Events

BJFA Annual General Meeting (AGM)

The BJFA AGM was held on 31st March 2017, to vote in the BJFA Executive Committee members for 2017-2020. Six resolutions were approved, including 20 projects, which will further strengthen bilateral relations between Brunei and Japan, as well as inspire and engage the Bruneian and Japanese youth and young entrepreneurs by “daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see.”

Revision of BJFA 19-Year-Old Constitution

The new Constitution reinforces the solid foundation built over the last 33 years of bilateral relations between Brunei and Japan through informal people-to-people interaction and exchange. It also facilitates enhanced corporate governance necessary for a more transparent and professional management of BJFA, its partnerships, and associations.

BJFA Bank Authorized Signatories

As part of the Constitution upgrade, accountability and transparency underpinned the responsibility of authorized signatories and is in line with the requirement of ROS.

Welcome Ceremony for the New Japan Ambassador to Brunei

The Ambassador of Japan to Brunei, His Excellency Motohiko Kato, arrived in the country on 6th July 2017, and assumed his official role on 10th August 2017, after the presenting his credentials to His Majesty, The Sultan And Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam. A welcome dinner, hosted by BJFA, will be held on 16th September 2017, and His Excellency will be present during the launching of BJFA’s new and improved website.

BJFA President’s Visit to Japan

The President of BJFA plans to visit Japan in December 2017 to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between BJFA and JBFA in various cities across Japan. He also plans to pay respect to Hiroshima Peace Memorial, in memory of the late Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran Haji Yusof Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim, a founding father of BJFA.

Japan Emperor’s Birthday Celebration

This is an annual event that some members of BJFA and other Japan-linked associations look forward to attending. This is hosted by Embassy of Japan in Brunei and is normally held during the month of December with pomp and ceremony, including the sought-after original Japanese cuisine prepared by the various Japanese restaurants in the country, selected by Embassy of Japan.

Establishment of Judo Clubs in Brunei

This is an initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and supported by Embassy of Japan in Brunei, Japan Foundation, and BJFA, and facilitated by BJFA’s own Head of Sports. A PRO team has been established and the expectation is that the National Judo Federation will be incorporated before the end of 2017. BJFA will strive to make Judo lessons available in UBD and UTB in 2018.

Soccer Training

A successful visit was made by professional Japanese soccer players and coaches to Brunei, and a soccer clinic was held for under 18’s under the generosity of DPMM FC. BJFA will consider in 2018 to bring back the Japanese professionals for another round of coaching as soon as BJFA receives the required sponsorship from a Japanese company.

Japanese Language Speech Competition 2018 in collaboration with IBTE & BJFA

This is an annual event organized by the Embassy of Japan, opened to the public, and fully supported by BJFA through token financial assistance. Past winners of this annual event have benefitted from their participation as they move on in life to study and maybe work in Brunei and Japan in the future.

Japan Language & Culture Week

In collaboration with the Japanese Embassy and its venue partner, the BJFA supports this annual event with the active participation of its UBD and UTB Chapter members. It is increasingly gaining popularity as the public continues to have a taste of Japanese culture and cuisine.

Film Production Workshop

In collaboration with Origin Artistic Management, with the full support of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, to inculcate and develop the country’s creative industry, BJFA President, who is a member of the advisory committee of Japan Foundation, has secured the support of his Indonesian counterpart to organize and run film production workshops. This is a pioneering initiative that will capitalize on the creative energy and passion of Siti, Munji and Man Ching of Origin Artistic Management, and will be an annual event, starting in the first quarter of 2018, with future support from other friends of BJFA, including the film industry in Japan.

Wakayama Prefecture, Homestay Program

An annual homestay program coordinated between Brunei and Wakayama Prefecture. This program has been running since 2009.

Rikkyo University, Homestay Program

This is an annual one-week homestay program with students from the Tourism Department of Rikkyo Univesity. This program has been running since 2004.

BJFA-UBD Chapter events and activities

Please access the website of BJFA-UBD Chapter for more information.

BJFA-UTB Chapter events and activities

Please access the website of BJFA-UTB Chapter for more information.

Official Launching of UTB Chapter

BJFA-UTB Chapter was launched on 16th September 2017, as part and program of the launching of BJFA website. BJFA-UTB supersedes UTB’s JCC.

Quarterly Outreach – Japan Embassy, MOFAT & EIDPMO, JBFA & other Japan-linked associations in Brunei

Part of the 2017-2020 BJFA project plan is to establish a cooperative to create a vehicle for young people in universities and young entrepreneurs in business to be active members and owners. The quarterly outreach is necessary to strengthen further our relationship with existing friends of BJFA, in government as well as in business, to ensure sustainability.

Forestry Conservation & Outreach

This is a program, which is linked to the homestay as well as language program, will be spearheaded by BJFA to enrich the homestay, Wakayama, Rikkyo, and other future programs. It will raise the profile of Brunei Darussalam as a progressive and green tourism destination, through its forestry conservation and “cut one, plant three” policy, as well as secure its position in the regional “Heart of Borneo” initiative.

Establishment of BJFA Cooperative

BJFA is supported by its ordinary and corporate members, as well as its generous friends, who shared our common vision to develop the young Bruneians, and to create a sustainable and more diversified economy. In a small way, BJFA cooperative project wish to support the National Agenda, while making it more self-sufficient in the years to come.

Membership Rejuvenation

There are under 100 members of BJFA, including those from the UBD and UTB chapters, and homestay families. It is stagnant over the past years, and it is very important that the trend is reversed through a dedicated membership rejuvenation program, which would also include increasing the number of corporate members and sponsors. 

Special Membership Drive

With the launching of the BJFA website, this special membership drive will be better facilitated and more visible.

Japanese Art of Calligraphy and Japanese Traditional Tea Ceremony

Smart Shield International (B) Sdn Bhd with BJFA Support organized an Exhibition to highlight the Japanese Art of Calligraphy and Japanese Traditional Tea Ceremony. It will also mark the Golden Jubilee Celebration of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Accession to the Throne.

The exhibition was held for 3 days from 27-29 October 2017 at the Empire Hotel and Country Club in Jerudong.

The exhibition brought in the Master in Japanese Calligraphy (Artist), the Master in Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony (Demonstration) and a display of Japanese Pottery from a private collector who has agreed to showcase a few of his collections.

This exhibition was opened to the general public and is free of charge.

SSEAYP 2018 in Brunei (Port of Call)

The Ship for SouthEast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme is an annual youth exchange program organised by the Cabinet Office of Japan and the governments of Southeast Asian countries for the purpose of promoting friendship and mutual understanding among the youths of the ten Southeast Asian countries and Japan. Brunei Darussalam will be a Port-of-Call during the 45th SSEAYP in 2018.