As we enter this special season, we bid farewell to those departing and extend a warm welcome to our new colleagues. It’s also the perfect time to celebrate the conclusion of the financial year, recognising the hard work and dedication that has brought us here. Some offices also expressed their appreciation to their staff by hosting an annual dinner and new year party.

SCAO – FYN Company Event

On the momentous occasion of 26 March 2025, we joyously hosted our annual fiscal year end (FYN) company event within the splendid confines of our office to celebrate the closing of the fiscal year. This celebration was a heartfelt expression of SCAO’s appreciation for the tremendous efforts and tremendous contributions of our colleagues over the past year.

Participants were treated to a delectable peranakan-style high-tea buffet and engaged in a delightfully interactive games. We also seized this precious moment to bid a fond farewell to several colleagues embarking on new assignments, including our esteemed Group Deputy CEO, Mr Hiroshi Karashima. Simultaneously, we warmly welcomed new colleagues joining the SCAO Singapore.

For the farewell of Mr Karashima, we have created a special video to honour his extensive service in the Asia & Oceania region. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to SCVN and SSRI for providing the invaluable old photos of Mr Karashima from his time stationed at these offices, which were essential for the video compilation. Let’s take a moment to watch and celebrate his remarkable journey.

SCMY – It’s game time… the all new experience Squid Games dinner night!

Contributed by Ms Susan Lai, SCMY Corporate Coordination Dept

The much-anticipated annual dinner took place on 7 February 2025, bringing together colleagues near and afar for an evening of celebration and unforgettable memories. Themed Squid Games, the event was a perfect blend of relaxation and fun, leaving attendees with smiles especially those lucky draw winners, exhaustion from the games and stories to share.

The evening started off with the arrival of attending members who were given refreshing drinks and had the opportunity to mingle and catch up with each other. A warm welcome from the event organiser and an opening speech from our Managing Director, Mr Satoshi Matsui, followed thereafter.

The dinner spread featured a variety of delectable dishes, catering to diverse tastes and preferences. Since it was held within the 15 days of Chinese New Year celebration, we had “Lou Hei”, the tossing and mixing a dish of raw fish and colourful ingredients to have an abundance of wealth and long life.

The evening was also packed with games and entertainment that kept everyone engaged and entertained. The karaoke and dance performances showcased our talented staff singing and dancing to the many songs played including Rose and Bruno Mars’ Apt. song. The one performance that surprised everyone was CEO of SCAO Singapore Operation, Mr Kwek Jin Saye’s rendition of Hotel California. There was immediate silence and he had everyone glued to their seats enjoying his crooning. (Mr Kwek happened to be here for a business meeting with SC Tokyo Aluminium SBU Head and management of Press Metal)

The event was a success, thanks to the planning and effort put in by the organising committee, SCMY’s DE&I taskforce. As the evening came to a close, attendees left with fond memories and a sense of anticipation for next year’s celebration.

SCAO Dhaka Office Bengali New Year Celebration ‘1432’

Contributed by Ms Farhana Yasmin, SCAO Dhaka Corporate Affairs Dept

Bengali new year (Bangla Nobo Borsho) is a traditional festival celebrated annually on 14 April of the English calendar in Bangladesh. Pohela Boishak marks the beginning of the Bengali calendar year. ‘Pohela’ means first, and ‘Boishak’ is the first month of the lunisolar Bengali calendar. On this day, Bengali community celebrates the beginning of the year 1432.

SCAO Dhaka office celebrated Bengali New Year on 15 April 2025,  the day after Pohela Boishak, in a full traditional vibe dedicated to Bengali culture for the first time. We decorated our office with fresh flowers, balloons, and traditional decorative items such as local handicrafts, symbols of Bengali rituals, creating a festive atmosphere.

Despite having office work and business meetings as usual, all colleagues were in a joyful and festival mood, wearing colourful, gorgeous costumes and having their hands painted by henna artist. A buffet breakfast was served with traditional delicious cake (pitha) made of coconut, milk, rice, egg with sweet and spicy taste which represented our core Bengali value.

We enjoyed the festive office environment, capturing the happy moments with selfies, team and group photos. We even did some modelling!  During lunch, we savoured Mutton Kichuri, a traditional dish, along with authentic sweet treats shared among visitors and local staff.

The ‘Pohela Boishak 1432’ was a memorable celebration that relieved us from a stressful life.