Dear Friends of JCC,

Konnichiwa!

As the year approaches an end, the weather in Japan is turning cooler with the transition into the fall season. While Singapore cannot experience the four seasons directly, I hope that you were able to appreciate a slice of autumn during the Ikebana exhibition co-organised with Ikebana International Singapore Chapter 135. It was wonderful to witness the transient...(Click here to read more)

Opening Ceremony of Japanese Film Festival 2023

On 5 October, the Japanese Film Festival SG (JFF) in Singapore 2023 was officially opened with the premiere screening of "Mondays: See You 'This' Week!", a comedy film directed by Mr. Takebayashi Ryo at Shaw Theatres Lido. H.E. Ambassador Hiroshi Ishikawa and Mr. Kenneth Tan, Chairman of the Singapore Film Society, welcomed the guests by giving their opening remarks before the movie began. They emphasised on the tremendous amount...(Click here to read more)

Directors' Masterclasses @ Japanese Film Festival 2023

In conjunction with our Japanese Film Festival SG 2023, JCC held two exclusive masterclasses. The first one by Mr. Jasper Sharp on J-horror (Japanese horror films) phenomenon was held on Saturday, 7 October 2023. Jasper, who flew into Singapore specially for our festival, is a filmmaker, curator, and author specialising in Japanese cinema. He gave an in-depth explanation and analysis of the Western perspective of J-Horror, as well as a brief history...(Click here to read more)

Japan Exchange & Teaching Programme (JET) Briefing 2023

The JET Programme Briefing Session was held in-person at JCC on Wednesday, 18 October 2023. Jointly organised by JET Alumni Association (JETAA) Singapore, J.Clair Singapore, as well as Embassy of Japan in Singapore, audiences who attended the briefing were able to learn more about the Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Programme and the experiences of those who have been on this unique programme. Representatives...(Click here to read more)

Opening Ceremony of Autumn Harvest: An Exhibition by Ikebana International Singapore Chapter 135

The opening of Autumn Harvest ~ An Exhibition by Ikebana International Singapore Chapter 135 ~ was held at JCC on Friday, 20 October 2023. Both JCC Director Ms. Akiko Kawabe and II President Ms. Peggy Loh warmly welcomed all the guests who were present at the opening and expressed their gratitude to those who have orchestrated the exhibition. After which...(Click here to read more)

Tree Planting Ceremony in Commemoration of ASEAN-Japan Friendship & Cooperation and SSEAYP Day

On 7th October, the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japan Youth Programme (SSEAYP) Day was celebrated with a tree-planting ceremony at Bedok Reservoir Park. Organised by SSEAYP International Singapore, the event also commemorated the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship & Cooperation. H.E. Ambassador Hiroshi Ishikawa...(Click here to read more)

UNTAME 2023

On 24 October 2023, JCC Director Akiko Kawabe and a few embassy colleagues attended UNTAME 2023 － an annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) festival by Science Centre Singapore. They were warmly welcomed by Professor Lim Tit Meng, CEO of Science Centre Singapore and Dr Lee Song Choon, Director of KidsSTOP and Events & Engagement. JCC and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency...(Click here to read more)

JENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) programme sharing session

On 26 October, Second Secretary Ms Mana Yamaguchi joined the JENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) programme sharing session at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Ms Yamaguchi listened to presentations from 2 groups of students who participated in the JENESYS programme back in March 2023 from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. They shared...(Click here to read more)

JCC Director's Visit to FIRST Global Challenge

JCC Director Akiko Kawabe visited the Japanese camp in the annual FIRST Global Challenge robotic competition after its Opening Ceremony at the Singapore EXPO on 7 October. A team of five students from Ryugasaki Daiichi High School in Ibaraki Prefecture represented Japan in this year’s competition hosted by Singapore. The team brought a robot they had built in Japan that showcased the outcome of their tireless...(Click here to read more)

Ambassador's Visit to Autumn Harvest: An Exhibition by Ikebana International Singapore Chapter 135

On 26 October, H.E. Ambassador Hiroshi Ishikawa and Madam Ishikawa visited JCC to view the Autumn Harvest exhibition. They were given a tour of the exhibition by Ms. Peggy Loh, President of Ikebana International Chapter 135, and the Chapter’s former president Ms. Linda Soo-Tan, who shared about the different types of flora and fruits used in the arrangements...(Click here to read more)

Visit by students from Kanazawa Polytechnic

On 27 October, JCC hosted students from Kanazawa Polytechnic, an institution of higher learning in the Ishikawa Prefecture. The students were part of a cultural exchange programme with Temasek Polytechnic and visited cultural heritage sites such as Kampung Glam, Chinatown and Little India. During their visit to JCC, Second Secretary Ms. Mana Yamaguchi gave a briefing about Singapore, the local Japanese community, as well as the...(Click here to read more)

Visit by staff members of Tokyo Metropolitan Government

On 1 November, JCC Director Ms Akiko Kawabe and Second Secretary Ms Mana Yamaguchi had a meaningful meeting with the staff members of the Tokyo Gov (Tokyo Metropolitan Government) and the staff members of an End-to-end commerce enablement company founded in Singapore, at the Japanese Embassy and JCC. We discussed local sentiments...(Click here to read more)

Visit by students from Toho High School

On 2 November, students from Toho High School visited JCC as part of their study tour in Singapore. Second Secretary Ms. Mana Yamaguchi gave a briefing about Singapore, the local Japanese community, as well as the activities of Embassy of Japan in Singapore and Japan Creative Centre (JCC). JCC Deputy Director Mr. Yuki Hamada also gave a briefing about The Japan Foundation. They then had a Q&A session with the students to...(Click here to read more)

Sapporo's Soul Food

Hokkaido has branded itself as a food paradise, and that includes its capital city, Sapporo. Among the various dishes, soup curry is recognised as Sapporo's soul food. Curry is usually thick and has a roux base. However, in contrast, soup curry has a thin and light texture. Thus, it is more comparable to a soup dish, and is usually filled with chunks of vegetables and meat and served with rice. Sapporo has always had a soup culture...(Click here to read more)

Happy Birthday to the Most Loyal Dog

Hachiko, the faithful Akita dog, has become a famous icon and popular meeting spot at Shibuya station. His tale has been retold in multiple books and movies, and in different languages. This November would mark 100 years since the symbol of loyalty was born. How well do you know Hachiko's story? The Akita dog was born in November 1923, in Odate city of Akita prefecture. Alongside Shiba-Inu, the Akita breed is one of Japan's most popular...(Click here to read more)

School Festivals

The sunny, crisp air of autumn in Japan whets the appetite not just for food but also for cultural and artistic refinement. For kids, autumn is a time for bunkasai, or school-sponsored cultural festivals. Virtually all middle and high schools in Japan hold such festivals between late October and November.

The festival is usually held on a Saturday or Sunday, and sometimes on both days. It's a chance for kids to show off what they've learned at school to their families and neighbors, and it offers students a change of pace from their normal school routines...(Click here to read more)