This week, starting from the end of April to early May, Japan celebrates her annual national holiday known as the ‘Golden Week’. Consisting of two weekends and multiple holidays such as... Click to Read More

JCC Events

The 31st JCC Cinema screening of Voices of a Distant Star and The Garden of Words was held on Saturday, 18th April with great success. Directed and written by the well-known Makoto Shinkai, these two animated films received an overwhelming response from the public where all seats were filled with audiences ranging from young children to working adults. Click to Read More

On 24th April, JCC held a one of a kind opening event for an accomplished Japanese singer, songwriter, and sites painter, Rie fu. Her exhibition titled “Growing Singapore: Construction Site Paintings” is a collection of her journey throughout her travels. Click to Read More

Visits

H.E. Ambassador Haruhisa Takeuchi had a wonderful meeting with H.E. Minister Lawrence Wong of the Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth (MCCY) today. They had a fruitful discussion about the upcoming 50th Anniversary of Singapore-Japan Diplomatic Relations (SJ50) in 2016 and many more! Click to Read More

On 23rd April 2015, Vice Governor Mr. Keiichi Horii and a group of 16 government officers from Akita Prefectural Government visited JCC. It was a memorable visit because they had the opportunity of taking a look at the Construction Site Paintings done by Rie fu. Click to Read More.

On 15th April 2015 a group of CLAIR (The Japan Council of Local Authorities For International Relations) officers accompanied by First Secretary Mr Fukishima visited JCC. JCC’s Deputy Director Mr Masanori Kawabata gave them the insights of JCC’s activities. The CLAIR officers were very impressed with the presentation and were totally indulged in a two way informative discussion. Click to Read More

Featured Article for the Month

by Mr Tan Jong Lek, Vice President of the Japanese Cultural Society, Singapore

On 8th January 2007, Lianhe Zaobao reported that Japan would establish 100 Japanese language centers in overseas, and published an editorial titled “welcome dominant countries to use more of soft power as a mean of competition” on the next day that further commented about the article. The argumentation of the editorial is positive, and the writer was much appreciated... Click to Read More

JCC Related Events

During 21st February to 1st March, 33 students from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) visited Japan for their annual “Japan Trip” program. The theme for the trip this year was ‘Growth Strategy and Reconstruction Support from the Great Earthquake in Japan’. They toured the region of Tohoku, and saw the sites in Nagano, Tokyo and Kyoto. The multi racial group from LKYSPP consisted of students and lecturers from Singapore, China, Pakistan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Japan and Nepal.

From all walks of life, the students were mid-career professionals from various organizations such as the government, national service, central banks, and international institutions. The program gave them a great opportunity to deeply understand the cultures and conditions of Japan. On 17th April, all students presented their experiences back on campus. Thereafter, they had the privilege of being invited to the residence of Ambassador Takeuchi where an opinion exchange was held.

JCC Supported Events

On 27th April, a lecture was held by Mr. Akihisa Hirata, the Director of Hirata Akihisa Architecture Office where he explained the importance of architect design. Mr. Akihisa Hirata is a specially appointed associate professor at the prestigious Tohoku University who was awarded the ‘Golden Lion’ at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. He conducts lectures at both Kyoto University and Tokyo University on a part time basis.

The highlight of the architect design lecture was Mr. Hirata’s emphasis on the word “ferment” where he further explained by presenting momentous pictures to his audience . 

A Q&A session was organized after the lecture and the audience had the opportunity to have their queries answered. Prominent industry professionals Mr. Tomohisa Miyauchi and the guest facilitator Mr. Chang Yong Ter of CHANG Architects devoted their time to the open discussion.

On 28th April, an opening reception of ‘Beauty born not made: Sori Yanagi’ was held at Lim Hak Tai Gallery, NAFA Campus 1. Mr. Sori Yanagi is a highly respectable product designer in Japan. His famous works include his creation of the Butterfly Stool in 1954, Tokyo Olympics Torch in 1964 and Sapporo Winter Olympics in 1972. Mr. Shinichi Yanagi – the son of Sori Yanagi and the Director of Yanagi Industrial Design attended the event. During his opening speech, he mentioned that he believes in the existence of local designs, not global.

However interestingly enough, he experienced Japanese people discovering Western influences in his father’s design, while Westerners thought otherwise.  The incredible masterpieces of Mr. Sori Yanagi's will be exhibited on 17th May. In addition, an English essay book titled "The Philosophy of Design" by Sori Yanagi has been published on April 28th. Click to Read More

On 2nd April, Ikebana International Singapore held its annual exhibition at Paragon. The exhibition was dedicated to the late, His Excellency Lee Kuan Yew for his unwavering contributions to Singapore.  In addition, in accordance to Ikebana International’s humanitarian practice, proceeds would go to NUHS Funds Ltd for the aid of children suffering from cancer. Click to Read More

Japan Related Publications

Japanese Cultural Fact For May

May 5 is Children's Day, when families celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of children. It became a national holiday in 1948, but it has been a day of celebration in Japan since ancient times. The fifth day of the fifth month was traditionally called Tango no Sekku and was a festival for boys. Girls have their own festival, called Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival), held on the third day of the third month. Click to Read More

Science & Technology Information In Japan

By the year 2030, global air traffic is expected to double. In the Asia-Pacific region, both passenger and cargo air travel have been growing especially fast, in part due to explosive economic growth. To deal with this increase, a new generation of air traffic management (ATM) systems is needed. JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) started the Distributed and Revolutionarily Efficient Air-Traffic Management System (DREAMS) project in 2012. This feature presents some of the results its achieved so far. Click to Read More

Deep Sea Drilling Vessel (D/V) CHIKYU is the first riser equipped scientific drilling vessel built for science at the planning stage. It is capable of drilling up to 7,000m deep sea floor and aim to the mantle and seismogenic zone. CHIKYU explores the Earth as the main plat form of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).

SATREPS is a Japanese government program that promotes international joint research. The program is structured as a collaboration between the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), which provides competitive research funds for science and technology projects, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which provides development assistance (ODA).

Based on the needs of developing countries, the program aims to address global issues (for example: energy/environment issues, disaster risk reduction, infectious disease control, and food security) and lead to research outcomes of practical benefit to both local and global society. Click to Read More / For Case Studies: Click to Read More

It is vital for Japan to participate in international discussions and to demonstrate a proactive approach to the promotion of open science. The Expert Panel on Open Science based on Global Perspectives in the Cabinet Office of Japan has discussed various relevant issues of immediate importance for Japan. Based on these discussions, the Panel presented the guiding principles for promotion of open science in Japan. Click to Read More

The World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) was launched in 2007 by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in a drive to build within Japan “globally visible” research centers that boast a very high research standard and outstanding research environment, sufficiently attractive to prompt frontline researchers from around the world to want to work in them.

These centers are given a high degree of autonomy, allowing them to virtually revolutionize conventional modes of research operation and administration in Japan.

JSPS is commissioned by MEXT to conduct the program’s grant selection and project assessment processes and to perform other administrative functions.
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Announcements

On the occasion of the spring conferment of Japanese Decorations on Foreign Nationals for the year 2015, the Japanese Government conferred the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette on Mr Iskandar Jalil on the 29th April 2015. This order is presented to Mr Iskandar Jalil in recognition of his significant contributions towards the cultural exchange and mutual understanding through pottery between Japan and Singapore. Click to Read More