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OCTOBER

2013

CULTURAL E-MAGAZINE

© Yuki Ikenobo

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UPCOMING EVENTS

40th YEAR OF ASEAN-JAPAN

FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION

Further information and updates about JCC events can be found on the JCC website and Facebook.

October 2013

In Conjunction with

OCTOBER EVENTS IN JCC 1 - 5 Oct 2013 "Two Treasure Islands" Ikebana Photo & Flower Exhibition

12 - 19 Oct 2013 3rd Sustainable Fashion Design Contest Exhibition

22 Oct 2013 WASABI - The Spirit of Japan: The Sound of Traditional Instruments @ Genexis Theatre

26 Oct 2013 JCC Cinema 23 : "Love & Honour"

SUPPORTED EVENTS 19 Oct 2013 Mari Fujiwara Cello Recital for Family

15 Nov 2013 Japanese Emotion in Country of Lion

RELATED EVENTS 17 May - 17 Nov 2013 Kindred Spirits: Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Singapore and Japan

4 Sept – 30 Nov 2013 MAIKO @ Nikei Fine Arts

6 Sept – 13 Oct 2013 Nakakiyo No Entakukei @ Ota Fine Arts

7 Sept – 12 Oct 2013 Mikito Ozeki "Paper Cut Works" @ Ikkan Art

13 October 2013 FIDé Japan Couture Evening 2013

17 - 19 Oct 2013 Oishii Japan

26 Oct 2013 Nihongo de Asobo

3 Nov 2013 Japanese Song Contest

8 & 9 Nov 2013 3 Titans of Theatre - MUSASHI by Yukio Ninagawa

11 Jan 2014 Child Aid Asia Tokyo 2014

NOTICE 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation

The Japan Foundation Program Guidelines for Fiscal 2013-2014

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CONTENTS

OVERVIEW OF JCC’S PAST EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER 2013

2.1 THINKING ABOUT IKEBANA LECTURE 5

2.2 THINKING ABOUT IKEBANA WORKSHOP 6

2.3 JCC CINEMA 22 : “FROM UP ON POPPY HILL” 7

JAPANESE CULTURAL FACT OF THE MONTH

3.1 KYOTO JIDAI MATSURI 8

JAPAN MONTH 2013 : OCTOBER - NOVEMBER

1.1 JAPAN MONTH 2013 4

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Japan Month 2013 is an annually held

occasion spanning over 2 months

particularly October and November.

During the Japan Month, many

Japanese activities and events are held

throughout Singapore such as Japan

Travel Fair, Oishii Japan, Anime Festival

Asia as well as other exhibitions and events held islandwide.

Similarly, Embassy of Japan in Singapore, Japan Creative Centre has put together

an exciting array of Japanese events and exhibitions at the centre. This includes

the annual JCC Sustainable Fashion Design Contest and a not-to-missed

Performance by the up and rising traditional Japanese band, WASABI.

This year in particular, Japan Month 2013 coincides with the 40th Year of ASEAN-

Japan Friendship and Cooperation which is a major milestone in celebration of

the diplomatic relationship between ASEAN countries and Japan.

To learn more about Japan Month 2013 events happening at JCC, click here.

1 JAPAN MONTH 2013

1.1 JAPAN MONTH 2013

© Ikebana International | © TOP 3 Winners Japan & Singapore | © WASABI | © “Love and Honour”

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2 OVERVIEW

In the month of September, Ikenobo Ikebana Society Singapore Chapter

celebrated their 20th year Anniversary and in lieu of this, Headmaster-Designate

Yuki Ikenobo visited Singapore to promote Ikebana. During her stay in Singapore,

she presented a valuable lecture and workshop in JCC.

Aside from Ikenobo, in view of Hayao Miayzaki’s retirement from the film

industry, JCC screened the movie by Studio Ghibli “From Up On Poppy Hill”

written by himself and directed by his son, Goro Miyazaki.

2.1 "THINKING ABOUT IKEBANA" IKENOBO LECTURE

JCC welcomed the Headmaster - Designate of Ikenobo, Ms Yuki Ikenobo to Singapore to present a

lecture and workshop on the philosophy that lies behind the form of an Ikebana arrangement.

At the beginning of the programme, Dr Leonard

Lim provide a brief introduction into operations

of Ikenobo Ikebana Association Singapore

Chapter as well as Headmaster-Designate Yuki

Ikenobo.

The Headmaster-Designate presented a lecture

on the origins and art of Ikebana. During this

lecture, Ms Yuki Ikenobo presented five

immaculate flower demonstrations where for

guests to experience and learn from. She also

shared on the importance of Ikebana and what

it means to the Japanese people.

One of the Ikebana demonstrations done by

Yuki Ikenobo

During the demonstration

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This was indeed a treat for Ikebana

enthusiasts who much frequented Japan

Creative Centre in hopes of learning more

about Traditional Japanese art.

Guests expressed much enjoyment and

enlightenment from the one-hour lecture and

conveyed their hopes for future similar events

at JCC.

2. 2 "THINKING ABOUT IKEBANA" IKENOBO WORKSHOP

After the lecture, a special Ikebana

workshop was held by the Headmaster-

Designate Yuki Ikenobo.

During this one hour session, guests were

given further insight while being shown

demonstrations of Ikebana arrangements

by herself. During the workshop, the art

of Ikebana was taught to be seen as

putting feelings into flowers while making

the arrangements. Each arrangement is

thought to portray a subtle meaning or

feeling.

Guests were told to pick flowers

from buckets but were encouraged

to pick not only their favourite

flowers and colours but open their

horizon to other types. In Ikebana, it

is not about the type of flower, but

how we create that harmony of

flower with flower.

Ms Yuki Ikenobo helping a participant

One of the Ikebana demonstrations done by Yuki Ikenobo

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Guests waiting in anticipation before the movie screening

2.3 JCC CINEMA : FROM UP ON POPPY HILL

In light of animation film legend, Hayao

Miyazaki’s announcement to retire, JCC

screened one of Studio Ghibli’s animation

movie “From Up On Poppy Hill”. The

movie was set in 1963 Yokohama, Japan

about a girl named Umi, who hoists a flag

in memory of her father who died at sea.

The movie revolves around the school

clubhouse which is set for demolition and

this is where Umi meets Shun while trying

to save the clubhouse. Shun eventually

redeems for her father’s void in her heart.

On 28th September, we had a full house

once again to watch the movie as well as attend the sharing session held afterwards on the topic of

building conservation. “From Up On Poppy Hill” speaks about various elements such as romance,

parental love, as well as the conservation of old buildings despite modernization. In particular

reference to the upcoming “National Art

Gallery Project” set for completion in

2015, the talk was presented by Mr Hideki

Izumi, Project Director of the project’s

major contractor, Takenaka Corporation.

During the movie screening

During the sharing session, Mr Izumi spoke

on the relevance of building conservation

and in particular of the ongoing National

Art Gallery Project.

He shared images from the construction

site as well as the restoration works being

conducted on the Former Supreme Court

and Former City Hall. He also shared with

the audience on what the public can

expect to see in the new National Art

Gallery upon completion.

Guests had much questions on the

ongoing project which Mr Izumi graciously

and elaborately answered with

illustrations and photographs. Guests on

the whole got a rare experience and

insight into the project. Mr Hideki Izumi during the sharing session

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3 JAPANESE CULTURAL FACT OF

THE MONTH

3.1 KYOTO JIDAI MATSURI

On the day of the festival, two imperial carriages bearing the

shrine's principal objects of worship depart from the compounds

at nine in the morning. The highlight comes around noon with the

parade of historical figures associated with Kyoto, led by isshin

kinnotai - a group of late-Edo-period warriors who took Emperor

Meiji's side in toppling the shogunal government - and followed by

Sakamoto Ryoma (a leader of the Meiji Restoration), Shogun Oda

Nobunaga, Murasaki Shikibu (author of the Tale of Genji), Sei

Shonagon (who wrote the Pillow Book), and others.

http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/calendar/september/yabusame.html

Jidai Matsuri is one of the three major festivals in Kyoto, the

country's ancient capital, the others being the Aoi Matsuri, held

in May, and Gion Matsuri, which takes place in July.

Jidai Matsuri is held around Heian Shrine in the eastern part of

the city on October 22. This is the date when Emperor Kanmu

moved the nation's capital to Kyoto in 794 and named the city

Heiankyo.

Heian Shrine is dedicated to Emperor Kanmu and was built in

1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of the

establishment of Heiankyo. Jidai Matsuri was one of the

commemorative events that was held then, and it's been held

The parade is filled with people in authentic

costumes playing historical figures.

(Kenzo Yokoyama)

The entire procession is about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) long, and the paraders march around 4.5 kilometers

(2.8 miles) from the Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine. The last person in the procession arrives at the shrine

a little after 4 o'clock.

Some 12,000 historical artifacts, including costumes, harnesses, accessories, and sandals, are used. These

items have been reproduced based on exhaustive historical research and are made or dyed with the same

materials that were used to create the originals. Their total value is estimated to be ¥2.5 billion to ¥3 billion

($21 million to $25 million).For this reason, the parade is sometimes called a "walking museum."

Spectators get to see much more than just a costumed procession; they're treated to a true-to-life glimpse

of Kyoto's rich historical and folk tradition.

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