Dear Friends of JCC,

Konnichiwa!

My name is Akiko Kawabe, and it is my pleasure to introduce myself to you as the new Director of Japan Creative Centre.

I arrived in Singapore in July, and in this one month alone, I have witnessed the strong interest and passion that Singaporeans have for all things related to Japan. I am excited to contribute further to the cultural exchanges between both countries, and deepen the friendship in the process of doing so...(Click here to read more)

Japanese Speech Contest 2023

15 finalists from the Secondary School, Junior College and Open categories participated in the Japanese Speech Contest 2023 which took place at the Japanese Association Singapore on 9 July 2023. The event was graced by H.E. Mr Hiroshi Ishikawa, Ambassador of Japan to Singapore and Guest of Honour Mr Ng Wai Choong, Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). They were very...(Click here to read more)

JET Orientation & Farewell Reception 2023

The JET Orientation & Farewell Reception for the 2023 Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme participants from Singapore was held on 13 July 2023. The JET Programme began in 1987 to promote grassroots exchanges between Japan and other countries, and it is one of the world’s largest international exchange programmes. It aims to enhance foreign language education, and promote international exchange at the local level...(Click here to read more)

Opening Ceremony of "Tanabata Exhibition"

Ambassador Hiroshi Ishikawa was guest of honour at the opening ceremony of Ikebana International Singapore Chapter 135's "Tanabata Exhibition" at the Atrium of Great World on 1 July. Madam Ishikawa also attended the ceremony and enjoyed the mesmerising, Tanabata-inspired Ikebana arrangements on display. For this exhibition, Ikebana International Singapore Chapter 135 had...(Click here to read more)

Ambassador’s Visit to The Intan

H.E. Ambassador Hiroshi Ishikawa and Madam Yuko Ishikawa had the pleasure of visiting The Intan, a private home museum that houses one of Singapore’s most impressive collections of Peranakan artifacts collected over 30 years, on 20 July 2023. Mr Alvin Yapp, the owner of The Intan, warmly welcomed Ambassador Ishikawa, Madam Ishikawa and the new Director of Japan Creative Centre (JCC) Ms Akiko Kawabe, and eagerly shared...(Click here to read more)

JCC Director’s Visit to Gecko&Tokage Parade’s performance

JCC Director Akiko Kawabe had a pleasure of meeting the members of Gecko&Tokage Parade, an instrumental jazz band from Japan, and enjoyed their first performance in Singapore on Saturday, 22 July 2023, at the DBS Foundation Outdoor Theatre at Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. The group features experimental music that breaks boundaries of genres such as jazz, ambient, post-rock, shoegaze and hip-hop, advocating “pursuing...(Click here to read more)

Visit by Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology students

Students of Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology and Professor Toshiaki Komatsu visited the Embassy of Japan in Singapore on 24 July 2023, and were welcomed by Second Secretary Ms Mai Hanawa and Event Team Manager Mdm Keiko Soeda. They had an introduction about Singapore, the local Japanese community, as well as the activities of Embassy of...(Click here to read more)

JCC Director's Visit to Our Tampines Hub

Our newly arrived JCC Director Ms. Akiko Kawabe visited Our Tampines Hub (OTH) for the first time on Wednesday, 26 July 2023 at the warm invitation of its General Manager Mr. Noriman Ali Salam. She had the pleasure to understand the history, mission, and efforts of the hub, as well as how it has benefited Tampines residents and the community. Mr. Noriman also brought our Director on a tour around the hub. OTH is Singapore’s...(Click here to read more)

JCC Director's Visit to Cosfest

JCC Director Akiko Kawabe was impressed by the enthusiasm in Singapore about Japanese anime and cosplay at the 20th edition of Cosfest over the weekend. The venue in Downtown East was filled with many Singaporean youngsters in various costumes, such as the two ladies MPI and AII (in the photo), who performed “Virtual to LIVE” on the stage to add excitement to the event. Japanese celebrity, singer and voice actress Yui Ninomiya...(Click here to read more)

Entertaining the Gods

Japan is known for various performances, one of which is known as kagura. Literally meaning “entertaining the gods”, kagura is a religious ritual involving music and dance and dedicated to Shinto gods. Since ancient times, it has been performed at religious ceremonies, in which people pray for a bountiful harvest and to ward off illness and natural disasters. The exact origins of kagura are not clear. However, it is said to have derived from a tale found in...(Click here to read more)

Eel: A Summer Delicacy

With four seasons, it means that there is something to enjoy every season. When it comes to summer in Japan, people will usually think of cooling themselves down with cold somen (thin wheat noodles) or kakigori (Japanese shaved ice dessert). However, there is another seasonal summer dish, which not everyone may know. In Japan, people also eat unagi, or freshwater eel, to make it through the hot summer. It should be noted that this...(Click here to read more)

Awa Odori (in Tokushima)

There's a unique type of dancing that's performed in the area around Tokushima City on the island of Shikoku. It's called Awa odori (dance), and people gather from across the nation from August 12 to 15 both to dance and watch. Awa is the old name for Tokushima Prefecture.

Awa odori is part of the Bon festivities, which are held to welcome one's ancestors back to this world for a few days. Though Bon dances are usually performed in a circle, Awa odori participants march in a straight line...(Click here to read more)