Inaugural Philippine Coconut Fair Opens at Daimaru Tokyo
Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (4th from left) and Daimaru Tokyo Store Manager Michinori Ogata (3rd from left) sampling fresh coconut water at the Philippine Coconut Fair.
TOKYO, 27 August 2025 – The Philippine Embassy in Japan, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the Office of the Agriculture Attache, opened the inaugural Philippine Coconut Fair on 27 August 2025 at Daimaru Tokyo Store. The event coincides with the celebration of 2025 World Coconut Day on 2 September.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano and Daimaru Matsuzakaya Executive Officer Michinori Ogata led the occasion through a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was followed by the sampling of fresh coconut water and desserts with coconut ingredients at Kyobashi Sembikiya.
Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (3rd from left) and Daimaru Matsuzakaya Executive Officer Michinori Ogata (3rd from right) led the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Philippine Coconut Fair.
The Philippine Coconut Fair was made possible through partnerships with Daimaru Tokyo Store and Clivia Nobilis. The event marks the first time that Daimaru Tokyo Store is partnering with an embassy in Japan to promote the sending country’s products.
The opening was also attended by Agriculture Attache Aleli Maghirang, Daimaru Department Head Hidemitsu Watanabe, Pasciolco Agriventures Inc CEO Maureen Pasciolco and Kuma Coco CEO Rairai Cho.
During the fair, eleven (11) cafes and restaurants in Daimaru Tokyo Store will feature limited-edition dishes made with Philippine coconut ingredients. The collaboration sets a milestone for Philippine food diplomacy in Japan, as it showcases the synergy of Filipino and Japanese flavors.
11 cafes and restaurants will participate in the Philippine Coconut Fair by offering limited-edition dishes using coconut ingredients.
Kyobashi Sembikiya served its limited-edition coconut chocolate waffle during the opening of the Philippine Coconut Fair.
Export-quality Philippine coconut products from Quezon’s Best and Kuma Coco are also available for sale at the B1 Floor of Daimaru Tokyo Store until 2 September.
Ambassador Garcia-Albano remarked, “We welcome this opportunity to promote Philippine coconut in Japan. Celebrated for its versatility, sweetness, and nutritional value, the coconut is not only one of our country’s leading agricultural exports, but also a symbol of our people’s resilience and creativity as it can be transformed into an endless variety of food, wellness and lifestyle products.”
Mr. Ogata expressed his openness for future collaboration with stores to feature Philippine food products, noting that Daimaru Tokyo is renowned for its high-quality food markets and gourmet items.
The Philippine Coconut Fair aims to extensively promote Philippine coconut to wider Japanese audiences, which is amplified by Daimaru Tokyo Store’s strategic location within the bustling Tokyo Station and large LED billboards. The store welcomes an average of 100,000 visitors daily.
Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (3rd from left) and Daimaru Daimaru Matsuzakaya Executive Officer Michinori Ogata (3rd from right) view the large LED billboard in Tokyo Station promoting the Philippine Coconut Fair.
The Philippines remains the world’s second-largest producer of coconut and top exporter of coconut products such as coconut oil.
The Philippine Coconut Fair in Daimaru Tokyo will run from 27 August to 9 September.
