JCC E-Magazine December 2020

Overview

JCC is now open to the public again! Our first exhibition, “The Beauty of Ise Shima Akoya Pearl ~ The Grand Prix of Akoya Pearl Jewellery 2020 Singapore Edition ~”, is on display now at JCC till 19 December. Besides that, The Japanese Film Festival Singapore 2020, which had been postponed, will finally start in a few days. So do join us for these exciting line-up of events, be it physically or online!

As for this month's cultural articles, please enjoy learning more about Kumano Kodo as well as uniform-like outfits in Japan. Feel free to let us know if you want to learn more about any Japan-related topics!

Director's Message

Konnichiwa!

I am glad to begin this message with the good news that JCC has now re-opened to the public! Our first exhibition, “The Beauty of Ise Shima Akoya Pearl ~ The Grand Prix of Akoya Pearl Jewellery 2020 Singapore Edition ~”, is running now till 19 December, so we hope that our Friends of JCC will come back to experience the charms of Mie Prefecture at our premises – in a safe manner of course!

The Japanese Film Festival Singapore 2020 will also finally make a comeback this year-end. The format of this year’s festival will be slightly different than usual, encompassing...(Click here to read more)

JCC Events

		Virtual Briefing and Sharing Session for new JET participants A Virtual Briefing and Sharing Session for new JET participants who will leave Singapore soon was held on 3 November by Japan Creative Center, J.CLAIR Singapore and JET Alumni Association in Singapore (JETAA). Ms Haruna Mori, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, briefed them on the general information about the programme, as well as details of their departure and stay in Japan. After which, JETAA members, Mr Dennis Ong, Ms Claire...(Click here to read more)

		Japan Exchange & Teaching Programme (JET Programme) Online Briefing 2020 Two virtual JET Programme briefing sessions were held online on 5 and 24 November 2020 respectively, with more than 150 participants coming to learn more about the Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Programme, and the experiences of those who have been on this unique programme. Representatives from the Embassy of Japan in Singapore and J.CLAIR Singapore provided...(Click here to read more)

		JET Virtual Welcome Home & Farewell Session On 12 November, the Embassy of Japan, JET Alumni Association (JETAA) Singapore and J.CLAIR Singapore held a Virtual Welcome Home and Farewell Session for the recent returnees and this year’s participants of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. Two officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in Tokyo – one of the three ministries...(Click here to read more)

Visits

Ambassador's Visit to Gardens by the Bay

On the evening of 14 November, H.E. Jun Yamazaki, Ambassador of Japan to Singapore, visited the beautiful Dandelion installation at Gardens by the Bay, which is part of an artist group NAKED, INC.（株式会社ネイキッド）’s global art initiative Breath / Bless Project, to promote connectivity and unity in times of separation and distance. The Dandelion in Singapore is connected to the ones in Japan when we cannot be there ourselves...(Click here to read more)

Cultural Articles

Old Town Road: Traversing the Sacred Mountains of the Kii Peninsula

The Kii Peninsula is the name of the largest peninsula on mainland Japan, encompassing much of Wakayama, Osaka, Nara, and Mie prefectures. Its name is derived from the Kii Province, an old province that was made up of Wakayama and the southern part of Mie prefecture. The Kumano Kodo (熊野古道)...(Click here to read more)

School of Fashion: Uniform-style Outfits in Japan

For many students in Singapore, holidays are a respite from the stuffiness of their school-regulated uniforms. They shed their regimented uniforms, often in muted colours like white and blue, after graduating, preferring to style themselves in outfits that freely express their own style. However, in Japan, it can actually be trendy to wear uniform-like outfits, even if you are not...(Click here to read more)

Japanese Cultural Fact for December

Mochi-tsuki

Mochi-tsuki, or pounding rice to make mochi (rice cakes), is an important traditional event in preparation for the New Year. It's usually performed at the end of the year, from around December 25 to 28.

Making mochi is simple. A special type of sticky rice that's been soaked in water overnight and steamed is placed in an usu, a large bowl made of wood or stone. A heavy, hammer-like kine is used to pound the rice into paste. The kine is heavy, so when...(Click here to read more)

Upcoming Events at JCC

10.12.2020 - 20.12.2020	Japanese Film Festival 2020
03.12.2020 - 19.12.2020	The Beauty of Ise Shima Akoya Pearl ~ The Grand Prix of Akoya Pearl Jewellery 2020 Singapore Edition ~

Notice

■ Information on Invitation for Application: The Japan World Exposition 1970 Commemorative Fund

■ The Japan Foundation grant program for FY2021 (Japanese / English)

■ Enjoy Free Japanese Lessons here on NHK World!

Notices regarding the COVID-19 situation

■ Japanese Government Initiatives for COVID-19

■ Embassy of Japan in Singapore Facebook