Greetings from Ambassador Kaoru Ishikawa (April 2012)

Ambassador of Japan to Canada

 

 

 

Spring made an early appearance in Ottawa, with balmy March weather bringing warm weather clothing prematurely out of our closets. Late April snowfall, however, served as a reminder of the fickle nature of Mother Nature in this beautiful country. Unpredictable weather notwithstanding, I hope this message finds you well.

 

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, paid a visit to Japan at the end of March.  During his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, the two leaders concurred to launch bilateral negotiations toward a Japan-Canada Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), to accelerate efforts to facilitate cooperation between the private sectors in the fields of energy and mineral resources, and to further negotiations towards a Japan-Canada Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). These agreements will reinforce the already strong bilateral relationship that exists between our two countries. 

 

In addition, a Memorandum for Promotion of Space Cooperation was signed by Mr. Hirofumi Hirano, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Mr. Motohisa Furukawa, National Strategy Minister, and the Hon. Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

 

Along with Minister Fast, Prime Minister Harper was accompanied on the visit to Japan by the Hon. John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Beverly J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, and the Hon. Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

 

Prime Minister Harper and his delegation visited the area struck by last year’s Great East Japan Earthquake.  His Worship Mayor Sasaki of Natori City and Principal Takahashi of the Yuriage Junior High School took the Canadian delegation on a tour of the stricken area. Prime Minister Harper and his people expressed sympathy for the victims of the disaster and were clearly moved by the determined recovery efforts being made by the survivors.

 

One of the pillars of the Japan/Canada relationship is strong and vibrant youth exchange programs. Two new programs, Canada’s “Hope for Youth Project” and Japan’s “Youth Exchange Project (Kizuna (Bonds) Project)”, have been launched. These programs focus support on students from the disaster affected region.

 

Since the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) was initiated in 1987, more than 7,800 Canadian youths have traveled to Japan and played a vital role in the promotion of English language education. They have also been wonderful international ambassadors. I was very gratified to discover that despite concerns over the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake, there was a 30% increase in the number of applicants to theJET programme from Canada in 2011.

 

Japan/Canada cultural exchanges are widespread throughout Canada.  The latest, “The Samurai: Masterpieces from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection”, opened on April 3rd at Musée de la civilisation in Quebec City. This grand exhibition, which runs until January 27th, 2013, showcases armor of great feudal lords of clans such as the Matsudaira and the Mouri. An estimated 147,000 people visited the exhibition during its two and a half month run at the Musée du quai Branly in Paris. I have no doubt that this wonderful display will inspire greater interest in Japanese culture across Canada. 

 

It was reported that Canadian lumber would be used in many reconstruction projects in the disaster stricken areas of northeastern Japan. Furthermore, there is a plan for a Canadian solar panel manufacturer to construct a new plant in Japan. I would also like to draw attention to the fact that the Canadian government has opened a new office in the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry to strengthen the commercial relationship between our countries.

It is my hope that the strong foundation supporting the Japan/Canada bilateral relationship will contribute to resurgence in the number of Canadian tourists to Japan and will continue to promote mutual investment between our two countries.

 

I wish you all good health.

 

April 2012

 

Kaoru Ishikawa
Ambassador of Japan to Canada