Dear Friends of JCC,

Konnichiwa!

The first half of the year has flown by in a flash, filled with a series of celebratory events marking the joyous occasion of SJ60. Last month, our warm and inviting exhibition showcasing picture books from both Japan and Singapore drew to a close, bringing this cherished chapter to an end while opening another chapter of Japan-Singapore exchanges. JCC went on to host SJ60 Archi-Connect 2026, supported by the Urban Redevelopment...(Click here to read more)

The Worlds We Share through Picture Books: A Special Talk

JCC, the Singapore Book Council and the Chihiro Art Museum jointly held a special talk session on 6 June, featuring curator Mr David Liew and artist Ms Priscilla Tey, both from Singapore, and curator Ms Michiko Matsukata from Japan. The event was organised as part of the Peace and Friendship: An SJ60 Picture Book Exhibition from Singapore and Japan. The full-house audience first listened to Ms Matsukata, who joined online from...(Click here to read more)

SJ60 Archi-Connect 2026 - Beyond Buildings: Shaping the Way We Live Japanese and Singaporean architects reimagine architecture's role in strengthening society

JCC hosted the “SJ60 Archi-Connect 2026 – Beyond Buildings: Sharping the Way We Live” on 23 June, supported by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). The event featured both Japanese and Singaporean architects reimagining architecture’s role in strengthening society, with each...(Click here to read more)

JCC Cinema 99: Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea

Our JCC Cinema 99 brought the beloved Studio Ghibli film Ponyo to Our Tampines Hub (OTH) on 28 June, the last day of the June school holidays. We were joined by an audience of 200 people, from children to adults, all gathered to enjoy the ever-popular Japanese animation. Ponyo is an ocean fairy tale about a fish-girl who dreams of becoming human after meeting Sosuke, a young boy living by the sea. It is a heartwarming film...(Click here to read more)

Launch of Spotlight Singapore in Kobe 2026

JCC Director Ms Kawabe Akiko attended the launch event of Spotlight Singapore in Kobe at 10 Square in Orchard Central on 25 June. Initiated in 2006, Spotlight Singapore is a premiere cultural diplomacy platform managed by The Rice Company Limited (TRCL) that connects Singaporean business and entrepreneurs to emerging and growth-leading international markets through the arts. The initiative aims to foster deep mutual...(Click here to read more)

Visit to Serenity in Summer ikebana exhibition

Madam Ishikawa Yuko attended the "Serenity in Summer" ikebana exhibition by the Ohara School of Ikebana Singapore on 13 June. She was accompanied by JCC Director Ms Kawabe Akiko and Third Secretary Mr Yonekura Hidetaka. The exhibition, held at The Japanese Association, Singapore, featured 22 floral artworks in the Ohara style of ikebana created by 8 exhibitors from the Singapore chapter. Founded by Unshin Ohara...(Click here to read more)

Visit to Purple Symphony concert

Ambassador Ishikawa Hiroshi attended the annual The Purple Symphony concert on 18 June at the Esplanade Concert Hall. The Purple Symphony is Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra and features more than 100 musicians of different abilities. In this year’s concert, the orchestra brought the audience on a journey around the world as they showcased a dynamic programme from elegant classical dances to lively folk traditions...(Click here to read more)

Visit to All Things Japanese 2!

JCC Director Kawabe Akiko attended a spectacular concert celebrating the richness beauty, and innovation of Japanese music, performed by West Winds, the Band of the Bukit Batok Community Club, at Esplanade Concert Hall on 21 June. The “All Things Japanese 2!” concert was conducted by two renowned guest conductors and composers, Mr Yasuhide Ito and Mr Eiji Suzuki, and featured an exciting lineup including...(Click here to read more)

Visit to Timeless Resonance: Jaap van Zweden & HIMARI

Ambassador Ishikawa Hiroshi attended the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (ESO) 　concert "Timeless Resonance: Jaap van Zweden & HIMARI" on 28 June at the Esplanade Concert Hall. This concert featured the internationally acclaimed Japanese violin prodigy Ms Himari as a soloist. The performance opened with Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D minor and Ms Himari navigated the concerto’s unconventional architecture...(Click here to read more)

The Beautiful Old Port Town of Tomonoura

The scenic old port town of Tomonoura, in the city of Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, has captured the hearts of ancient waka poets and modern-day Hollywood actors alike. Tomonoura was once one of the most bustling towns on the picturesque Setonaikai Sea, where ships and boats would wait for a favorable tide. Its stone lighthouse over 10 meters high protected sailors for more than 160 years. It is said to be the only place in Japan which...(Click here to read more)

Kuwai no Ama-ni (Arrowhead simmered in a sweet sauce)

Kuwai no Ama-ni is a stew that is known for its sweet taste, which is seasoned with broth, sugar, and mirin. The dish is named after "kuwaimo," a potato-like fruit that grows under the leaves shaped like a hoe for digging up the earth. There are three types of arrowhead: ao kuwai (blue arrowhead), shiroi kuwai (white arrowhead), and suita kuwai. Ao kuwai, the main type grown in Japan, is characterised by its round, spherical shape...(Click here to read more)

Start of Summer Vacation

Summer vacation at most Japanese public elementary and middle schools now starts around July 20 and usually lasts for around six weeks until the end of August. In some regions like Hokkaido, though, where winters are very cold, summer vacations are sometimes a little shorter and winter breaks longer.

The Japanese school year begins in April, so summer vacation comes between the first and second terms. Homework is often given so kids won't forget what they learned in the first term. While the homework given to...(Click here to read more)