Dear Friends of JCC,

Konnichiwa!

March marked the beginning of spring in Japan, with the blooming of flowers such as plum blossoms, wisterias and azaleas. As you may all know by now, we cannot miss out the symbolic cherry blossoms, which are on display right here in Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay! It was an eventful weekend during the opening week, with an array of Japanese cultural programmes including traditional tea ceremonies, Koto, Suzume Odori, Choral showcase, Taiko...(Click here to read more)

Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes - Live a long life with Hemodialysis -

On 2 March, JCC hosted a two-part lecture titled "Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes - Live a long life with Hemodialysis -". Dr Maeda Atsuhiro, Nephrologist and Vice Director of Maeda Hospital in Japan, discussed nocturnal dialysis, which is available in major cities in Japan and offered at the Maeda Medical Clinic here in Singapore. He also shared statistics on the life expectancy...(Click here to read more)

Botanical Adventure with Japanese Craftsmanship ~ Talk by Botanical Artist Ms Asuka Hishiki ~

Botanical artist Ms Asuka Hishiki gave a talk at JCC on 7 March, sharing her botanical adventures and her fascination with plants and insects. She is visiting Singapore for her upcoming exhibition at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. During her talk, Ms Hishiki recounted her experiences of artist residencies at various botanical gardens around the world, and explained about...(Click here to read more)

Research Presentation by Prof. Sugii Shigeki & Prof. Miyata Masato ~Cell-based fish fat as nutrition & Fish health management in Aquaculture~

JCC hosted a Research Presentation on 10 March titled “Cell-based Fish Fat as Nutrition and Fish Health Management in Aquaculture” by Prof Sugii Shigeki and Prof Miyata Masato. Mr Hotta Toru, Deputy Chief of Mission, opened the event, highlighting the importance Science Community Singapore (SCS)...(Click here to read more)

Orientation and Send-Off Reception for 2026 MEXT Scholarship Recipients

Japan Creative Centre (JCC) hosted the Orientation and Send-Off Reception for the selected recipients of MEXT Scholarship on 16 March. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT, 文部科学省), annually offers MEXT scholarship for undergraduate, specialized training college, and research students. This year’s event also welcomed other students who will go to Japan for exchange...(Click here to read more)

JCC Cinema 98: Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window

Our JCC Cinema 98 screening of Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window took place last Saturday, 21 March, at One Punggol as part of their March Fun Fiesta. Audience of around 100 people, many of whom were families with young children, enjoyed the heartwarming film together. Beyond the screening, many of them also had the chance to learn about online resources for Japanese language learning created by the Japan...(Click here to read more)

An Ageing Society: Challenges and the Potential of Digitalisation to Address Them ~ Lecture by Dr Iwasaki Naoko ~

Japan Creative Centre (JCC) held a lecture by Prof Dr Iwasaki Naoko on 26 March, where she presented about the various challenges associated with an aged society, as well as the digital solutions found in Japan that address these challenges. Mr Hotta Toru, Deputy Chief of Mission, greeted the audience, highlighting how Singapore is also experiencing rapid population ageing...(Click here to read more)

Opening of “The Kyoto Cultural Arts Exhibition of the Eastern Cultural Arts Masters Academy”

Ambassador Ishikawa and JCC Director Kawabe attended the opening of “The Kyoto Cultural Arts Exhibition of the Eastern Cultural Arts Masters Academy” on 27 February. Organised by the International Leading Education Alliance, the event at the Grand Hyatt Singapore ran until 1 March and showcased a remarkable collection of Japanese masterpieces from the Edo...(Click here to read more)

Launch of Sakura 2026

Ambassador Ishikawa Hiroshi attended the launch of SAKURA 2026 at Gardens by the Bay on 15 March. The ceremony was graced with the presence of Mr Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, as the Guest-of-Honour. Guests were treated to an uplifting Minyou Folk Dance Club performance, a live calligraphy by Ms Reisen, a tea ceremony by Omotesenke Hoseikai Singapore, and a mochi-pounding experience...(Click here to read more)

Japanese Cultural Programmes at Sakura 2026

Our JCC Cinema 97: Castle in the Sky was held on Sunday, 15 March, in collaboration with Gardens by the Bay as part of the Sakura 2026 Japanese cultural programmes! Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, this beloved Studio Ghibli classic attracted audiences to experience a high-flying adventure filled with stunning animation, a heartfelt story of friendship, and the unforgettable musical score by Joe Hisaishi. Before the screening, many visitors also enjoyed...(Click here to read more)

Study in Japan Presentation at SMU

Education attaché and First Secretary Mr Aihara visited Singapore Management University on 27 March to share information on post-graduate studies in Japan with a group of students. Besides covering the process of enrolment, Mr Aihara also highlighted the generous support offered by the MEXT Scholarship, a comprehensive scholarship programme awarded by the Japanese government MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture...(Click here to read more)

Visit by students from Yonezawa Women's Junior College

JCC welcomed students from Yonezawa Women's Junior College in Yamagata Prefecture on 3 March. The students spent several days in Singapore, including a homestay as part of their cross-cultural understanding program. During their visit to JCC, they learned about the Embassy’s operations and international exchanges through a presentation by Third Attache Ms Tobaru Ayumi. This was followed by a Q&A session, during which...(Click here to read more)

Visit by faculty members from College of the Arts, Tamagawa University

On 7 March, JCC hosted faculty members from College of the Arts, Tamagawa University. They were in Singapore for a short trip to learn about Singapore’s tertiary education system. During their visit to JCC, the delegation attended our talk event by botanical artist Ms Asuka Hishiki, together with other audience members and JCC Director Kawabe Akiko. Following this, they were...(Click here to read more)

Visit by students from Seitoku Elementary School

JCC welcomed students and teachers from Seitoku Primary School on 13 March. Third Attache Ms Tobaru Ayumi shared about Singapore, as well as the role and activities of the Embassy of Japan in Singapore and JCC. The students enthusiastically asked many questions regarding Singapore and JCC, which Ms Tobaru together with Event Team Manager Mdm Soeda Keiko...(Click here to read more)

Visit by Totsu-totsu delegation

The team behind the innovative Facilitator’s Toolkit for Totsu-totsu Dance had the pleasure of visiting JCC earlier this month and met with JCC Director Ms Kawabe Akiko to introduce her to Totsu-Totsu Dance and the Facilitator’s Toolkit. Totsu-Totsu Dance, created by Mr Jareo Osamu in 2009, began as gentle workshops and performances for elderly residents at a nursing home in Kyoto. Developed further in partnership with the non-profit...(Click here to read more)

Opening Ceremony of "In Green"

JCC Director Ms Kawabe Akiko attended the opening of “In Green”, an exhibition by botanical artist Ms Asuka Hishiki (@greenasas) at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on 13 March. The exhibition features Ms Hishiki’s delicate artworks, inviting viewers to explore nature through the artist’s curious eyes. During her opening talk, Ms Hishiki fondly shared about her family outings in nature, her fascination with plants and flowers since young, and inspiration...(Click here to read more)

Visit to Hiromi’s Sonicwonder

GRAMMY award-winning pianist and composer Hiromi brought her electrifying quartet, Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, to Singapore for the very first time this week! Performing at the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, they delivered a thrilling night filled with boundless energy, adventurous spirit, and dazzling virtuosity. JCC Director Kawabe, along with many enthusiastic audience members, was captivated by their dynamic fusion...(Click here to read more)

Pre-Historic Flame-Style Pottery of the Snow Country

This area of Japan has yielded one of the world’s largest and most spectacular collections of pre-historic pottery. Niigata Prefecture is at the mouth of the Shinano River, which is Japan’s longest river, flowing from the eastern side of Nagano Prefecture through Niigata Prefecture and into the Sea of Japan. The river basin is renowned for its heavy snowfall, and the plentiful spring water that...(Click here to read more)

Sado no Nishime

"Sado no Nishime" is a local dish eaten on Sado City in Niigata Prefecture, where broth is made from grilled flying fish and ingredients such as vegetables, kombu(=kelp), and grilled tofu are slowly simmered over a long period of time. Oden-style nishime is well seasoned and delicious. In some areas, pollack, squid, and fu are added. It is called "nishime" because it is boiled until there is no liquid left, and has been enjoyed by the...(Click here to read more)

Dr Yanagihara Naoyuki is the Executive Chef of Yanagihara Cooking School of Traditional Japanese Cuisine, located in Akasaka, Tokyo. He was born into a family specialising in the Kinsaryu (近茶流) culinary discipline. Kinsaryu, a cuisine that specialises in the cooking technique of Edo (present-day Tokyo), has been passed on from generation to generation since the 1800's, during the Edo period. It is also closely associated with the tea ceremony...(Click here to read more)

Golden Week

Many Japanese workers get about a week off around the end of April and beginning of May. This is because there is cluster of national holidays during this time.

The "week" starts on April 29, a national holiday that used to be celebrated as the birthday of Emperor Showa, who passed away in 1989. It is now celebrated as Showa Day, a day to allow people to think back on the hardship and recovery of the Showa period and to ponder the future of Japan...(Click here to read more)