Exchange Activities
betweenSingapore & Hiroshima
718 Singaporeans have visited Hiroshimain our Programme

A group of the Hiroshima Singapore Association attended the National Day
Ceremony of the Singapore Chinese Girls School in 2007.

Hiroshima Singapore Association

Hiroshima Singapore Association (HSA)
HSA was founded to promote mutual understanding between Singaporeand Hiroshima in Dec. 1995. HSA focuses on student exchange with theDept. of Japanese Studies of NUS (the National University of Singapore) andSP (Singapore Polytechnic). There are approximately 400 individual members and400 corporate members.

Student Exchange Programme

705* Singapore students and lecturers have visited Hiroshima in homestay andinternship programme HSA established in 1995. (*826 since 1992)

1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Total

NUS (National Univ. of Singapore)
SP (Singapore Polytechnic)
Total
Industry ScholarshipHome stayHome stay
Industry Attach.
Attach.
at MIAL
Total
Since
Student Lecturer Student NUS JUGAS Student Lecturer Student Lecturer
HSA
44 Established20
1030
on 1427
24
114
167 Dec.1995
20
20
14115
15
44
120
1121797921
119112545424
14201126262
171519185151
19
1420
11055
55
21
1720
165656181720
13505019
1- Canceled due to828
28SARS19
19- From ‘06 Top 253434
20
18- NTU1 Award started
30
30
*
20
1923232*
19
1
9SP12+814141
141
8
1- *2+1013737
15
18
12525
*
15
1
7
12+10137
37
13
18
123
23
8
1
99385
16
101
5198
11118
32839
718507330*2: Hiroshima Award*1 Industrial Attachment:
Students are attached to companies in Hiroshima for 3 to 4 weeks and also enjoyed homestay. HSAprovides 20,000 yen per student. Hiroshima Shinkin Bank offered its dormitory for accommodation.
Students bear their own traveling expenses.

*2 Home stay Programme:
Students enjoy homestay for approximately 6-10 nights free of charge. HSA bears lecturer’s travelingand accommodation expenses. HSA also provides 1,000 yen per students to balance the difference ofthe commuting expenses between host family’s house and meeting places. Students bear their own
traveling expenses.

*3 Hiroshima Award:
The top two students who studied Japanese in SP were invited to Hiroshima from 2006.
jointly bear the necessary cost for this programme.

SP and HSA*4 Book Donation:
HSA donates books related to Hiroshima to NUS and SP. NUS and SP prepare a bookshelf, “theHiroshima Corner”, for their students who aree interested in knowing more about Hiroshima.

*5 One year Japanese study:
Mihara International Academy of Language (MIAL) invites a student for one year from Singapore withscholarship in 2005. JUGAS helped MIAL to identify a suitable candidate.

*6 Hiroshima Scholarship:
Based on the success of the above scholarship programme, HSA and MIAL started a joint scholarshipprogramme for a Singapore student who wanted to study Japanese in Hiroshima in 2007. From 2008
scholarship students have been recommended by DJS, NUS.

1

HSA’s Activities
General Meeting of HSA

Welcome Reception for Singapore Students

HSA holds a welcome reception for Singapore students annuallyin December.
2

Industrial Attachment
Some students are attached to Hiroshima companies for 3 to 4 weeks togain on the job learning experience. Companies they have been attachedto include:
Rihga Royal Hotel, ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel , JTB, Kintetsu Int’l., Hiroshima
Shinkin Bank, Kumahira Safe Mfg., Molten, Hiroshima Gas, Toppan, Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries, Delta Kogyo, Hirotech, Kurata, Chugoku Electric Power, Babcock
Hitachi, Fukken Chosa Sekkei, Abe tekkousho, Otafuku Sauce and more.

Singapore students inan orientation withMr. Hashimoto whostarted the student
exchange programme
as the Director of theHiroshima Rep. Officein Singapore (HIROS).
HIROS was closed in2003.

Singapore students learning company activities at Molten.
3A Singapore student learning bank-telling at the Hiroshima
Shinkin Bank.

Singapore students who participate in the industrial attachment
programme also join an exchange programme with the staff ofHiroshin Bank and enjoyed discussing various themes.

Singapore students who
participate in the industrial
attachment programme also
enjoy homestays.
4Homestay ProgrammeStudents enjoy 6 to 10 night homestay in Hiroshima. They havefirsthand Japanese lifestyle experience living with Japanese families.
HSA bears lecturer’s traveling expenses. HSA also provides 1,000 yen
per student to balance
the difference ofcommuting expenses
between host family’shouse and meeting
places. Students bear
their own travelingexpenses.

Mr. Tamura the president of
HSA presenting the travelingexpenses to a lecturer who led
the Singapore students group.

Singapore students
interacting with hostfamily.

Students trying “Okonomiyaki”(Japanese pizza) cooking.

Singapore students
interacting withJapanese students.
5One year scholarship Programme
Mihara International Academy ofLanguage (MIAL) invited a student for one
year from Singapore with scholarship in2005. The Japanese University
Graduates Association of Singapore(JUGAS) kindly selected a suitable
candidate in Singapore.
Based on the success of this programme,
HSA and MIAL started a joint scholarshipprogramme from 2007. HSA gives
50,000yen per month and MIAL exempts
Ms. Hajar at the graduation
ceremony.
approximately half of tuition.
The Department of Japanese Studies of NUS
has kindly selected a candidate each year,
starting 2008. Every scholarship student has
passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test(JLPT) level 1 so far.
Mihara City has also had a secondary school
student exchange programme with Singapore
since 1996 (as follows) and a scholarshipstudent supports this programme.

Ms. Wong at the HSA
reception.

[Mihara City’s secondary school student exchange programme]
This is not an HSA activity, however, Mr. Hashimoto, a member of HSA, has been
supporting this student exchange programme between Balestier Hill Secondary
school and Mihara City since 1996. Both parties sent students and teachers toparticipate in this exchange programme. Statistics show 154 people have visited
Mihara and 226 people have visited Singapore so far. Mihara City has a web-site
for this programme. URL: http://www.tako.ne.jp/~friends/

6

Lecture Meeting on Singapore
HSA holds a lecture meeting every year.
lectures were as follows:
4 Mar. 1996
30 May 1996
27 Feb. 1997
3 June 1997
6 Mar. 1998
2 June 1998
5 Mar. 1999
6 Mar. 2000
11 Dec. 2000
6 Mar. 2001
7 Mar. 2002
5 Dec. 2002
7 Mar. 2003
4 Feb. 2004
8 Feb. 2005
6 Mar. 2006
Mar. 2007
6 Mar. 2008
9 Mar. 200924 Feb. 2010
7 Mar. 2011
7 Mar. 2012

Details of lecturers and titles ofTittle
People and society of dynamic Singapore
Internationalization of Singapore
Message from Garden City Singapore
Small country’s surviving strategy of brain countrySingapore
Prof. Shoichi Yamashita Japan’s choice in Asian era
Singapore’s future strategy–IT, R&D andMr. Koji Tanabe
Globalization
Ms. Tomiko Turu
Student-exchange programme with SP
Prof. Yousuke Yanobu
Mixed habitation for the Nation building
Mr. Hiroaki Maruya
Advanced nation of urban development
Mr. Lucas Ng (SP)Activities of the Department of Industry Services of SP
Prof. Yuichi Kotake
Singapore and Japan from the view of education
Mr. Koji Tanabe
IT strategy of Singapore
Mr. Kazuo Sugino
What I think seeing Japan from Singapore
Dr. Katsuhiko Nomoto Bio research of Singapore
From the experience of business internship inPanel Discussion
Singapore – working in different culture
Prof. Daisuke Nishihara Japanese’s experiences in Singapore –from the end ofEdo era to the end of WWⅡ
Singapore’s vitality of diversity and Hiroshima’s future
Mr. Yasuo Hashimoto–Vision and action make difference
Mr. Chee Hwee Yong
Economic partnership between Singapore and Japan
Mr. Junichi Inada
Looking into the Future – Gardens by the Bay
Ms. Wong Yee Thing
My experience of one year stay to study Japanese inMs. Sachiko HonjyoHiroshima
Mr. Takayuki Yamamoto Industry & economy of equinoctial “developed”
country Singapore
Commemorating of Minister for Foreign Affairs Award
Panel Discussion-Look back on student exchange programmes.
Mr. Yoshichika Terasawa Uniqueness and business chances of Singapore
Changes of Society and Politics in Singapore
Prof. Taisei Itaya
LecturerMr. Yasuo Hashimoto
Mr. Ong Beng Gee
Mr. Junichi Inada
Prof. Keiko Tamura

Prof. Yuichi Kotake, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, gave alecture on 6 March 2001
7

Mr. Kazuo Sugino, the executive secretary of the Japanese
Association, Singapore, gave a lecture on 5 December 2002.

Mr. Junichi Inada, the President of WIN and the ex-director ofPlanning and Development Department of the National Parks
Board, gave a lecture on 6 May 2007.
8

10th Anniversary of HSA in 2005
HSA celebrated its 10th Anniversary on 14 Dec. 2005 having the honor tohost H.E. Ambassador Tan Chin Tiong and H.E. former-Ambassador LimChin Beng.

Students of NUS performed a song at the 10th anniversary ceremonyof HSA.

On behalf of his absence, Mr. Low Wong Fook, the Principal of SP,
kindly sent us a video message for the occasion of HSA’s 10thanniversary ceremony.
9Minister for Foreign Affairs Award
Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo kindly hosted Mr Eiji Tamura,
Chairman of the Hiroshima-Singapore Association (HSA), to dinner on 9November 2009. Minister Yeo also conferred the Minister for Foreign
Affairs Award 2009 on Mr Tamura.
His Excellency S R Nathan, President of Singapore, visited Hiroshima
and kindly invited Mr. Tamura and three HSA members to lunch on 15May 2009.

Book donation
HSA donated books related to Hiroshima to NUS and SP. NUS and SP
set up “the Hiroshima Corner” for their students who are interested inknowing more about Hiroshima.

Mr. Tamura andmembers of HSA
visited theDepartment of theJapanese Studies,
NUS and donatedthe books.

10

Hiroshima has been redeveloped from the ruin of the atomic bomb
to a city of peace. We learned the importance of human resources
through our experience. Thus, when Hiroshima set up therepresentative office in Singapore to promote economic exchange inAug. 1991, it also aimed to study Singapore’s vitality of diversity
through the student exchange programme as well as to deepen
mutual understanding.

11