Ambassador Monji’s Oficial Visit to the Province of British Columbia
September 7-11, 2015

 

Mr. Kenjiro Monj, Ambassador of Japan paid an official visit to the province of British Columbia from September 7-11, 2015 with his spouse Mrs. Etsuko Monji. British Columbia is 0.95 million square kilometers (2.5 times bigger than Japan) and, as of 2011 its population has grown to 4.63 million people. Situated in western Canada and bordered by the Pacific Ocean, the province has about 250 Japanese companies, many of which are based in the City of Vancouver - the largest city in the province. Opened in 1889, the Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver is the oldest Japanese mission in Canada. Consul-General Mr. Seiji Okada accompanied the Ambassador to several meetings and events during his visit.


While in the province, Ambassador Monji met with The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, in the City of Victoria - the provincial capital- on September 10, The Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia, on September 10, The Honourable Rich Coleman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing, on September 8, and The Honourable Teresa Wat, Minister for International Trade and Minister responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism, on September 8. During these meetings Ambassador Monji spoke of the good relationship that exists between Japan and British Columbia and expressed hope for progress in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects of British Columbia to begin exporting LNG to Japan as soon as possible. In addition he promised further promotion of cultural and educational exchanges as well as bilateral tourism. In return the provincial leaders expressed their intention to provide support and cooperation to these initiatives.


In the waiting room of Canada Place where the meetings took place, there is a map showing the geographic relationship between British Columbia and Asia. Its presence illustrates the importance the province places on the Asia-Pacific region.

  

 

Mr. Seiji Okada, Consul-General, Mrs. Okada,

The Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of

British Columbia, Ambassador Monji and Mrs. Monji.

 

 

Map showing the geographic relationship between British Columbia and Asia

 

 

 

 

Ambassador Monji with The Honourable Christy Clark,

Premier of British Columbia

 

Mr. Seiji Okada, Consul-General, The Honourable Christy Clark,

Premier of British Columbia, and Ambassador Monji 

 

 

Ambassador Monji with The Honourable Rich Coleman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing 

 

 

 

Mr. Seiji Okada, Consul-General, The Honourable Teresa Wat, Minister

for International Trade and Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific

Strategy and Multiculturalism, and Ambassador Monji

As part of his official visit, Ambassador Monji also visited the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Victoria on September 10. Built in 1897, the Legislative Assembly is a beautiful building with more than 100 years of history. While there Ambassador Monji was told of its history and facilities.

 

The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

 

 

Speaking with staff at the Legislative Assembly

 

On the evening of September 9, Ambassador Monji and Mrs. Monji, with Consul General Okada and Mrs. Okada, attended a shamisen concert by Mr. Hiroshi Yamaguchi in Victoria, organized by the Consulate General of Japan. (Details can be found at: http://www.vancouver.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000206.html)

 

(Left to right) Consul General Okada and Mrs. Okada,

Ambassador Monji and Mrs. Monji, with the musicians

 

 

Mr. Hiroshi Yamaguchi’s solo performance

 

 

Ambassador Monji had the opportunity to visit two of the approximately 250 Japanese companies operating in British Columbia: Artisan Sake Maker, a Japanese sake brewery, on September 8 and BANDAI NAMCO, a game development company, on September 9.


Artisan Sake Maker makes Japanese sake using rice that is grown in British Columbia. At the company, Ambassador Monji learned about how the sake was made and the liquor sales system in the province. At BANDAI NAMCO, which mainly develops mobile games for North America, Ambassador Monji was briefed on the gaming industry’s current status and the company’s game development strategies in North America. Ambassador Monji also visited the Centre for Digital Media (CDM), which is jointly operated by four area universities: the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia Institute of Technology, and the Emily Carr University of Art & Design.

 

 

Mr. Shiraki, Founder and CEO of Artisan Sake Maker,

gives a tour of the brewery

 

 

In front of the brewer’s rice, grown by Mr. Shiraki himself

 

 

 

Listening to Mr. Nakayama, Senior Vice President, BANDAI NAMCO 

 

 

Ambassador Monji with the staff of BANDAI NAMCO and the Centre for Digital Media

On September 10, Ambassador Monji visited the University of British Columbia to tour the Institute of Asian Research, Nitobe Memorial Garden, and the Museum of Anthropology.


During the tour of the Institute of Asian Research, Ambassador Monji learned about research being conducted on ancient Japanese documents and maps at the Institute’s Asian Library, and viewed many Asian books and documents in the Library’s possession. The Nitobe Memorial Garden is a beautiful Japanese garden featuring a combination of Japanese and North American trees and shrubs. It was constructed in commemoration of Dr. Inazo Nitobe, who had connections to British Columbia. At the Museum of Anthropology, Ambassador Monji viewed displays related to First Nations in the province, as well as others from all over the world including Asia.

 

 

Learning about ancient Japanese maps from staff

at the Institute of Asian Research

 

 

Nitobe Memorial Garden

 

 

 

Speaking with staff at the Museum of Anthropology

 

 

With professors of the University of British Columbia

On September 9, Ambassador Monji attended a lecture-luncheon hosted by six Japanese economic organizations: the Japanese Business Association of Vancouver (Konwakai), Canada-Japan Society of British Columbia, Vancouver Japan Business Association (Kiyukai), Japan Women’s Business Association, Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce, and the Kenyukai, to deliver a speech regarding future prospects for Canada-Japan relations. It was a very successful event with 144 people in attendance, including representatives from Japanese companies in Vancouver, each listening attentively and asking questions afterwards. (The speech can be found here; English, Japanese summery）.

 

 

     Ambassador Monji at the lecture-luncheon

 

Audience at the lecture-luncheon

 

Through this official visit Ambassador Monji reaffirmed Canada’s as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region. British Columbia is playing an important role in economic relations and cultural exchanges between Canada and Japan.


Ambassador Monji is expected to make official visits to other provinces in the future.