Director's message of this month

With Ikenobo School instructor Ms Matsukuma Rumiko and Dr Leonard Lim, President of Ikenobo Ikebana Society, Singapore Chapter, during the “SJ60 CHADO Exhibition 2026 - Harmony -”.

Dear Friends of JCC,

Konnichiwa!

October proved to be an incredibly fulfilling month, with plenty of opportunities to meet and hear directly from inspiring creators across various fields. At the opening of this year’s Japanese Film Festival, I had the privilege of not only watching the Singapore premiere of “The Keeper of the Camphor Tree”, but also hearing from the film director himself, Mr Ito Tomohiko. It was inspiring to learn about his journey in adapting the novel by the late author, Mr Higashino Keigo, for the big screen.

I was also delighted to attend this year’s Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) which featured special SJ60 screenings. There, I had the opportunity to meet two other renowned directors, Mr Kore-eda Hirokazu and Mr Fukada Koji, and watch their latest films, “LOOK BACK” and “NAGI NOTES.” Both films beautifully depict two female protagonists set against the backdrop of Japan’s breathtaking natural landscapes.

JCC also hosted a fascinating dialogue session as part of the “Woven Memory of Culture” exhibition. The session featured Mr Isogai Tsuyoshi, representative of Bekko Isogai, Mr Maeda Kengo, a Wagasa (traditional Japanese umbrellas) bamboo-frame artisan, and Mr Kenry Peh, a Singaporean tea master. It is not every day that you can hear an engaging discussion between artisans from both Japan and Singapore. The session allowed me to rediscover the intricate craftsmanship of each art piece and the immense value of passing down these traditions.

Towards the end of October we also held the “SJ60 CHADO Exhibition 2026 - Harmony -“ at JCC, which featured Tenmyo imono (cast ironworks) tea utensils and Ikenobo Ikebana on consecutive weeks. In line with the two themes, there were lectures by Deputy Director of J.CLAIR Singapore Mr Sayama Seishi, who is from Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture, the birthplace of Tenmyo cast ironwork, as well as Ms Matsukuma Rumiko, an instructor of the Ikenobo Ikebana School.

As a spectacular October comes to a close and we welcome November, the countdown has officially begun for our highlight event, SJ60結 -Musubi- Singapore-Japan Festival 2026, happening at the end of this month! If you have yet to grab your tickets, please be sure to do so and join the festivities with your family and friends! For more exciting events, please follow us on our Facebook and Instagram, as well as the SJ60 Facebook page and Instagram! You may also follow the Embassy of Japan in Singapore on their Facebook page as well as their X account for the latest news and updates from Japan.

Kawabe Akiko
Director, Japan Creative Centre (JCC)

5th November 2026