The MOST UNIQUE SM Mall? FIRST Japanese-Inspired SM Mall Grand Opening | Mandaue City, Cebu 🇵🇭

[@julfinch]

This is the first time that SM is doing a “differentiated mall.” The theme of this mall is very Japanese. They're using Japanese elements such as origami, Japanese hemp leaf pattern, anime, etc.

[@fashionfgurl18]

and Japanese elevators 🤣

[@lionhearted1969]

Not the first time. SM Seaside was the first to have a unique architectural design for its circular layout that no other SM or any malls, for that matter, resemble like SM Seaside. Well, Ayala Center Cebu was the first mall to have a circular layout.

[@unknownworld9815]

most gen z or young ones are gazed on japanese culture especially anime, this way SM exploited the gen z's interest to increase the visit count in the mall. I've notice it has many japanese theme designs and other stuff.

[@mikkieugenio]

J Centre used to be a venue for cosplay competitions, so SM must be trying to attract that crowd again.

[@lionhearted1969]

@@mikkieugenio I think the most possible reason why they made JMall a Japanese-themed mall is because of their desire to make a mall that is quite different from their other SM malls in Cebu. Since the complex also hosts a Japanese-brand hotel chain (Toyoko Inn) and Cebu, being home to the country's largest Japanese expat community and the 80% of all Japanese tourists, it makes sense that they converted the mall into a Japanese-themed mall.

[@KnightGeneral]

There are many Japanese people living in Mandaue thats why Im not surprised they themed it this way. And the former name of the place is JCentre so, yeah no surprise

[@lakwatsatour]

Indeed! Specifically, A.S. Fortuna feels very Japanese to me because of the many Japanese restaurants.

[@JomarTampipi]

Nindot ang SM J mall Maka relate ko ani

[@lakwatsatour]

Nindot tinuod 💯

[@TwinklingLights1]

reminds me of a mall in beijing or shijiazhuang, it releases aromatic perfume for the whole duration of the mall operation you're as if walking in a heavenly-scented fantasy yes, ganyan po ang sm j mall soooo aromatically pleasing to one's olfactory sense sana ganyan lahat ng mall sa pinas

[@thisiskevin1000]

Perhaps SM should now seriously consider banking on the JMall, Podium and Uptown/Aura sub-brands and build more of them in Luzon (CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Northern Luzon and Bicol), Visayas (other than Cebu) and Mindanao (prioritize Davao, GenSan, CDO, Zamboanga, Butuan, Cotabato, Kidapawan and Digos). Even bring this mid scale and upscale brands to China under SM China group with 8 malls (Xiamen, Suzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Tianjin, Fuzhou, Zibo and Jinjiang)

[@amilbuhay161]

Ganda ng mandaue parang maliit na version ng ortigas center

[@jmat8861]

out of all the outfit worn by the people in the mall, one stood out for me. the lady in white long-sleeved shirt and white pants 3:17 simple and stylish other ones I liked: 18:28 knitted top + pink skirt 19:17 monotone with pop of green. 19:53 washed denim + graphic tee(good length) 24:58 corporate casual mix 34:09 cheerleader look + dark green mini duffle 41:43 cargo pants + beat up converse

[@packyho3218]

Nice 👍

[@fashionfgurl18]

😍😍😍😍😍 Metro Cebu - The Queen City of Southeast Asia

[@amilbuhay161]

Cebu city Queen city of the southern Philippines ,,,not Asia

[@seamandongtv]

Queen City of the South..not SouthEast Asia😂😂😂

[@inyourdreams7754]

Southeast asia jud? Singapore left the group

[@jbrock656]

nindut video ha Ako gipangita utan nga bisaya ug buwad kai humot kaau🇵🇭

[@lakwatsatour]

Walay baligya sa sulod 🤣 pero sa pinaka-right side ug atubangan ani nga mall kay ga-laray mga karinderya maong daghan gyud kapili-an 👍

[@SerialDesignationBRUH69]

they even did it beside the toyoko inn hotel, which is a japanese origin hotel 🔥

[@ramesesrommella.macatol1247]

SM City Baguio is on a Hill and has key areas with no air conditionong. Festival Mall Alabang is the only Philippine mall traversed by a river and with 2 Indoor Theme Parks. Those are the 2 most unique Philippine malls. But nice SM J Mall. God Bless Us!

[@lakwatsatour]

Thank you for the info! Indeed, those two malls are truly unique. SM City Baguio’s best feature is when it gets foggy inside the mall. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience

[@ramesesrommella.macatol1247]

@@lakwatsatour You're welcome! Indeed. The fog inside the mall at times is another unique attribute of SM City Baguio.

[@james.518]

Yeah but the SM mall with the most unique design is SM Seaside with circular shape and has tower in the center .. And SM J Mall is also unique with Japanese theme especially the J District

[@james.518]

No SM or malls in the Philippines that has same design with SM Seaside Cebu

[@gthelean9986]

tama, may mga LED ung mga poste sa Japan malls, mababa rin ceiling

[@CityBuildingWithMe]

Sana magkaroon ng removation ng mga lumang SM Malls na nagbukas noong 90s hanggang 2000s at iimprove yung mga seating & trash bin pati na yung looban ng mall, at yung exterior ng mall ay dapat unique batay sa mga unique na lungsod o anong purpose ng arkitektura.

[@arielconsuegra5689]

Wow this is so unique compare to other SM malls❤

[@josephddreamer1748]

Watching from Barangay Concepcion 2 marikina city metro Manila

[@nikinkis17]

27:18 when i first saw this piece.. I thought it was a reference to the “Red String Theory” :>

[@lakwatsatour]

"Linya evokes the magic of celestial connections, as if the night sky itself were woven into a single, endless line." So...if we read Kenneth Cobonpue's description of his art, this can be seen as resonating with Red String Theory, especially if we consider the broader, symbolic interpretation of the red string as a cosmic or fated connection. The idea of the night sky being woven into a single, endless line evokes the same magical, interconnected quality, as if every person and experience is part of a greater, celestial design. 😳

[@Apex042]

Very nice. More jobs opportunities for locals. No need to travel to Ayala and Seaside malls. In addition, this will somewhat help with the traffic congestion.

[@keurikeuri7851]

I wish we have Izakaya pubs here in the Philippines that looks like in Japan that are similar to our carinderias and eateries and not just those Philippine Izakayas that looks like high end restaurants.

[@fashionfgurl18]

Japanese mall + SM Aura vibes

[@ger13nunyah56]

The back ground music is crazy

[@luserpellina9559]

Parang aeon mall sa japan ang concept

[@JhonBustria]

Place So Classic Design A Mall

[@KPOPFANZLOVE]

I wish south korea has SM MALLS because the philippines and south korea has their relationship it means that south korea supposed to have an sm malls and i looking forward that

[@lakwatsatour]

K-drama and K-pop are so big in the Philippines. Hopefully, having a Japanese-inspired mall will pave the way for creating another mall inspired by other cultures or at least move away from the old SM aesthetic.

[@ck-bs2ms]

Wala nga Jollibee e.... So malamang mahal ang expenses nila...

[@johnalevirasenjo6673]

Actually Koreans hates Filipinos and it is impossible to build /have a SM malls in South Korea...

[@clintbelongingco]

Jmall was nostalgic with its dark environment and creepy environment

[@baynemarrowe2003]

ahahaahhah giatay. pero true

[@lakwatsatour]

hahahahaha 🤣

[@aaronjanlistanco]

akala ko naman unang SM Mall sa Japan hehehe

[@lakwatsatour]

sori if na na-scam ka sa title 😭🤣

[@aaronjanlistanco]

@@lakwatsatour hahahaha oks lng..

[@Animeedit409]

parehas ata kau NG scam NG title 😊

[@stoywarshockofficial9984]

Pagkaanindot nga mall sa Cebu

[@mochapoundcake]

Is SM finally coming to their senses when it comes to the generic esthetic that most of their malls have?

[@mikkieugenio]

Sto. Tomas was a shocker with its biophilic design. But J Mall must be their first mall they designed with a theme.

[@charlesdoesmore5488]

38:04 Wait, is that a Maimai cabinet?

[@lakwatsatour]

Yes, that's a maimai cabinet, but if I remember correctly, they only have one pair of them.

[@charlesdoesmore5488]

​@@lakwatsatourI've seen these on Quantum in SM Seaside. And J-Mall being a Japanese looking mall, that was expected, but still, I'm gonna bring my Aime card for this!

[@kanritsu]

Hi, Cebu maimai player here. Just gotta say this, once it fully opens, maimai will get another pair and possibly a Chunithm cabinet.

[@mokongking9114]

sa SM DASMA wala maupuan buti jan meron. wala nga lng basurahn kaya nilalapag ko n lng sa mga giid ehe

[@lakwatsatour]

Yun nga mahirap kay SM, yung tinatawag nilang "hostile architecture" na ayaw mag-provide ng upuan para shopping lang gagawin ng mga tao at hindi tumambay, puro kita lang nasa isip nila. Pero sa mga bagong malls ni SM, sumasabay na sya sa ibang malls ni Ayala at Megaworld, naglalagay na sila ng mga seating spaces. At least may improvement sila dyan paunti-unti 😅.

[@blue8code]

Sana may Japanese shop powertools rin

[@lakwatsatour]

I was really hoping then noon na sana meron pero wala eh. Even sa Mitsukoshi Mall na Japanese mall talaga yun ay wala ding ganun.

[@james.518]

SO WALA PANG IZAKAYA TERRACE?

[@fashionfgurl18]

hindi pa open, di pa daw tapos

[@joelgallegos5691]

Not yet open pa po. Almost all the resto inside are almost Japanese cuisine.

[@kuroviper15]

AEON Mall + SM AURA = SM J MALL xD

[@amilbuhay161]

Wag kayong humahanga sa mga foreigner ,,dapat ipakita natin na sila ang humanga saatin at sila ang mg adjust ,,,ibang filipino maka kita ng banyaga belib na belib agad hahaha hahaha ,,,,

[@lakwatsatour]

Tama 💯

[@VanTran-ne4yf]

Philippine face tough competition for shopping Mall with Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Indoensia .they build shopping Mall next to the river ,Parkland, 5 star hotel luxury apartment.

[@fashionfgurl18]

malls in Cambodia, indonesia, Vietnam arent creative enough while its the opposite Thailand dont even cater to their own Thailand has a bleak future though with its pitiful 1.1 birthrate, a slow economy they have the highest divorce and abortion rate in southeast asia both illegal in the Philippines and the second highest suicide rate after Singapore !

[@jsanch589]

Why would they compete with those SM already expanded to China years ago. This mall specifically was bought out and renovated

[@inyourdreams7754]

?? SM Lanang Premier was also Japanese inspired and has japanese elements such as Origami. So this isnt SM’s FIRST japenese-inspired mall. LOL

[@fragilous]

WHERE IS THE "JAPANESE-INSPIRED" ????

[@lakwatsatour]

I understand what you’re trying to ask because this lacks a very striking Japanese design. The Izakaya Terrace and the J District, both still in their finishing touches and currently closed, are part of the Japanese-inspired elements that focus more on the experiential aspect. The graphics on their billboards, the video materials on the LED billboards, and the music they’re playing throughout the mall are all Japanese. 👍

[@thebibleisanalternativetot181]

Imagine of the PH was still occupied by Japan lol!

[@skyfan7979]

very low ceiling!

[@ger13nunyah56]

It is too low ceilings 😉

[@lakwatsatour]

The main entrance of the previous mall(J Centre Mall) was actually on the second floor, with a huge grand staircase from the sidewalk, and the ground floor was already the basement parking. What SM did with this one(SM J Mall) is make the front part of the basement parking the main entrance to maximize the space. They also created an atrium so that when you enter, it feels spacious despite the cramped feeling as you move forward due to the low ceiling.

[@0grid-ph]

44:11 di na kailangan magpa japan, pa cebu nalang

[@keurikeuri7851]

Pwede rin sa actual na Japanese mall na Mitsukoshi mall sa BGC

[@Spy-hp8ki]

Looks like any other mall in the Philippines.

[@lionhearted1969]

Certainly not! No other malls in Metro Manila resemble like SM Jmall, at least in its interiors. Yes, in terms of tenant mix, it may be just another mall but the fact that this is the first 'themed' (Japan-inspired) SM mall, then certainly this mall stands out of all other SM malls. Take note of the design of the fronts of all shops that are opened as well as the music played inside the mall. They're unmistakably Japan!

[@Spy-hp8ki]

@@lionhearted1969 No. They're all the same. BORING.

[@mikkieugenio]

It's an old mall they renovated so yeah they can't do much there

[@Spy-hp8ki]

@@mikkieugenio Exactly!

[@Western-3rdSt.]

SM pa rin yan, cheap goods being sold inside.

[@jonathanbaldomero7120]

Monopolizing mall, suoermaket business. Binili n ninsm ang makro, waltermart at eto pnpala j mall ng cebu

[@lakwatsatour]

Oo nga noh, halimaw talaga tong si SM sa retail business. Karamihan din sa mga stores sa mall nila ay mga specialty stores lang din nila like Ace Hardware, SM Appliances, Homeworld, Our Home, Toy Kingdom, Kultura, Sports Central, Pet Express, Miniso, Watsons, Uniqlo, Alfamart, etc.

[@gc-ej5hf]

Buti naman bawal dyan mga nag ko korean koreanan. 😂

[@sweetseeker6437]

Japanese daw…hindi naman ah…😅 pareho lng din naman sa iba na sm malls..

[@chathorror8790]

it has a bad amusement arcade center tho

[@lakwatsatour]

True 💯! But I’m crossing my fingers that we will see it in the J District since arcade games are big in Japan.

[@kanritsu]

Qps here was rushed so…

[@cpn.1772]

Ang baba ng ceiling na mall and kung Japanese inspired mall sana Nilagay nila sa main entrance is Japanese brands instead of Starbucks

[@james.518]

DAMI NAMANG JAPANESE STORES...DI MO LANG TALAGA TANGGAP HAHAHA...MUSTA ILOILO ISA LANG BA ANG SM NYO HAHAHA

[@ginglee4199]

​@@james.518puro ka satsat keyboard warrior

[@mikkieugenio]

Yung Mitsukoshi Mall sa Manila mababa din ang ceiling 😅 Saka ganyan na talaga height ng J Centre noon pa.

[@cpn.1772]

@@mikkieugenio hindi ka pa siguro nakapunta sa Mitsukoshi. Yes mababa ceiling ng mitsukoshi compare sa Podium, moa etc. Pero hindi ganyan kana a ang ceiling.

[@cpn.1772]

@@james.518 hindi ko naman sinabing walang Japanese store ang sabi ko lang sana nasa harapan mga Japanese brands kasi nga Japanese themed mall.

[@joaoantonio1279]

may Japanese-inspired pa silang nalalaman eh parehas at wala din naman pinagkaiba itsura sa mga bagong branch or bagong renovate na ibang SM branches!, kailangan langyan ng brand na “Japanese” to attract colonial mentality customers na feeling nakapag japan na sila sa pagpunta sa SM na japanese inspired daw 😂

[@KnightGeneral]

Its catered po primarily to Japanese people who are living in Mandaue. The Mall is truly a fusion of two cultures. Its not obvious now because its still new but as time progress i wont be surprised if it will truly have a Japanese vibe when you enter.

[@joaoantonio1279]

@@KnightGeneral see! how colonial mentality ang meron sa mga Pilipino at mga taga dyan sa Mandaue na kailangan nyo pa i-cater yung mga foreigners na dayo dyan!, dapat sila ang mag aadjust hindi yung tayo pa mag aadjust sa kanila!, ilang decada nang madaming naninitahang mga Pilipino sa japan pero nagawa ba ng japan magpatayo ng Filipino themed or inspired na mall to cater the Filipino communities sa Japan?, diba hindi?!, may signages pa nga sa mga ilang stores nila noon “No Dogs and Filipinos allowed” tapos sa Pilipinas pina-pampered at ini-spoiled sila ng mga Pilipino na patatayuan pa talaga sila ng sarili nilang Japanese themed/inspired na mall?, that’s clearly a colonial mentality kahit i-deny nyo pa! 😂

[@james.518]

ANONG WALA TINGNAN MO DAMING STORES NA JAPANESE AT YONG AESTHETIC

[@joaoantonio1279]

@@james.518 walang pinag kaiba sa standard aesthetic sa mga bagong branch at bagong renovate na SM malls ngayon!, it’s just part of modern architecture and interior design, they just want to insert the “japanese” branding to attract customers with colonial mentality! 😂

[@james.518]

@@joaoantonio1279 ANONG WALA MAY JAPANESE AESTHETIC SA LOOB AT MAY DIRECTORS CLUB YAN HALOS MGA BAGONG MALL SA LUZON WALANG DIRECTORS CLUB

[@edilbertoperez8699]

Bkit lahat ng mall maingay? Yun mga music ang lalakas? Hndi ka ma relax..

[@lakwatsatour]

Na-tyempo po kasi na grand opening ito kaya ang ingay po 😅 hehehe. Kaliwa't kanan yung pakulo ng mga stores, may mga pa-laro, tribal group na nagda-drum, may priest nagbe-bless sa isang store, may mga grand opening sales din. Di ko lang naabutan pero nagkagulo din sa loob dahil nagsasaboy ng coins si Hans Sy.