About Us
What is SSAJ?
The Singapore Students' Association (Japan), or 在日シンガポール留学生協会 in Japanese, looks after the welfare of Singaporeans who are pursuing their studies in Japan. A majority of our members are students who pursue their undergraduate studies, graduate studies, doctoral studies, as well as exchange programmes. We are based in Tokyo, and aim to look after the welfare of Singapore students across Japan. We are supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Tokyo, the Japanese University Graduate Association of Singapore, and the Singapore Global Network. We have been active since 2008.
Our Exco
The SSAJ Executive Committee, or Exco, consists of SSAJ members who serve one year terms in a variety of roles. The Exco currently consists of the roles of the President, Internal Vice-President, External Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. All of these roles are put up for election during the SSAJ Annual General Meeting held each year, and are open to all members.
The tl;dr of each role:
President: Oversees the vision, direction, and operations of the Exco
Internal Vice-President: Leads the organisation of SSAJ activities and co-manages its social media platforms
External Vice-President: Liaises with external partners for sponsorships or career-related opportunities
Treasurer: Manages the budget of the Exco, handles funding requests, and holds onto the reserves
Secretary: Handles administrative matters of the Exco including minute-taking, maintaining the website, and co-manages its social media platforms.
Public Relations Officer: Maintains social media channels (Instagram and Telegram) by posting notices of events, etc.
Our Members
Any Singapore citizen or permanent resident enrolled in an officially recognised educational institution in Japan, including but not limited to Universities, Junior Colleges, Professional Training Institutes, and Language Schools, are eligible to be members of SSAJ.
Students enrolled in officially recognised educational institutions in Singapore and who are residing in Japan with a visa allowing a stay of more than ninety (90) days, are also eligible to be members of SSAJ. (The translation: students on long-term exchange programmes in Japan can join us!)
Empowerment
We want to empower you with the resources to run their own events and initiatives:
Be it funding, skills, or publicity, we want to be there for you, so that you can make your ideas come true. These could be as simple as a board games night or as complicated as a Pokemon cosplay marathon; you’ll never know your limits until you share your ideas!
Regionality
Going beyond Tokyo:
While most of the Singaporeans studying in Japan are Tokyo-based, we are hoping to better engage people living outside the capital. If you’re living outside of Tokyo, we've launched regional chats to better build the SSAJ community.
*If you are already an SSAJ member - the sign-up link for our new chats can be found on our communication channels!
Orientation
Welcome to Japan:
We've launched the 4th edition of the "Student's Guide to Life in Japan", i.e. your beginner's handbook to navigating the web of paperwork, getting a phone number, registering for your My Number card... There may be a fair bit of things to do when you first move in, but we've got you covered! Anything you need to know about living in Japan is in there!
We're also reviving the SSAJ Family Programme (that’s right, kazoku 家族) to give new students a familiar touchpoint especially when they first arrive in Japan.
Informality
Interact with your fellow Singaporean students:
We’re not saying you shouldn’t have a diverse group of friends, but sometimes you just want to find someone else in the country who has shared your 2-week-long 1am cravings for kaya toast.
We hope to create a network of informal chat groups for all sorts of purposes - think casual anime chats, gaming chats, batch chats (e.g. batch of autumn 20/21), and regional groups.
Awareness
Dispelling myths about studying in Japan:
We are working on a Study in Japan portal for Singapore-based students. On the portal, we will consolidate information about English and Japanese courses, as well as scholarship options for studying in Japan. In the future, we also hope to set up booths and share our experiences at Higher Education Fairs in various schools in Singapore. If you have information that you would like to contribute or recommend, please contact us!
Meet the 2023-2024
Executive Committee
Evelyne Chua
President
Hello! I’m Evelyne, a first year student at the University of Tokyo majoring in political science and I’ve been in Japan for a year and half. In my free time, I like hiking, watching movies and reading! I also love cats and dogs but just found out I'm allergic T_T
Hui Xin Cheang
Treasurer
Hello! I’m Hui Xin, a first year at Waseda’s School of International Liberal Studies. I love music and can typically be found frothing over a K/J-pop idol. Although the amount of Seventeen merch in my room suggests otherwise, I promise I’m good with money!
Jonathan James Ng
External Vice-President
Hi I'm Jon and I really love cats! I'm studying at Waseda's TAISI programme and I quite like the atmosphere of Tokyo. Also I think Yayoi's Karaage is underrated hehe.
Yvette Ortega
Public Relations Officer
Hello! I am Yvette Ortega! Currently a student in Ritsumeikan University studying Global Liberal Arts. During my free time. I do a lot of Otaku activities (推し活) My favourite oshis are singers mafumafu and soraru! I also enjoy editing videos during my free time!
Qian Xing Ng
Internal Vice-President
Hi! I am Qian Xing, currently a 3rd year Physics Major at Waseda University. Purveyor of all things wargaming and board-gaming related. There are two states you will find me in, either dying under the weight of assignments or obsessively binging media of any/every kind. Send help.
Vanessa Lin
Secretary
Hey all! I'm Vanessa, a current 2nd year student at Waseda. When I'm not at the gym, I'm discovering new foods and music or fell into a pit of doomscrolling (again). I love exploring quaint neighbourhoods in Tokyo too; Miyanosaka and Kichijoji are my personal favourites!
Past Executive Committee Members
Exco Term | Position | Name |
|---|---|---|
2008-2010 | President | Ms XU Yinghui |
2008-2010 | Vice-President | Mr Gerald CHOO Chong Yu |
2008-2010 | Treasurer | Mr POH Shin |
2010-2011 | President | Mr NG Ying Jian |
2010-2011 | Vice-President | Mr KU Ka Tsai |
2010-2011 | Public Relations Officer | Ms Rebecca LEE |
2010-2011 | Treasurer | Mr Jonathan QUEK |
2010-2011 | Executive Secretary | Ms Christal HAN |
2011-2012 | President | Mr NG Ying Jian |
2011-2012 | 1st Vice-President | Mr POH Shin |
2011-2012 | 2nd Vice-President | Ms Michelle HO |
2011-2012 | Public Relations Officer | Mr LEE Chee How |
2011-2012 | Treasurer | Mr Jonathan QUEK |
2011-2012 | Executive Secretary | Ms OH Xuemin |
2012-2013 | President | Mr LEE Chee How |
2012-2013 | 1st Vice-President | Mr Kevin KOH |
2012-2013 | 2nd Vice-President | Ms TAN Heng Jie |
2012-2013 | Public Relations Officer | Ms Emily LEK |
2012-2013 | Treasurer | Mr YEO Kee Sheng |
2012-2013 | Executive Secretary | Mr Glen WIRAWAN PODIONO |
2013-2014 | President | Mr Matthew GE |
2013-2014 | Vice-President | Mr Nicholas WONG |
2013-2014 | Vice-President | Ms CAO Lei |
2013-2014 | Public Relations Department | Ms LEE Shu Shien |
2013-2014 | Treasurer | Mr NAM Liang Cheng |
2013-2014 | Executive Secretary | Ms Jasmine KWEK |
2014-2015 | President | Mr Royce LEE |
2014-2015 | 1st Vice-President | Mr Austin ZENG |
2014-2015 | 2nd Vice-President | Mr Bryan KUEK |
2014-2015 | Public Relations Officer | Ms THAM Wan Xin |
2014-2015 | Treasurer | Ms Stephanie SIM |
2014-2015 | Executive Secretary | Ms Chermaine LEONG |
2015-2016 | President | Ms Avena TAN |
2015-2016 | Vice-President | Ms NIU Yihao |
2015-2016 | Treasurer | Mr Charles Nicholas LIM |
2015-2016 | Secretary | Ms Leanne YAP |
2015-2016 | Public Relations Officer | Mr LAN Yingjie |
2015-2016 | 2nd Vice-President (Former) | Ms Rachel QUAH |
2016-2017 | President | Ms Dionne NG |
2016-2017 | 1st Vice-President | Ms TENG Siao Shuen |
2016-2017 | 2nd Vice-President | Mr YEO Quan Yi |
2016-2017 | Public Relations Officer | Mr KOH You Liang |
2016-2017 | Treasurer | Ms Rachel TAN |
2016-2017 | Secretary | Ms NG Cheryl |
2017-2018 | President | Ms Sarah GOH |
2017-2018 | 1st Vice-President | Ms Vanessa HOW |
2017-2018 | 2nd Vice-President | Mr TEO Shu De |
2017-2018 | Public Relations Officer | Ms Natalie LIM |
2017-2018 | Treasurer | Ms SEO Kai Hsin |
2017-2018 | Secretary | Ms OH Yong Ting |
2018-2019 | President | Ms Sarah LIM |
2018-2019 | Executive Vice-President | Ms Bernice PUA |
2018-2019 | Internal Vice-President | Ms CHEONG Zhi Yin |
2018-2019 | Public Relations Officer | Mr Jorel CHAN |
2018-2019 | Treasurer | Ms Germaine LAU |
2018-2019 | Secretary | Ms Anthea WANG |
2018-2019 | 1st Vice-President (Former) | Mr HO Yao Nian |
2019-2020 | President | Mr TAN Aik Hui |
2019-2020 | Executive Vice President | Ms ZHU Xiuhua |
2019-2020 | Internal Vice President | Mr Ryan WONG Tian Hong |
2019-2020 | Public Relations Officer | Ms PNG Jacqueline
|
2019-2020 | Treasurer | Ms Zealyn HENG Shi Lin
|
2019-2020 | Secretary | Ms Kaoru YAP
|
2020-2022 | President | Mr Jeremy JEE De Sheng |
2020-2022 | Internal Vice-President | Ms CHAN Qiu Qing |
2020-2022 | External Vice-President | Mr Norman TAN |
2020-2022 | Treasurer | Ms TAN Yi Ning |
2020-2022 | Secretary | Ms TEOH Xin Yi |
2021-2022 | Internal Vice-President | Mr TSENG Kuo Chuan |
2021-2022 | External Vice-President | Ms Charisia ONG |
2021-2022 | External Vice-President | Mr WONG Wei Jun |
2021-2022 | Treasurer | Ms TENG Shi Ru |
2021-2022 | Secretary | Mr Bryan LIM Wei Leong |
2022-2023 | President | Mr WU Shao Chi |
2022-2023 | Internal Vice-President | Ms Keziah LAM |
2022-2023 | External Vice-President | Mr Bryan LIM Wei Leong |
2022-2023 | Treasurer | Mr Samuel ENG |
2022-2023 | Secretary | Ms Yasha LAI |
2023-2024 | President | Mr Leon TAN |
2023-2024 | Internal Vice-President | Ms Cheryl ONG |
2023-2024 | External Vice-President | Mr Steven LIU |
2023-2024 | Treasurer | Mr Caleb CHAN |
2023-2024 | Public Relations Officer | Ms Rebecca CHAN |
2023-2024 | Secretary | Ms Josephine PAU |
2024- | President | Ms Evelyne CHUA |
2024- | External Vice-President | Mr Jonathan James NG |
2024- | Internal Vice-President | Mr Qian Xing NG |
2024- | Treasurer | Ms Hui Xin CHEANG |
2024- | Public Relations Officer | Ms Yvette ORTEGA |
2024- | Secretary | Ms Vanessa LIN |
Contact Us
You can reach us at general.ssaj@ssaj.net. We strive to get back to you in 3 to 5 working days.
Social Media
You can reach us through a variety of different social media platforms. We have both external-facing and internal-facing platforms.
To get access to the internal-facing platforms, please do sign up with us! Note that only SSAJ members can get access to the internal-facing platforms.
You can follow our external-facing platforms below: