Student Blog: My Trip to Singapore: A Journey with a Theme

This month, I went on a 4-day solo trip to Singapore.

It was my third visit to Singapore—my first as a child and the second in middle school, both just casual sightseeing. Now, as a solo traveler, I like to set a theme for each trip to make it more meaningful.

For this trip, the theme was Jon M. Chu. I wanted to explore the world depicted in one of my favorite films, Crazy Rich Asians, which introduced me to his work.

（By the way, did you know this movie is set to become a musical? ）

While I was there, I also took the chance to watch WICKED, the musical film adaptation that somehow hasn’t been released in Japan yet (scheduled for March 2024). It was a wonderful bonus to my Singapore adventure!

The Beauty of Cultural Fusion in Singapore

As someone who loves world history, I’ve always been fascinated by the unique cultures that emerge from the blending of different traditions. In Southeast Asia, most countries, except for Thailand, were colonized by European powers. This history has left its mark on the architecture and culinary traditions of the region.

Singapore, in particular, has a rich history of cultural fusion. Its heritage reflects the influences of the Malay Kingdom, British colonial rule, the success of Chinese immigrants, and Indian migration. For this trip, I focused on exploring the history of the Chinese immigrant community—the same cultural backdrop highlighted in Crazy Rich Asians.

Discovering Peranakan Culture

To better understand Peranakan culture, I visited the Peranakan Mansion by Straits Enclave in the Katong district. This private museum offered a guided tour that provided fascinating insights into the roots, values, and wedding traditions of the Peranakan Chinese community.

Some aspects were surprising by modern standards, but as someone who was born and raised in Japan, I found it fascinating to compare how Chinese customs have been adapted in both Japan and Singapore. It was an incredibly enriching experience. If you ever visit Singapore, I highly recommend adding this spot to your itinerary.

An Unexpected Second Theme: LGBT Rights

During this trip, I stumbled upon a second, unexpected theme: LGBT rights in Singapore. My recent research paper on musicals and LGBT rights had sparked my interest, so I decided to join a local tour to learn more about the situation in Singapore.

The tour was incredibly informative, covering the historical shifts from the Malay Kingdom era to British colonial rule and the evolving legal and social status of the LGBT community. I also learned about the role of entertainment in activism and the decade-long fight for equal rights. The discussions with fellow participants gave me valuable insights into how different countries approach these issues.

As someone who works as a theater tour guide in Tokyo, this experience gave me plenty of fresh ideas and perspectives.

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