JCC (Japan Creative Centre)

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙𝙨 𝙒𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙋𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨: 𝘼 𝙎𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠 📖🗨️

📅 Saturday, 6 June
🕒 3PM - 4PM (Registration starts at 2:30PM)
📍 Japan Creative Centre (JCC)

Come listen to those involved in picture book creation, and dive deeper into the exhibition 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: 𝐀𝐧 𝐒𝐉𝟔𝟎 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 🇸🇬🤝🇯🇵, currently on display at JCC!

The Worlds We Share through Picture Books: A Special Talk, 6 June 2026, 3pm at JCC Come listen to those involved in picture book creation, and dive deeper into the exhibition Peace and Friendship: An SJ60 Picture Book Exhibition from Singapore and Japan, currently on display at JCC.

【19th Japan International MANGA Award Winners - Feature 3 of 15】
【第19回日本国際漫画賞受賞作品の紹介③】

Today, we present “Dali Libreria,” Bronze🥉 winner of the 19th Japan International MANGA Award. Applications for the 20th award cycle are currently open, so submit your work today! https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/en/application/20/index.html

【Title】 Dali Libreria
【Artist】 Pen So （China （Hong Kong））
【Story】 In an age marked by the decline of physical book reading, a bookstore manager acquires the artist Salvador Dali's mysterious powers📖. He uses his supernatural abilities to operate the bookstore, breaking through reality and creating surrealistic stories.

👉A 15-page sample is available here! (In Japanese)
https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/pdf/award19th/Dali_Libreria.pdf

本日ご紹介する作品は第19回日本国際漫画賞入賞作品🥉の「ダリ書店」です。第２０回日本国際漫画賞応募受付期間は6月30日(火)までです。多くの作品の応募をお待ちしております！
https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/application/20/index.html

【題名】 ダリ書店
【作者】 Pen So　（中国（香港））
【 あらすじ 】　紙の本が読まれなくなった時代、ある書店の店長が画家サルバトーレ・ダリの不思議な力を手に入れました📖。彼はその超自然的能力を使って書店を経営し、現実を超越したシュールレアリズムな物語を生み出していきます。

👉冒頭15ページ公開中です！
https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/pdf/award19th/Dali_Libreria.pdf
© PEN SO ARTLAB

【19th Japan International MANGA Award Winners - Feature 2 of 15】
【第19回日本国際漫画賞受賞作品の紹介②】

Applications for the 20th Japan International MANGA Award are open through June 30th! https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/en/application/20/index.html Let’s enjoy another look 👀 at last year’s 15 fantastic winners while we wait. We will be highlighting one winner each day, from Bronze🥉 through Gold🥇.

Today’s featured Bronze Award-winning work is “The Life After Life.”

【Title】 THE LIFE AFTER LIFE
【Artist】 CHO CHI HO-JERRY （China （Hong Kong））
【Original Author】 CAI JIE-JACKY （China （Hong Kong））
【Story】 What is the most terrible nightmare in life? Designer Yi Yi and her toy creation “I” were forced into another world by malicious comments on the Internet. After many adventures, Yi Yi finally understands that the challenges of the other world were made up of the nightmares she had on her way to growing up. And the one who can save Yi Yi is “I.”

👉A 15-page sample is available here! (In Japanese)
https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/pdf/award19th/THE_LIFE_AFTER_LIFE.pdf

第２０回日本国際漫画賞応募受付期間は6月30日(火)までです！
https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/application/20/index.html
本日ご紹介する作品は、入賞作品の「棚に置き去り、失敗作のワタシ」です。

【題名】 棚に置き去り、失敗作のワタシ
【作者】　CHO CHI HO-JERRY （中国（香港））
【原作者】 CAI JIE-JACKY （中国（香港））
【 あらすじ 】 人生で最も恐ろしい悪夢は何でしょうか？デザイナーのイ・イと彼女が創作した玩具の「I（ワタシ）」は、インターネット上の悪意あるコメントによって強制的に異世界へ引き込まれてしまいます。数々の冒険を経て、イ・イはついに気づきます。彼女が異世界で直面する試練は彼女が成長過程で見てきた悪夢から生まれたものだったのだと。そして、イ・イを救えるのは「I（ワタシ）」だけなのです。

👉冒頭15ページ公開中です！
https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/pdf/award19th/THE_LIFE_AFTER_LIFE.pdf
© Jerrycho Workshop Limited & JACKY CAI WORKSHOP LIMITED

Applications for the 20th Japan International MANGA Award are open through June 30th! https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/en/application/20/index.html While we anticipate many highly competitive submissions, let’s take a look at last year’s 15 fantastic winners 👀. We will be highlighting one winner each day, from Bronze🥉 through Gold🥇.

【19th Japan International MANGA Award Winners – Feature 1 of 15】
【第19回日本国際漫画賞受賞作品の紹介①】

Today’s featured Bronze Award-winning work is Trio 🐦‍⬛. Enjoy!

【Title】 Trio
【Artist】 Linus Liu (China (Hong Kong))
【Story】 A story about the relationship between the three main characters: single-eyed cat Lucky, extra-thumbed girl Dou Dou, and a three-legged crow. A three-legged crow needs all three legs to balance, just like their friendship. The story also explores the relationship between Dou Dou, her mother, and her grandmother.

👉A 15-page sample is available here! (In Japanese)
https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/pdf/award19th/Trio.pdf

第２０回日本国際漫画賞応募受付期間は6月30日(火)までです！
https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/application/20/index.html
今年も多くの作品のご応募をお待ちしております。本日より昨年度（第19回）の受賞作品（入賞🥉から最優秀賞🥇までの全15作品）を順次ご紹介していきます。
本日ご紹介する作品は、入賞作品の「三本カラス」です🐦‍⬛。

【題名】 三本カラス
【作者】 Linus Liu (中国（香港）)
【あらすじ】 この物語には、一つ目猫のラッキー、親指が１本多い少女のドウドウ、そして3本足のカラスという3つのキャラクターが登場します。3本足のカラスは、3本の足をすべて使わなければ立つことができません。それはまるで、ラッキー、ドウドウ、3本足のカラスの3人が揃わなければ友情が成り立たない、そんな様子を象徴しているかのようです。また物語では、ドウドウの祖母、母親、そしてドウドウという三世代の深い絆も描かれています。

👉冒頭15ページ公開中です！
https://www.manga-award.mofa.go.jp/pdf/award19th/Trio.pdf
© Liu Kwong Cho

📽️ Contours of Being - a meditation on bodies shaped by time, care, memory, and the quiet persistence of everyday gestures

📅Now till 28 June 2026
📍ArtScience Museum, Level 4, Cinema

Catch weekend film screenings on ageing, memory & care by renowned Japanese filmmakers Kawase Naomi in dialogue with ArtScience Museum’s ongoing exhibition Flesh and Bones: The Art of Anatomy.

Featured films include
🎞️ Katatsumori かたつもり, 1994
🎞️ Ten, Mitake 天、見たけ (See Heaven), 1995
🎞️ Chiri 塵 (Trace), 2012

Film screenings are on show from 16 May to 28 Jun 2026. For more details, please visit https://www.marinabaysands.com/museum/experiences/cinema/contours-of-being.html

Ambassador Ishikawa Hiroshi and Madam Ishikawa Yuko attended the Charity Tea Gathering “Enjoying the Furo”on 24 May, held at the Tea Room of The Japanese Association, Singapore　　シンガポール日本人会, organized by the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Singapore Association.

During the gathering, a hanging scroll with the inscription “葉々起清風”written by Sen Sōsh*tsu XV, who passed away last year at the age of 102, was displayed and appreciated by guests. The inscription is from the “Xutang Record”: when sending off a friend, the wind shakes the bamboo, and the rustling sound of its leaves sends a refreshing parting gift. This phrase signifies an exchange of pure hearts and resonates with the “共想” spirit of SJ60, the 60th anniversary of Singapore-Japan diplomatic relations.

A learning journey with Bendemeer Secondary School!

JCC welcomed 25 students and 3 teachers from Bendemeer_Secondary_Official for a school visit on 26 May. The students were on a learning journey to explore how culture, place and texts shape their understanding of Japan in both literary and real-world contexts, and JCC was their first stop.

Second Secretary Ms Yazawa Akiko gave a presentation on the role of the Embassy of Japan and JCC’s activities. She also talked about this year’s SJ60 celebrations, an important milestone for both Singapore and Japan. After the presentation, students headed to the E-Library, where they were greeted by JCC Director Ms Kawabe Akiko. She introduced the E-Library’s resources and invited students to browse JCC’s collection of Japan-related books and comics. The students also discovered pamphlets and brochures on travel destinations and universities in Japan, which made students excited about future travel and education opportunities in Japan.

The last part of their visit was spent experiencing the Peace and Friendship SJ60 Picture Book Exhibition featuring artists from Singapore and Japan, currently on display at JCC. Third Secretary Mr Yonekura Hidetaka gave a brief introduction to the exhibition and illustrated how picture books are delightful and full of meaning for children and adults alike, using one of the exhibited books from The Cabin Company, a Japanese artist duo.

We hope that the students had a meaningful time at JCC and gained insightful takeaways on their learning journey!

🌸 𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝑽𝒆𝒔𝒂𝒌 𝑫𝒂𝒚 🕊️

From all of us at Japan Creative Centre (JCC), we wish everyone a peaceful and meaningful Vesak Day.
May this occasion bring you and your loved ones harmony, compassion, and reflection.

💡 𝘿𝙞𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬?
In Japan, Buddha’s birthday is celebrated on 8 April as “The Flower Festival” (Hanamatsuri), a tradition that highlights the cultural diversity of Buddhist observances.

[𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘]
JCC will be closed on 1 & 2 June (Monday & Tuesday) and will reopen on 3 June (Wednesday).

[ ] Describes someone who is very sensitive to hot food or drinks and prefers to let them cool down before eating. The term translates to “cat tongue,” inspired by the belief that cats dislike hot food.