Dear Friends of JCC,

Happy New Year! 明けましておめでとうございます。

I hope that everyone feels refreshed after a well-deserved year-end break. Some of you might have visited Japan for sightseeing or to engage in winter sports like skiing or snowboarding and enjoyed your time there. I, too, had the opportunity to return to Japan for a brief period to celebrate the New Year, reuniting with family and friends. The traditional New Year customs, such as...(Click here to read more)

The Heart of Japan ~ Matcha, Samurai, and the Soul of Kansai ~

Guests at JCC were transported to the Kansai region at the special event “The Heart of Japan ~ Matcha, Samurai, and the Soul of Kansai ~” on 2 December. The event was co-organised by JCC, Kansai Tourism Bureau and Union of Kansai Governments. Originally where Japan’s capital used to be, Kansai is home to almost a quarter of Japan’s registered world heritage sites. Not only that, it is also said to be where tea ceremony...(Click here to read more)

JET Homecoming Gala

We organised the Homecoming Gala for JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) programme participants who returned from Japan to Singapore this year at The Japanese Association, Singapore on 3 December. Opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador Ishikawa Hiroshi, followed by a speech and toast by Executive Director of J.CLAIR Singapore Mr Takano Kazuki. The event featured presentations by JET returnees...(Click here to read more)

Japan-Singapore Budo Exchange Reception

To mark the Japanese Budo Delegation's visit to Singapore, a reception was held at the Ambassador's Residence on 27 November, co-hosted by the Embassy of Japan and the Nippon Budokan, to promote exchanges between the 70-member delegation and Singaporeans engaged in sports, especially the government officials and local Budo practitioners. Ambassador Ishikawa Hiroshi and Mr Kawabata Tatsuo...(Click here to read more)

BUDO - the Japanese Martial Ways - demonstration & workshop in Singapore

The Budo delegation demonstrated 12 different types of Budo, or Japanese martial arts, at the OCBC Arena on 30 November, in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan (SJ60) in 2026. Ambassador Ishikawa Hiroshi gave a speech in the beginning of the event, inviting the audience to...(Click here to read more)

Visit to special preview screening of “Summer Island～シンガポールの夏”

JCC Director Kawabe was delighted to attend a special preview screening of the film “Summer Island～シンガポールの夏” at the Arts House at The Old Parliament on 11 December. This short film was produced by Shiya Creative Studio, with support from JCCI Singapore Foundation. Architectural cinematographer Mr Kevin Siyuan, who directed the film, shared how the film...(Click here to read more)

Opening ceremony of ACC9SS PAC-MAN Carnival

JCC Director Ms Kawabe Akiko was delighted to attend the opening ceremony of the ACC9SS: PAC-MAN Carnival in Sentosa on 11 December at Sentosa Island, organised by Apex Infinite Entertainment Global. She joined esteemed guests including Guest of Honour Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State, MTI & MCCY, Mr Masakazu Yoshiba (Business Strategy...(Click here to read more)

Visit to “FULL OUT! 2025”

An explosive dance show, “FULL OUT! 2025”, was held at the Esplanade in Singapore on 12 December. The show featured Japan’s hip-hop dance crew Kirameki☆glitter, the international powerhouse dance collective CDK Company from the Netherlands, and B-Boy world champions JINJO Crew from South Korea, alongside Singapore’s homegrown crew KITA...(Click here to read more)

"Itami Morohaku" and "Nada no Ki-ippon" ~ Kansai sakes beloved in Edo ~

During the Edo period (1603-1867), sakes from the towns of Itami and Nada in the Kansai (Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe) region around the ancient capital were said to be “sent down” to the political capital of Edo (now Tokyo), where they were extremely popular. Blessed with access to the pure waters of Mt. Rokko, these towns established themselves as pioneers in the production of sake...(Click here to read more)

Akashiyaki

Akashiyaki is a local dish of Akashi City. It is made by mixing flour, wheat starch, egg, and dashi broth, baking octopus in the batter, and dipping it in dipping sauce. Akashiyaki is similar to takoyaki in appearance, but the main difference is that takoyaki is eaten with sauce, while Akashiyaki is dipped in bonito or kelp broth. It has long been known locally as "Tamagoyaki," but around 1988, a city official decided to name it "Akashiyaki"...(Click here to read more)

New Year's Day

January 1 is New Year's Day, a national holiday and one of the biggest events on the calendar of annual festivities in Japan. Schools close for about two weeks of winter holiday before and after New Year's, and most companies also shut down for New Year break from around December 30 to January 3. Many people who've moved to big cities return home for the holidays to be with family and friends.

From well before dawn on New Year's Day, people flock to shrines and temples to pray for a healthy...(Click here to read more)