Director's greeting message

Capturing the spirit of summer in calligraphy: ひまわり (sunflower) and 涼風 (cool breeze)!

Dear Friends of JCC,

Konnichiwa!

The intense heat of summer could be felt both in Japan and Singapore, more so than past years. I hope that everyone found their own way to stay cool. As for myself, I found inner peace and calmness at the calligraphy exhibition and accompanying talk, performances and workshops that were held in JCC last month. It was lovely to see so many people feeling the same way, especially during the workshops where each participant wrote a single Kanji word of their choice on an uchiwa or shikishi.

There were also events that focused on exchanges on a people-to-people level, with the Orientation and Farewell Reception for the 2025 JET Programme participants, as well as the annual Japanese Speech Contest. Just like last year, it was wonderful to witness the enthusiasm and excitement that Singaporeans had towards Japan, its language and culture. These are opportunities that are available every year, so I highly encourage anyone who is interested to give it a try.

At the end of the month, we were delighted to welcome Professor Shibata Tomohiro from Kyushu Institute of Technology to talk about a topic that concerns both Japan and Singapore – care technologies that can help a rapidly aging society.The event included demonstrations of cutting-edge devices which generated considerable audience interest and hands-on participation. It was an inspiring and insightful event, offering a glimpse into the future of caregiving.

With September fast approaching, JCC is further filled with excitement. As mentioned in my message here last month, two remarkable professional Shogi players, Shota Fujii and Takumi Ito, will be visiting Singapore in early September for the Oza title match, commemorating SG60. Applications for tickets to related events are now open, and details can be found on JCC’s social media.

JCC has many more events lined up for the rest of the year, to allow you to experience more of Japan. So please follow us on our Facebook 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 August 2025