Dear Friends of JCC,

Happy New Year! 新年あけましておめでとうございます。

Here comes 2025, the year of EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, and the year of SG60! I am so excited to have this opportunity to observe and join the celebration of Singapore’s significant milestone on site! As you may recall, last year was a memorable year, too, and we marked the end of our JCC15...(Click here to read more)

Japan Tales Night & JCC 15th Anniversary Talk Series with Mr Eric Khoo and Mr Yutaka Tachibana

JCC welcomed renowned Singaporean film Director Eric Khoo and Japanese film producer Mr Tachibana Yutaka in its “Japan Tales Night" event on 2 December 2024. Held in conjunction with the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) and in cooperation with Michi & Co., the event featured the last installation of the JCC 15th Anniversary Talk Series, in which Director...(Click here to read more)

Mutsu City Experience Showcase in SG

JCC, Mutsu City, NUS Centre for Language Studies and Japan Navi hosted the Mutsu City Experience Showcase in SG on 11 December 2024. Guests were treated to a memorable night with a peek into the beauty and food of Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture – including a live cutting of a 50kg tuna from Aomori, an assortment of delicious seafood and apples, as well...(Click here to read more)

Conferment Ceremony of the Ambassador’s Commendation Award on JCS President Professor Lai Ah Keow

Professor Lai Ah Keow, President of The Japanese Cultural Society (JCS) Singapore, was conferred with the Ambassador’s Commendation Award by Ambassador of Japan to Singapore H.E. Ishikawa Hiroshi on 20 December 2024. The Award was presented in recognition of his achievements and contributions towards fostering mutual understanding and...(Click here to read more)

SSEAYP Homecoming Reception & Information Session

On 21 December 2024, JCC jointly organised with the Ship for Southeast Asia and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) International Singapore a welcome reception celebrating the homecoming of the 48th batch of SSEAYP participants, as well as an information session for interested applicants. The 48th SSEAYP participants boarded the Nippon Maru ship for a unique and unforgettable voyage with...(Click here to read more)

Charity Tea Gathering 2024 by Chado Urasenke Tankokai Singapore Association

On 15 December 2024, H.E. Ambassador Ishikawa Hiroshi and Madam Ishikawa Yuko attended the Charity Tea Gathering 2024, held at the Tea Ceremony Room of the Japanese Association, Singapore, organised by Chado Urasenke Tankokai Singapore Association. During the gathering, a hanging scroll with the inscription "金烏急玉兎速," written by a Singaporean and...(Click here to read more)

Charity Tea Gathering 2024 by Chado Urasenke Tankokai Singapore Association

JCC Director Kawabe shared a calm and relaxing time with Singaporean and Japanese participants in a traditional tea ceremony over the weekend, hosted by Chado Urasenke Tankokai Singapore Association. The Charity Tea Gathering 2024 was supported by was supported by JCC and the Japanese Association, Singapore. Besides the art form of tea, Director...(Click here to read more)

Visit to the Southeast Asian premiere screening of “Spirit World”

On 30 November 2024, H.E Ambassador Ishikawa Hiroshi, Madam Ishikawa Yuko and JCC Director Kawabe Akiko attended the Southeast Asian premiere screening of “Spirit World” – directed by the renowned Mr Eric Khoo as a Singapore-Japan-France co-production. The event was part of the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). Along with Mr Khoo, in attendance were also two of the veteran Japanese actors...(Click here to read more)

Visit to Anime Festival Asia 2024

Ambassador Ishikawa Hiroshi and Madam Ishikawa Yuko visited the Anime Festival Asia 2024 on 1 December. They were pleased to meet popular cosplay idols and watch a stage of anime songs by local performers...(Click here to read more)

Visit to “The World of Studio Ghibli”

JCC Director Kawabe wandered into “The World of Studio Ghibli” at the ArtScience Museum, where she encountered angry Yubaba (湯婆婆) from "Spirited Away." Director Kawabe also enjoyed a silent train ride with No Face, and sent cheers to Kiki the witch and her friend Tombo. Exhibition runs until 2 February 2025...(Click here to read more)

Visit by Kanazawa Commercial High School

On 12 December 2024, JCC welcomed students from Kanazawa Commercial High School from Ishikawa Prefecture. Students were eager to learn more about Singapore and were particularly intrigued by the housing policies and the role of the Embassy. They even asked about food recommendations for them to try while they toured the country for their study trip...(Click here to read more)

Merchant Ships Carrying Goods, Culture, and Big Dreams

The ships were fragile, the voyages fraught with danger. Yet for more than a century the kitamae-bune merchant ships traveled between Hokkaido and Osaka along the Sea of Japan, drawn by the magnificent fortunes that could be earned from their trade. The kitamae-bune were effectively trading companies on the sea. From around the mid-18th century to the beginning of the 20th century they bought and sold goods at...(Click here to read more)

Kaiyaki miso

Around Tsugaru Bay, which has long been known as a scallop production area, people have been eating "shellfish miso" since the Edo period (1603-1868). It was a simple fisherman's dish, in which sardine or mackerel fillets and homemade miso were grilled on top, using a large shell (about 20 cm in diameter) as a pot. Later, when eggs became available to the common people, beaten eggs were poured into the shell and the whole...(Click here to read more)

Partaking of Decorative Mochi

New Year wouldn't be the same without mochi rice cake, which is made by steaming and pounding a sticky type of rice (mochi gome).

In the past, mochi was made at home, but most families today buy it ready-made. Over the holidays, a pair of round mochi (kagami mochi) the size of plates - one a little larger than the other - is stacked on a stand and placed in a household Shinto altar or tokonoma (alcove) as an offering to the deities that visit...(Click here to read more)