About Us

The Singapore Students’ Association in Japan (SSAJ), or 在日シンガポール留学生協会, has been active since 2008 and aims to look after the welfare of Singaporeans pursuing their studies in Japan and act as a home away from home.

Operated by students, for students, SSAJ holds events monthly.

We are also supported by a multitude of organisations, including but not limited to: The Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Tokyo, Japan Student Services Organisation, Singapore Global Network, and the Japanese University Graduate Association of Singapore.

Membership

Any Singapore citizen or permanent resident enrolled in an officially recognised educational institution in Japan, including but not limited to:

  • University

  • Junior College

  • Professional Training Institute

  • Language School

are eligible to be members of SSAJ! This includes both full-time and exchange program students.

~170 members spread out across 13 different prefectures, with over 600+ alumni members!

Our Constitution

We abide by the Constitution of Singapore Students’ Association (Japan), found below. Any amendments to the constitution must be passed by a simple majority at the Annual General Meeting.

Goals of the Exco

  • 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!

  • 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! 

  • 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! Link here

  • 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.

  • 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 2024-2025 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Hui Xin Cheang

    Treasurer

    Hello! I’m Hui Xin, a second 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!

  • Yvette Ortega

    Public Relations Officer

    Hello! I am Yvette Ortega! Currently a 4th year 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!

  • 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

2008-2010 President Ms XU Yinghui
Vice-President Mr Gerald CHOO Chong Yu
Treasurer Mr POH Shin
2010-2011 President Mr NG Ying Jian
Vice-President Mr KU Ka Tsai
Public Relations Officer Ms Rebecca LEE
Treasurer Mr Jonathan QUEK
Executive Secretary Ms Christal HAN
2011-2012 President Mr NG Ying Jian
1st Vice-President Mr POH Shin
2nd Vice-President Ms Michelle HO
Public Relations Officer Mr LEE Chee How
Treasurer Mr Jonathan QUEK
Executive Secretary Ms OH Xuemin
2012-2013 President Mr LEE Chee How
1st Vice-President Mr Kevin KOH
2nd Vice-President Ms TAN Heng Jie
Public Relations Officer Ms Emily LEK
Treasurer Mr YEO Kee Sheng
Executive Secretary Mr Glen WIRAWAN PODIONO 
2013-2014 President Mr Matthew GE
1st Vice-President Mr Nicholas WONG
2nd Vice-President Ms CAO Lei
Public Relations Officer Ms LEE Shu Shien
Treasurer Mr NAM Liang Cheng
Executive Secretary Ms Jasmine KWEK
2014-2015 President Mr Royce LEE
1st Vice President Mr Austin ZENG
2nd Vice President Mr Bryan KUEK
Public Relations Officer Ms THAM Wan Xin
Treasurer Ms Stephanie SIM
Executive Secretary Ms Chermaine LEONG
2015-2016

President Ms Avena TAN
1st Vice President Ms NIU Yihao
2nd Vice President (Former) Ms Rachel QUAH
Public Relations Officer Mr LAN Yingjie
Treasurer Mr Charles Nicholas LIM   
Secretary Ms Leanne YAP
2016-2017

President Ms Dionne NG
1st Vice President Ms TENG Siao Shuen
2nd Vice President Mr YEO Quan Yi
Public Relations Officer Mr KOH You Liang
Treasurer Ms Rachel TAN
Secretary Ms NG Cheryl
2017-2018

President Ms Sarah GOH
1st Vice President Ms Vanessa HOW
2nd Vice President Mr TEO Shu De
Public Relations Officer Ms Natalie LIM
Treasurer Ms SEO Kai Hsin
Secretary Ms OH Yong Ting
2018-2019 President Ms Sarah LIM
Executive Vice-President Ms Bernice PUA
2018-2019 Internal Vice-President Ms CHEONG Zhi Yin
Public Relations Officer Mr Jorel CHAN
Treasurer Ms Germaine LAU
Secretary Ms Anthea WANG
1st Vice-President (Former) Mr HO Yao Nian
2019-2020 President Mr TAN Aik Hui
Executive Vice-President Ms ZHU Xiuhua
Internal Vice-President Mr Ryan WONG Tian Hong
Public Relations Officer Ms PNG Jacqueline
Treasurer Ms Zealyn HENG Shi Lin
Secretary Ms Kaoru YAP
2020-2022
President Mr Jeremy JEE De Sheng
External Vice-President Mr Norman TAN
Internal Vice-President Ms CHAN Qiu Qing
Treasurer Ms TAN Yi Ning
Secretary Ms TEOH Xin Yi
2021-2022 Internal Vice-President Mr TSENG Kuo Chuan
External Vice-President Mr WONG Wei Jun
External Vice-President Ms Charisia ONG
Treasurer Ms TENG Shi Ru
Secretary Mr Bryan LIM Wei Leong
2022-2023 President Mr WU Shao Chi
External Vice-President Ms Keziah LAM
Internal Vice-President Mr Bryan LIM Wei Leong
Treasurer Mr Samuel ENG
Secretary Ms Yasha LAI
2023-2024 President Mr Leon TAN
External Vice-President Mr Steven LIU
Internal Vice-President Ms Cheryl ONG
Treasurer Mr Caleb CHAN
Public Relations Officer Ms Rebecca CHAN
Secretary Ms Josephine PAU
2024-2025 President Ms Evelyne CHUA
External Vice-President Mr Jonathan James NG            
Internal Vice-President Mr Qian Xing NG
Treasurer Ms Hui Xin CHEANG
Public Relations Officer Ms Yvette ORTEGA
Secretary Ms Vanessa LIN