in Waseda
Tokyo
Partners
Our Partners
Upcoming Activities
What’s Next
Lecture series, webinars, graduation rites and regional assemblies — everything on the AFSJ calendar, with registration links as they open.
Next dates announced soon
The HIRAYA Lecture Series, DUNONG webinars and the Paghayo Rites return each term. Follow our Facebook page to catch the announcements first.
Recent Activities
Where the community has been
From academic colloquiums to cultural celebrations, a recap of the events that bring AFSJ together year after year.
DUNONG Colloquium
International Academic Colloquium
AFSJ's two-day research colloquium, hosted with the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo. DUNONG 2026 drew roughly 937 registrants across Japan and the Philippines — 346 joining by Zoom and 47 in the room.
Paghayo sa Tagsibol
Spring Graduation Recognition
A heartfelt ceremony recognizing Filipino students who graduate in the spring semester, held together with the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo.
Paghayo sa Taglagas
Fall Graduation Recognition
Autumn gathering to honor Filipino graduates completing their degrees. A tradition of pride and shared achievement.
Salo-Salo
The annual AFSJ feast
Once a year, students and alumni take over a Filipino restaurant in Tokyo for a buffet, Pinoy games and karaoke — an afternoon of speaking Tagalog after months of English and Japanese.
HIRAYA
AFSJ Lecture Series
Online lectures open to members wherever they are in Japan. The 2026 series opened in July with UP Open University, drawing over 100 scholars and practitioners to mark 70 years of Philippine–Japan relations.
Tawag ng Kantahan
Singing competition
A karaoke contest run with the Filipino scholars' groups at Tsukuba and Waseda — 26 singers from universities across Japan at the last one.
Shaberikai
Language exchange
An evening of Tagalog and Japanese over izakaya food, run with Tagalog majors from TUFS. Filipino students and their Japanese tomodachi, building bridges both ways.
Membership
Why Join Us?
Being part of AFSJ means more than joining an organization — it means joining a family of Filipino students and scholars across Japan.
Academic support from scholars who have been through the same programmes
Peer mentorship from senior Filipino students and researchers across Japan
A community that feels like family when home is a flight away
Post-graduation career opportunities in both the Philippines and Japan
Embassy-recognized events, from the Paghayo Rites to DUNONG and HIRAYA
A 70+ year alumni network in academia, government, research and industry
Boses
Member Spotlight
Boses is our periodic feature on the people behind the research — a short Q&A on their field, their university life in Japan, and the story that brought them here.
Your name here
PhD candidate — sample feature
University in Japan · Field of study
- What are you researching?
- This is where the featured member describes their research in plain language — what they are working on and why it matters.
- What has university life in Japan been like?
- A few honest sentences about lab life, language, the first winter, and what made it easier.
- What would you tell an incoming Filipino scholar?
- The advice you wish someone had given you in your first month.
Want to be featured, or know someone who should be? Email execom.afsj@gmail.com.
Halo-Halong Hanashi
The Monthly Member Column
A mix of stories, as the name suggests — research notes, student life, culture and personal essays. One or two member-written pieces every month.
Sample column: Notes from the field
Member contributor
A researcher writes about the messy, unglamorous middle of a PhD, and what keeps the work going when the results do not.
Members can submit a piece any time — execom.afsj@gmail.com.
Leadership
Meet the Executive Committee
The students behind AFSJ this year — elected by the membership to run its programmes, events and welfare work across Japan.
Kevin Brandon Saure
President and Head of External Affairs
Lianne Angelico Depante
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Maria Lourdes Braceros
Vice President for Internal Affairs and Executive Secretary
Princess Bernadette Estal
Vice President for Information and Communication
Andrei Joseph Policarpio
Vice President for Social and Cultural Affairs
Imee Camille Advincula
Vice President for Student Welfare
Mary Allyson Ty
Vice President for Marketing & Finance
Mairel Losaria
Deputy for Marketing & Finance
Get Involved
Three ways in
Whether you have just landed in Japan, graduated years ago, or want to work with us as an institution — there is a door for you.
Membership Portal
Join Us
Open to all Filipino undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and research scholars across Japan. Register once and you are part of the network for good.
In the meantime, message us on Facebook or email execom.afsj@gmail.com.
Alumni Portal
Reconnect with Us
Former AFSJ members now in academia, government, research or industry — come back to mentor active scholars and join the alumni network.
Open the alumni formInstitutional & Business
Partner with Us
Businesses, universities, government bodies and organizations: co-host events, support research webinars, or connect with Filipino talent in Japan.
See partnership options