JCC E-Magazine January 2022

Overview

While the past year had its ups and downs, we are happy that we were able to continue to share different sides of Japan and Japanese culture with many people online and offline. For the brand new year, JCC is delighted to co-organise a ceramic exhibition, which celebrates women artists, with Mulan Gallery. Do follow us on our Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date with the latest information.

In the meantime, please enjoy this month's cultural articles that focuses on the traditional Japanese sport, aikido, as well as how cats have left their mark in Japan.

Director's Message

Happy New Year! 新年あけましておめでとうございます。

Last December, the exhibition "Art Education in Japan and Singapore" drew many families to JCC. The sound of the children’s excitement and the parents’ pride as they viewed the artworks on display certainly put us in a festive mood! The year certainly closed on a high note for us, and we hope that the line-up of events that we have in January will excite our Friends of JCC as well.

This January, we will be working with Mulan Gallery once again for the 5th edition of “Ceramic Expressions”. Both Singaporean and Japanese ceramic artists will be participating in...(Click here to read more)

Visits

Ambassador's Visit to "Art Education in Japan and Singapore"

On 8 December, Ambassador Jun Yamazaki had the opportunity to visit JCC to observe the exhibit “Art Education in Japan and Singapore”. Ambassador Yamazaki was guided by the curator Mr Satoshi Kobayashi, who is an art educator at the Japanese School Singapore (Changi Campus). Mr Kobayashi explained the similarities and differences between art education methods of both countries...(Click here to read more)

Cultural Articles

Ibaraki's Fighting Spirit!

Japan is a country that has a strong sports culture! From school grounds to professional gymnasiums, many Japanese people practice popular sports such as football and baseball, aspiring to compete in top leagues in Japan and overseas! Traditional Japanese sports also have a robust fanbase and pool of practitioners, with some of these traditional sports such as...(Click here to read more)

Cats in Japan: Leaving Their Pawprints in History

As we segue into 2022, we will begin to see plenty of decorations and merchandise featuring tigers being put up and sold in Japan, as it is finally the Year of the Tiger! Though it is a fearsome predator in the wild, it is celebrated as one of the twelve animals in the zodiac. There is one other feline creature, however, that is related to the tiger that and yet still does not feature in the zodiac. Yet, it is so greatly beloved in Japan that it features in...(Click here to read more)

Japanese Cultural Fact for January

The New Year's Parade of Fire Brigades

Every year in early January members of municipal fire departments and community firefighting teams put on a display of their skills in a New Year's parade called dezome-shiki. It's a centuries-old New Year tradition that gives the public a peek at the latest firefighting and rescue techniques.

About 2,700 professional firefighters participate in the parade in Tokyo each year. They go through exciting, tension-filled drills.

The parade's attraction lies not just in the display of modern firefighting techniques; an important part of...(Click here to read more)

Upcoming Events at JCC

14.01.2022 - 22.01.2022

Celebrating Women Artists ~ Ceramic Expressions 5th Edition ~

Related Events

26.11.2021 - 05.01.2022

INTO THE WOODS: Crafted from Yoshino Nature @ Lumine Singapore

Notice

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

■ Enjoy Free Japanese Lessons here on NHK World!

Notices regarding the COVID-19 situation

■ JCC has updated our Safety Measures

■ Japanese Government Initiatives for COVID-19

■ Embassy of Japan in Singapore Facebook