Director's Message
 © George Lonezmoon Photography 2014 |
Konnichiwa!
A great number of amazing kick-off events was held in April to celebrate our SJ50 festivities. Urasenke Grandmaster, Dr Genshitsu Sen's visit to Singapore was an epoch making moment for us. Dr Sen, 92 then (he turned 93 on 19th April) warmly welcomed our Guest of Honour, Former President S.R. Nathan, one year his junior, during his tea ritual ceremony at the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM). The tea ceremony served as their reunion as Dr Sen and Former President Nathan had previously met each other back in 2009. I will never forget a scene during the event when Dr Sen and Former President Nathan exchanged a brief farewell saying, "Let us see soon!" The moment revealed a special bond that of old friends between the two, which was truly graceful. Our new Ambassador Kenji Shinoda and his wife, Yuko, arrived on time for another memorable tea ceremony by Dr Sen for President Tony Tan and Mrs Tan at the Istana. What a symbolic and blessed start for his new tenure in Singapore and I am sure that the readers of this E-Magazine will soon have more opportunities to see them both in many following SJ50 events throughout this year. In other news, 26th April is a significant date for when our two nations launched diplomatic relations fifty years ago. A series of articles were published in the local newspapers, covering stories of our political, economical and culturally matured relationship with amiable people-to-people exchange of friendship. I would like to share a particular article that stood out to me by Professor Tommy Koh on The Straits Times where he mentioned, "The Japan Creative Centre is doing a very good job in projecting Japan's soft power in Singapore". On the same day in Tokyo, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan was welcomed by our Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and our Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida where they reaffirmed our bilateral ties that will only further develop for the benefit of our futures. In addition, I would like to add that we are all sincerely thankful for your good wishes and financial donations to the victims of Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu at the wake of the Earthquake. Thank you very much for extending a helping hand and validating that friends in need are friends indeed! See you soon! Misako Ito Director, Japan Creative Centre (JCC) Embassy of Japan in Singapore 5th May 2016 |
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Japan Creative Centre 4 Nassim Road, Singapore 258372 +65 6737 0434 / jcc@sn.mofa.go.jp http://www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp/JCC Nearest parking at Orchard Hotel & Delphi Orchard |
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2016 will mark the 50th Anniversary of Singapore-Japan Diplomatic Relations |  |