Dear Friends of JCC,

Konnichiwa!

The intense heat of summer could be felt both in Japan and Singapore, more so than past years. I hope that everyone found their own way to stay cool. As for myself, I found inner peace and calmness at the calligraphy exhibition and accompanying talk, performances and workshops that were held in JCC last month. It was lovely to see so many people feeling the same way, especially during the workshops where each participant wrote a single Kanji word of their choice on an uchiwa or shikishi...(Click here to read more)

Japanese Speech Contest 2025

15 finalists from the Secondary School, Junior College and Open categories wowed the audience at the Japanese Speech Contest 2025, which took place at the The Japanese Association, Singapore on Sunday, 13 July 2025. The event was graced by Guest of Honour Mr Chew Hock Yong, Chairman of Workforce Singapore, who undertook his undergraduate study in Japan. After much thought and deliberation from the judging panel...(Click here to read more)

Orientation & Farewell Reception for the 2025 JET Programme

The Orientation & Farewell Reception for the 2025 JET Programme participants from Singapore was held on 14 July 2025 at Japan Creative Centre. The JET Programme – one of the world’s largest international people-to-people exchange programme that was started in 1987 – aims to promote grassroots exchanges between Japan and other countries by deepening mutual understanding, enhance foreign language education...(Click here to read more)

Opening Ceremony of "Musubi" (結) - Japanese Calligraphy Exhibition ~ Forging new bonds and inspiring connections through ink ~

The Opening Ceremony of “Musubi” (結) – Japanese Calligraphy Exhibition ~ Forging new bonds and inspiring connections through ink ~ was held at JCC on 18 July 2025. JCC Director Ms Kawabe Akiko and Ms Hiraga Keiko from KEIBOKU Calligraphy School welcomed the guests with their speeches. Both...(Click here to read more)

"Musubi" (結) - Japanese Calligraphy Exhibition ~ Forging new bonds and inspiring connections through ink ~ programmes

JCC held a wide range of programmes as part of our "Musubi" (結) - Japanese Calligraphy Exhibition, co-organised with KEIBOKU Calligraphy School. On 19 July, Saturday, participants were invited to explore the roots, history and culture of both traditional and contemporary Japanese calligraphy through a talk by Professor Toshimori Yoshiki...(Click here to read more)

Care Technologies for Older Adults in Super-Aged Japan: The Frontiers of Robotics and AI

The evening of 28 July 2025 saw lively engagement from the audience thanks to the sharing of Professor Shibata Tomohiro from the Kyushu Institute of Technology in his lecture titled “Care Technologies for Older Adults in Super-Aged Japan: The Frontiers of Robotics and AI”. Professor Shibata gave the audience an overview of the challenges of super-aged Japan, and its...(Click here to read more)

Global Link Singapore 2025

On 26 July, Global Link Singapore 2025 was held at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, where nearly 500 young students from seven countries and regions in Asia gathered. Participating students made presentations on individual topics they chose from three fields: basic science, applied science, and social science, answering questions from NTU professors, and deepening their discussions. After a selection process...(Click here to read more)

NJC University Fair 2025

Education attaché and First Secretary Mr Aihara was invited by National Junior College (NJC) to participate in their annual University Fair 2025 on 30 July 2025. Together with Dr Daniel Teh of JUGAS (Japanese University Graduates Association of Singapore), Mr Aihara shared with NJC students information about studying in Japan and the MEXT Scholarship. Mr Aihara is heartened to see the interest in Japan from the students...(Click here to read more)

Visit to karate dojo

JCC Director Ms Kawabe and First Secretary Mr Aihara visited a karate dojo recently and were warmly welcomed by Mr Ng Sing Hua Richard (8dan) and his daughter Ms Ng PeiRu. There, karate “Kata”(practice of forms) and “Kumite”(sparring) training was being conducted for a wide range of trainees, from a 2 and half-year-old child to adults. At the beginning and the end of the training, everyone sat in a “Seiza” position of kneeling...(Click here to read more)

Visit to Mint Museum of Toys

It was a blast into the past when JCC staff visited the Mint Museum of Toys! During their visit in early July, they were warmly welcomed by General Manager of MINT Museum of Toys Mr Christopher Ho and Marketing Communications Manager Ms Anna Koh, who gave them a tour of the museum. The MINT Museum of Toys houses vintage toys and childhood memorabilia ranging specifically between 1840s to 1980s and spans over 54 countries...(Click here to read more)

Visit to Japanese School Clementi Campus

Second Secretary Ms Yamaguchi visited the Japanese School Clementi Campus to find out how Japanese children learn English in their classes, together with newly-selected JET Programme participants. They observed the classes while thinking about their own role as Assistant Language Teachers, which will soon begin in Japan. Ms Yamaguchi also saw a Music lesson. She felt nostalgic as she remembered...(Click here to read more)

Visit by students from the Elementary School Attached to Kyoto Women's University

On 30 July, 4th to 6th Grade students from the Elementary School Attached to Kyoto Women's University visited JCC. They were curious to know more about JCC and the duties of a diplomat, especially the importance of consular services. Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan, Mr Miyagawa Nagatoshi, gave a presentation on Japan’s consular missions and Third Attache...(Click here to read more)

Education in Early Modern Japan

Japan’s rapid modernization from the end of the 19th century was made possible in large measure by the system of education which had been developed prior to the end of samurai rule in 1867. A wide variety of educational institutions could be found throughout early-modern Japan, some of which can still be visited today. These schools were dedicated to the philosophy that a society must foster the human resources needed...(Click here to read more)

Gomoku Inarizushi

Agriculture has been practiced since ancient times in Ibaraki prefecture to take advantage of the year-round temperate climate and good water quality. Living up to its reputation as an "Agricultural Prefecture," Ibaraki boasts the top-class production in Japan of numerous vegetables including napa cabbage, lotus root, green bell pepper, and produces all kinds of ingredients ranging from vegetables to meat. "Gomoku Inarizushi" has...(Click here to read more)

What does it take to be the longest active female rock band with all the original members? Taking a look at the Japanese all-girl band’s impressive career of 19 years (and counting), we can see why SCANDAL definitely deserves the title! SCANDAL consists of members MAMI (Guitar & Vocal), HARUNA (Vocal & Guitar), TOMOMI (Bass & Vocal) and RINA (Drums & Vocal). Their band was formed in Osaka in 2006 and...(Click here to read more)

Li-Sa-X is a Japanese guitarist who turned 20 years old this year but she has been lauded as a guitarist with talent beyond her years. She started playing guitar when she was 5 years old but it was her cover of Racer X’s “Scarified” on YouTube that got her skills viral. She has since been under the mentorship of Paul Gilbert, an American hard rock and heavy metal guitarist and member of Racer X. She is also endorsed by music...(Click here to read more)

Nebuta Festival (in Aomori)

The Nebuta Festival takes place from August 2 to 7 in the city of Aomori, which is located at the northern tip of Japan's main island, Honshu. It used to be part of the Tanabata Festival, which was traditionally held on the seventh day of the seventh month on the old Japanese calendar. That date roughly corresponds to August 7 on the calendar that's used today.

The Nebuta Festival features a parade of huge lanterns in the shape of figures from Japanese folktales told from ancient times. The lanterns are made with wooden or...(Click here to read more)