Stories from an Island City: Expressing “Co-Imagine, Co-Create, Co-Evolve” Through Music
Hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Tokyo
This year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Japan. To commemorate this, the Singapore Embassy is conducting various exchange programs under the theme of “Co-imagine, Co-create, Co-evolve.” As part of this, the TENG Ensemble from Singapore visited Japan and held a wonderful concert in Tokyo, blending tradition and modernity.
Throughout these 60 years, Singapore and Japan have cultivated a rich relationship. Beginning with economic cooperation, this exchange has evolved into collaboration in technology, trade, regional development, and cutting-edge fields, bringing friendship and development to both countries, and continues to this day.
This year, designated as SJ60, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of Singapore visited Japan, further elevating the relationship between the two countries to the level of a strategic partnership. In forming this strategic partnership, five pillars were established to best serve as the foundation for advancing the “SJ60” motto of Singapore and Japan: “Co-imagination, Co-working, and Co-progress.”
These five pillars are:
- Economic Cooperation and Free Trade
- Digitalisation and Technology
- Security and Defense
- Green Transition and Energy Cooperation
- Partnerships and Exchanges
The concert held that evening was a perfect realization of the fifth pillar, “Partnerships and Exchanges.”
The TENG Ensemble is a proud ensemble of modern Singapore, and it can be said that this ensemble embodies the current state of Singapore as a nation.
The TENG Ensemble breaks new ground in the fusion of music, blending Singapore’s traditional culture with contemporary influences, vividly expressing Singapore’s multiculturalism. Their performance is supported by solid traditional musical techniques, and furthermore, they exquisitely collaborate traditional and modern musical instruments. Due to the nature and structure of the instruments, there is a difficult point in that traditional and modern instruments have differences in volume. However, they skillfully overcame these challenges, maintaining their rich musicality while actively conveying a new worldview.
On this day, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado and Her Imperial Highness Princess Tsuguko were in attendance, and ambassadors and their spouses from many embassies in Tokyo, as well as representatives from various fields, gathered. After the concert, cheers and applause directed towards the stage continued without end, and even after the concert, many people let out sighs of admiration.
Forty years ago, a young Singaporean, whose heart was thrilled by J-POP artists like Akina Nakamori and Seiko Matsuda, decided to study in Japan. Now, he is stationed in Japan as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Ambassador Ong Eng Chuan’s affection for Japan, spanning over 40 years, has resulted in perfect Japanese language skills, further strengthening the ties between Singapore and Japan.
On this day, the stage was adorned with banners featuring Singapore’s Merlion and Japanese cherry blossoms. The TENG Ensemble concert, featuring Ambassador Ong Eng Chuan, who knows the heart of Japan better than anyone, and his spouse Esther, was truly a moment that connected the Merlion and cherry blossoms.
