Dear Friends of JCC,

Konnichiwa!

Last month’s events celebrated both modern innovation and traditional culture. On one hand, we were given food for thought about re-designing sento bathhouses to revitalise the local community, as well as the colourful relationship between contemporary art, tokusatsu and video game culture through a Japanese lens. Both topics were new and refreshing to me, and I am sure many participants enjoyed learning from new perspectives...(Click here to read more)

Tokyo Re-design: Revitalisation of local community through Sento bathhouses

JCC held a conference titled “Tokyo Re-design: Revitalisation of local community through Sento bathhouses” on 16 August 2025. The conference opened with an address from Dr Shin Yokoo, Senior Lecturer at the National University of Singapore, gave an overview of both 2024 and 2025 Summer Programmes, followed by a lecture on the history of Japan’s...(Click here to read more)

Enshu Tea Ceremony at Ambassador's Residence

Madam Ishikawa Yuko hosted a tea ceremony on 22 August 2025 at her residence, with the presence of Mr Kobori Sojitsu, the 13th Grand Master of Enshu Sado School. Her guests for the special event were Mdm Jazira Akhymbekova, wife of the Kazakhstan Ambassador to Singapore, Mdm Lee Ji Young, wife of the Korean Ambassador to Singapore, Mrs Anna Janet Mehta, wife of the British High Commissioner in Singapore...(Click here to read more)

Hamamatsu City Promotional Event ~ Tourism, culinary culture, and traditional industries of Hamamatsu ~

JCC and Hamamatsu City jointly held a special promotional event on 23 August, introducing the tourism, culinary culture, and traditional industries of Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Guests were treated to a spectacular feast of the beauty and food of Hamamatsu – including local eel, dumplings, gelato, sake and matcha, and to an Enshu textile workshop where...(Click here to read more)

ART BIT MATRIX Artist Talk ~ CONTEMPORARY ART, TOKUSATSU AND VIDEO GAMES ~

On 28 August, JCC hosted artists and curators from the ART BIT MATRIX - TOKUSATSU to VIDEO GAME - exhibition for a talk exploring the relationship between contemporary art, tokusatsu (live-action films and television dramas that heavily utilise special effects) and video games. Artist curators Nakagawa Daichi, Takakurakazuki and Toyokawa Yasutaka gave...(Click here to read more)

The Elegance of Traditional Japanese Music ~ Shamisen and Kotsuzumi recital with Japanese dance ~

On 29 August 2025, JCC held a recital of traditional Japanese musical instruments, shamisen and kotsuzumi. We were delighted to welcome back Ms Kineie Nami and Ms Sakurama Ro Kyeong Soon, alongside the support of Mr Naya Reitoku, as well as Reitokukai Japanese Dance Group. There was a grand total of 14 mesmerising performances, including...(Click here to read more)

Study in Japan 2025 Seminar

On 30 August 2025, the Study in Japan Seminar was held at JCC with enthusiastic participation from students and parents alike. In the seminar held in collaboration with Spring Magazine, Nagoya University and the University of Tokyo gave presentations while Okayama University and the Fukui Prefectural University provided brochures and pamphlets. More than 70 people came to join the presentations by the universities as well...(Click here to read more)

Visit by Kwansei Gakuin University students

Kwansei Gakuin University students who are on a study tour here in Singapore visited JCC on Thursday, 7 August together with students from the National University of Singapore (NUS). They had a great conversation with Third Attaché Ms Tobaru Ayumi and Event Team Manager Mdm Soeda Keiko and were able to understand more about the culture, landscapes...(Click here to read more)

Visit to XM Studios

On 14th August 2025, Director Kawabe Akiko and JCC staff were invited to visit XM Studios, a Singapore-based global design studiofounded in 2012. Under official licenses, they handcraft and hand-paint premium collectible figures of characters from world-renowned brands, such as Godzilla, Ultraman, and Hello Kitty, as well as characters from Disney and Warner...(Click here to read more)

Visit to opening ceremony of the United Buddy Bears exhibition

JCC Director Kawabe had the pleasure of meeting the Japan Buddy Bear at the opening ceremony of the United Buddy Bears exhibition last week. The display at Gardens by the Bay is the Singapore debut of the 150 life-sized Buddy Bears, originating in Berlin in 2002. Of these bears, 145 represent different countries and cultures, each uniquely painted...(Click here to read more)

Visit by students, teachers and members from Junior Chamber International Miyazaki

On 20 August, students, teachers and members from Junior Chamber International Miyazaki visited JCC. The students, who were a mixture of elementary school and university students, were in Singapore as part of the Student Exchange Programme in Singapore co-organised with JCI Marina Singapore. Second Secretary Ms Yazawa Akiko gave a presentation about Singapore...(Click here to read more)

Visit by Mayor Yatsuya Mitsunori of Mihama Town, Aichi Prefecture

Mayor Yatsuya Mitsunori of Mihama Town, Aichi Prefecture, visited Japan Creative Centre on 23 August. Mihama Town is the birthplace of Yamamoto Otokichi, the first Japanese to settle in Singapore (around 1817-1867). Because of this connection, Mihama became the host town for Singapore during the 2005 Aichi Expo, and has established friendly relations with Singapore by conducting student exchange programmes every summer...(Click here to read more)

Visit by students from Kumamoto Prefecture University

On 26 August, 2 university students, 2 associate professors and the Director of Kumamoto representative office visited JCC. The students were in Singapore as part of the Project-based Learning Programme in Singapore. Second Secretary Ms Yazawa Akiko gave a presentation about Singapore, the role of the Embassy and JCC to the students. After the presentation, there was an engaging Q&A session. The students asked many questions...(Click here to read more)

Visit by students from Tokyo Marine University

On 28 August, 4 university students and Professor Komatsu from Tokyo Marine University visited JCC. The students were in Singapore as part of a Project-based Overseas Expedition Programme in Southeast Asia. Second Secretary Ms Yazawa Aiko gave a presentation about Singapore, the role of the Embassy and JCC to the students. After the presentation, there was a Q&A session in which Event Team Manager...(Click here to read more)

Visit to Singapore - Japan Friendship Handbell Concert 2025

Singaporean and Japanese handbell ringers celebrated the friendship between their countries with a joint concert on 31 August. JCC Director Kawabe attended the event at the Chamber of Arts House at the Old Parliament. Members of the Ministry of Bellz (Singapore) and Seibunsha International (Japan) performed folksongs and modern music from both countries including Dick Lee’s "Bunga Sayang" and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s...(Click here to read more)

A Perilous Mountain Pass on the Kyoto-Tokyo Highway

The Tokaido Highway linked Kyoto with Edo (now Tokyo), which became the new political center of Japan in the Edo period (1603 - 1867). It had been travelled since ancient times, but was improved during the 17th century as part of a road network linking Edo with Japan’s various regions. Sections of the road were paved in stone and cedar trees planted along its sides. There were a number of difficult stretches along this...(Click here to read more)

Kinzanji-Miso

"Kinzanji-Miso" is a fermented food made by fermenting grains, and contains Tougan(=White gourd), eggplant, perilla seeds, ginger, etc. It is a type of "Name-miso" that is eaten as is as a side dish or snack rather than as a seasoning. Originally, it was a preserved food for eating summer vegetables in winter at temples. There is a theory that miso was first introduced to Wakayama Prefecture in the Kamakura period (1185-1333) by a...(Click here to read more)

JCC speaks to Hayakawa Chie, director of Renoir, which will be screened at this year's Japanese Film Festival. Learn more about her thoughts working on Renoir and film-making, as well as her advice to people who are interested...(Click here to read more)

The term utaite (歌い手) is used to label individuals who upload covers of Japanese songs. It came from the word utattemita (歌ってみた) which means “tried to sing”. The term originated around 2006-2007 on Nico Nico Douga, Japan’s equivalent to YouTube, and began getting popularised as a subculture by the rising popularity of Vocaloid - a singing voice synthesizer software created by YAMAHA. While it can be almost applicable...(Click here to read more)

Autumnal Equinox Day

September 23 or 22 is Autumnal Equinox Day, a national holiday. It's a day not just to mark the changing of seasons but also to pay our respects to our deceased parents, grandparents, and other family members.

The months of September, October, November are usually considered the autumn months, but technically speaking, fall is the period between the autumnal equinox and winter solstice.

The autumnal equinox is the day when the sun crosses the equator from the Northern to the Southern...(Click here to read more)