Embassy of Japan in Canada

Ambassador Monji’s Offical Visit to the Province of Ontario
May 27 – 31, 2015

Mr. Kenjiro Monji, Ambassador of Japan, and his spouse, Mrs. Etsuko Monji, paid an official visit to the province of Ontario from May 27 – 31, 2015. It was the first official visit for Ambassador Monji, who arrived in Canada on April 15, 2015. Mr. Yasunori Nakayama, Consul-General of Japan at Toronto, also accompanied the Ambassador to several meetings and events during his visit.

Ambassador Monji met with The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, The Honourable Kathleen Wynn, Premier of Ontario, and The Honourable Dave Levac, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, at the Ontario Legislative Building in the Queen’s Park. Topics discussed during the meetings include Japanese businesses operating in Ontario as well as the activities of the Japanese-Canadian community in Toronto. In addition, they exchanged views on the importance of further strengthening the political, economic and cultural relationships between Japan and Ontario.

Legislative Assembly of Ontario “Queen’s Park”

Ambassador and Mrs. Monji and The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario

With The Honourable Kathleen Wynn, Premier of Ontario

Mr. Yasunori Nakayama, Consul-General (left), The Honourable Dave Levac, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and Ambassador Monji

The province of Ontario is 1.08 million square kilometers in area making it 2.8 times bigger than Japan. As of 2011, the population has grown to 12.85 million people, about a third of which are immigrants from other countries. The population of Toronto, now the 3rd largest city in North America, exceeds 2.79 million, while the greater Toronto area has a population of more than six million people. There are around 18,000 Japanese-Canadians and 17,000 Japanese living in Ontario. Though smaller than other communities, the Japanese-Canadian community in Toronto is very active. The Lieutenant Governor, the Premier and the Speaker expressed their appreciation for the important role the Japanese-Canadian community plays in Ontario.

Ontario’s GDP is 674.5 billion CAD (nominal. 2012), accounting for about 40 percent of Canada’s GDP. There are about 250 Japanese companies doing business in Ontario, contributing to Ontario’s economic development and employment.

During his visit, Ambassador Monji had the opportunity to visit Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada and Sleeman Breweries where he exchanged views with managers.

Toyota has two factories in Ontario: one in Cambridge (which Ambassador had the privilege to visit) and the other in Woodstock. These two facilities employ approximately 8000 people and manufactured close to 580,000 vehicles in 2014. Ambassador Monji enjoyed a tour of the vehicle assembly lines as well as a briefing from managers of Toyota about the factories.

Founded in 1834, Sleeman Breweries is the third largest beer company in Canada, and became a subsidiary company of Sapporo Beer (Japan) in 2006. Ambassador Monji’s visit to the brewery in Guelph included observing beer production lines in action and a presentation by Sleeman’s managers about the company.

With managers of Toyota

With managers of Sleeman Breweries

On May 28, Ambassador greeted the participants of Kampai Toronto, the largest Japanese sake event in Canada. Ambassador Monji, who was appointed as a “Sake samurai” by the Japan Sake Brewers Association’s Junior Council, attended the event to further promote Japanese Sake in Ontario and Canada. Kampai Toronto was a great success with close to 900 people attending and many Japanese sake breweries participating. The popularity of Japanese Sake is rising in Canada.

Ambassador Monji giving a speech

at Kampai Toronto

With the organizers of Kampai Toronto

Lots of people enjoying the taste of Japanese sake © Ray Yabuta

Ambassador Monji met Dr. Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto and Dr. Stephen Toope, Director of the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs respectively. During these meetings, they discussed how to reinforce relationships between the University of Toronto and research institutions in Japan and exchanged views on Japan-Canada relations and the political and economic situation in Asia. Ambassador Monji also visited the Globe and Mail Headquarters, meeting with Mr. Phillip Crawley, Publisher and CEO, and Mr. David Walmsley, Editor-in-Chief to exchange views on the political and economic situation in Canada and Japan-Canada relations. In addition, Ambassador Monji visited the Royal Ontario Museum, where he viewed the collection in the Prince Takamado Gallery of Japan and the famous dinosaur fossils.

With Dr. Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto

Dr. Stephen Toope, Director of the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs

With Mr. David Walmsley, Editor-in-Chief (left) and Mr. Phillip Crawley, Publisher and CEO (right)

Royal Ontario Museum

Ambassador Monji attended the 7th Sakura Gala organized by the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC). At this event, the JCCC presents the “Sakura Award” to individuals who render services to the promotion of Japanese culture in Canada and abroad. This year’s Sakura Award laureates are: Japanese author, Mr. Haruki Murakami; and Japanese-Canadian author, Ms. Joy Kogawa, whose novel “Obasan”, describes the hardships of Japanese-Canadians in Canada. Mr. Murakami, who could not attend the ceremony, sent a video message to the guests while Ms. Kogawa gave a speech full of emotion for being awarded. The 350 participants also applauded the live performance by Japanese musician Mr. Tatsuya Ishii of “Kome Kome Club”.

Ambassador and Mrs. Monji looked at the exhibition of the JCCC about the history of Japanese-Canadians

Ambassador’s speech at the Sakura Gala

Mr. Gary Kawagushi, President of the JCCC (left) and Ms. Joy Kogawa

With Mr. Tatsuya Ishii and his spouse

The Sakura Gala

Ambassador’s official visit to Ontario was quite successful as he had the occasion to meet provincial government officials and to discuss how to strengthen relations between Japan and the province of Ontario. The visit also enabled Ambassador to observe activities of Japanese companies in Ontario and to meet Japanese business people and talk about business environment in Canada. With these achievements in mind, Ambassador Monji is planning to pay official visits to other provinces.