JCC E-Magazine November 2017

H.E. Ambassador Kenji Shinoda and Mada Yuko Shinoda at Japan Creative Centre (JCC).

Japan Creative Centre (JCC) held a series of Japanese Calligraphy and Culture Showcases on Saturday, 21 October with Sunstar and Japan Calligraphy Art Academy showcases across 3 locations – JCC, Our Tampines Hub (OTH) and Chua Chu Kang Community Club (CCKCC). Together from morning to evening, our Ambassador H.E. Kenji Shinoda also visited all the venues trying out the calligraphies and interacted with the participants.

The morning session at JCC was commenced with an opening remark by Ms Gyokusho Matsui of the Academy, followed by a demonstration by her and Ms Chikei Arai on Kana (Japanese syllabary) and Kanji (Chinese characters). The masters then spread out to guide the participants that included teaching stroke orders and holding of brushes. Following which, every participant had the opportunity to write their beautiful characters on a t-shirt and bring it back home.

Calligraphy workshop participants at Japan Creative Centre (JCC).

Calligraphy performance by masters at Our Tampines Hub (OTH).

The afternoon session was held at OTH, where participants worked on writing Japanese characters on Uchiwa (traditional Japanese paper fan). Ms Noriko Keitoku of the Academy welcomed the participants with an opening remark, and two masters – Ms Seihou Obayashi and Mr Seiko Asada demonstrated Kana and Shin-shogei (New calligraphy art). After the workshop ended, there was a fun quiz about Japan, Japanese calligraphy and Japanese culture. 20 winners went home with a t-shirt, their prize for answering a question right. The session was ended with a free movie screening of Shodo Girls!! with popcorns and candy floss having more than 150 people joining. A Japanese movie which showed the ups and downs of a group of high school students who are passionate about calligraphy.

CCKCC held the evening session and was the highlight of the day. Similar to OTH, participants worked on writing Japanese characters on Uchiwa. Minister for Health and MP for Chua Chu Kang Mr Gan Kim Yong graced the event and greeted the participants along with our Ambassador. The workshop was then commenced with a speech by Mr Bokushun Kito, Chairman of Board of Directors of the Academy, followed by three masters – Mr Keisho Tooya, Ms Rihou Takano and Ms Chikuei Takeda, who demonstrated Kanji, Kana and Shin-shogei. Minister Gan and our Ambassador also joined in the workshop and wrote on their Uchiwa.

Mr Gan Kim Yong and H.E. Kenji Shinoda participating at the calligraphy workshop.

Chua Chu Kang residents trying out Origami at our Japanese cultural booths.

At CCKCC, children also enjoyed a healthy smile show put on by Sunstar and Kidzania with their cute mascots teaching kids the proper way of brushing teeth, and continued with a lucky draw where winners won exciting prizes – limited edited t-shirts from the Japan Calligraphy Art Academy. Guests enjoyed fun activities at our various Japanese cultural booths with origami, Japanese food demonstration, and had the opportunity to try on yukata (traditional Japanese wear) and took photos with their family and friends! The evening was topped off with a JCC movie screening of Shodo Girls!!.

It was indeed a day full of fun and excitement, and we thank everyone who joined in the workshops and movie screenings, as well as our JCC volunteers making the event successful!

Calligraphy workshop participants at Chua Chu Kang Community Club (CCKCC).

Japanese Calligraphy and Culture Showcase at Japan Creative Centre (JCC).		Calligraphy workshop participants at Japan Creative Centre (JCC).
Calligraphy workshop participants at Japan Creative Centre (JCC).		Japanese Calligraphy and Culture Showcase at Our Tampines Hub (OTH).
H.E. Ambassador Kenji Shinoda and Madam Yuko Shinoda at Our Tampines Hub (OTH).		Calligraphy workshop participants at Our Tampines Hub (OTH).
Movie screening of Shodo Girls!! at Our Tampines Hub (OTH).		Japanese Calligraphy and Culture Showcase at Chua Chu Kang Community Club (CCKCC).
Minister for Health and MP for Chua Chu Kang Mr Gan Kim Yong and H.E. Ambassador Kenji Shinoda gracing the event and welcoming the residents.		Calligraphy workshop at Chua Chu Kang Community Club (CCKCC).
Calligraphy performance by masters at Chua Chu Kang Community Club (CCKCC).		Chua Chu Kang residents trying out Yukata at our Japanese cultural booths.
Healthy smile show by Sunstar and Kidzania with their mascots.		Movie screening of Shodo Girls!! at Chua Chu Kang Community Club (CCKCC).

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