A Welcome Ceremony for the South African team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games was hosted by the SA Embassy’s Official Residence, on July 22. The theme was: "Bringing Back Ubuntu: Sport has the power to change the world—Nelson Mandela."

South African Ambassador to Japan Lulama Smuts Ngonyama (centre) is flanked by members of the South African Chamber of Commerce in Japan's Board of Directors. From left: vice-chair Simon Farrell, Harrison “Chain” Hlabane, Lungile Christopher Siphambili, and ex officio Rakgwale R. Kubjane, who is also First Secretary, Political at the Embassy.

Guests enjoyed a traditional SA braai prepared by Embassy chefs after the Welcome Ceremony.

SA expats were beamed live on national TV by NHK as they watched Japan beat South Africa 1-0 in the Olympic Games football tournament on July 22.

Former South African Ambassador to Japan Dr. Ben Ngubane died in Richard’s Bay on July 12, after being admitted to hospital with Covid-19.

Baldwin Sipho "Ben" Ngubane served as SA Ambassador to Japan from 2004 to 2008. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of the South African Chamber of Commerce in Japan (SACCJ) in 2008.

SACCJ Chairperson Jaco Minnaar said: “The SACCJ is deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Dr. Ben Ngubane. Our Chamber was established due to his vision, and have held a close relationship with him over the years. He will be sorely missed. We would like to convey our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

Dr Ngubane received the Grand Cordon of the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun in 2010 for his contributions "to the enhancement of the relationship and the cooperation in science and technology between Japan and South Africa". He was later awarded an honorary degree by the International Christian University in Tokyo for “distinguishing himself in humanitarian and development professionalism”.

Born on 22 October, 1941 at Camperdown in Umgungundlovu, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Dr Ngubane took over as health MEC in the KwaZulu-Natal government in 1991 and became Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology in 1994 and again in 1999. He also served as KwaZulu-Natal Premier and Chairperson of SABC, Eskom and Land Bank. He was married to Sheila and leaves four children.

Happy Nelson Mandela International Day to all!

Please follow the links below to access the full video as well as the article in the Seikyo Newspaper.

https://fb.watch/v/6hokjvOmU/

https://www.seikyoonline.com/.../5E9190EFEDE53A9CAAF2D182...

https://twitter.com/sgi_info/status/1416336881726332929

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRbJ4h-BnQ3/

Dear SACCJ Members,

We would like to inform you that Bradley Phillip Brouwer,  the Head of Global Trade at South African Tourism and a valued member of the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) team, passed away on 8 July 2021.

You are invited to the virtual memorial service in loving memory of Bradley Phillip Brouwer (20 August 1965 – 08 July 2021)

Please join us as we remember and celebrate his life.

■Date:  Thursday, 15 July 2021

■Time: 18:00 – 20:00 JP Time / 11:00 - 13:00 SA Time

■Zoom: https://fal.cn/3gILV       Passcode: 414944

If you had any difficulties connecting to it, please try the link below.

Zoom: https://southafrica.zoom.us/j/97804838677?pwd=S05Ydk1JdStEUVE2RGs5RmFxeGxKUT09

Passcode: 414944

                            

The SACCJ would like to convey their deep gratitude to Debbie Chaplin and her time served as the SACCJ Secretary General. During her time in this position, Ms. Chaplin served the SACCJ and its members with distinction. The SACCJ wishes her luck in her future endeavors in South Africa and will always welcome her as a member.

The SACCJ would also like to extend their welcome to the new Secretary General, Jeniffer Chaplin. Mrs. Chaplin is a Brazilian-American English teacher in Saitama married to a South African. Having spent most of her adult life in various countries including the U.S., China, France, South Africa, and Japan, Jeniffer can be labelled as a global citizen with extensive exposure in a variety of cultures and languages. Jeniffer graduated from Gordon College in Massachusetts with a Bachelor degree in French and Mandarin Chinese, and received her Masters degree in Business Administration from Doshisha Business School in Kyoto in 2019.

Mrs. Chaplin is eager to assist the SACCJ in building a strong and long-lasting Japanese-African connection. 

AFRI CONVERSE 2021#4 COVID-19: A Wake-up Call For Africa’s Ingenuity, Productivity, and Capacity

The COVID-19 pandemic is a defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge the world has faced since the World War II. Countries have raced to slow the spread of the disease by testing and treating patients, carrying out contact tracing, limiting travel, quarantining citizens, and cancelling large gatherings. A year on, as of the beginning of 2021, the virus had infected over 2.5 million people in Africa and claimed over 60,000 lives.

The session will examine the impact of COVID-19 in Africa, its coping mechanism, collaborative response applied and homegrown solutions which have been emerged and enhanced through the waves of the pandemic.

Date: 25^th June 2021 18:30-20:00 (JPN)/ 12:30-14:00 (Ethiopia)

18:30～18:35　Introduction

18:35～19:05　Primary presentation by each speaker

19:05～19:30　Interaction with a moderator

19:30～20:00　Q&A

- Venue: Online（Zoom）

- Participation: Free

- Language: English (no interpretation provided)

- Presented by JICA and UNDP

 
Registration: Required from the website below. 
https://undp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FhS2b3BQSXuZJaQIybfbPw

On the 10th of June Team South Africa unveiled the kit the team will wearing at the Tokyo Games.

The broadcast of this event can be viewed HERE.

Africa Dialogue Series 2021
Online Event on “Boosting Africa’s Transformative Power of Tourism”
Harnessing Technology & Innovation, Youth & Women Entrepreneurship
Follow-up Event to the Africa Dialogue Series 2021, building towards TICAD 8 in Tunis, 2022

As a follow-up to Africa Dialogue Series 2021, this event will feed into the global discussions on the preparation of TICAD8, aiming at scaling up the international community’s collective support to Africa’s recovery and building back better.  Further information on the background of this event can be read HERE.

Event details are as follows:

Date: Monday, 21 June 2021

Time: 10:00pm - 00:00am JST (9:00am - 11:00am EDT)

Venue: Virtual Zoom Meeting

Registration: https://undp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BAcpAb_3Qw-8T_8FeaHbMw

The co-organizers of this event include, the Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN, Permanent Mission of Tunisia to the UN, UN-OSAA, AU, UNDP, WB.

The SACCJ's second online General Assembly (GA), held on May 12th, was featured in the Times Gallery May Edition, managed by Sustainable Japan. 

Take a look at the attendees over HERE.

*Photo: https://www.fnn.jp/articles/gallery/190668?image=2

According to experts, the Southern Ground Hornbill is a rare species that has been designated endangered.  It is known to mainly inhabit South Africa, but in August last year, it was spotted in a residential area in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture.

More on the fascinating sighting of this carnivorous bird can be read HERE.