Farewell reception for Ambassador Kawamura and Mrs. Kawamura
2022/4/28
Approximately 150 guests from a variety of fields attended the reception, including Canadian parliamentarians and federal government officials. Notable guests included The Honourable Jim Munson, former Senator and former Co-Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, and LGen (ret’d) the Honourable Andrew Leslie, former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as heads of diplomatic missions and representatives from businesses, academia, and cultural groups.
At the reception, Ambassador Kawamura delivered a farewell speech expressing his gratitude for the support and cooperation he received during his two and a half years of tenure amidst the extremely difficult situation posed by COVID-19, as well as his hope and confidence for the further development of bilateral relations between Japan and Canada, especially in the context of the Indo-Pacific region. Meanwhile, Mrs. Kawamura extended her heartfelt gratitude for the warm friendship and hospitality of the people of Canada.
In their farewell speeches, General Leslie and Mr. Munson expressed their respect for Ambassador Kawamura and Mrs. Kawamura for their contributions to the development of Canada-Japan relations and wished them all the best in their new endeavours.
At the reception, Mr. Kamiya Kenji, the Ambassador's chef, served dishes prepared with Japanese products while taking necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Guests were also able to enjoy five kinds of Japanese sake.
In addition, to celebrate spring, ikebana arrangements featuring cherry branches were displayed at the venue, while a monitor screen showed a video of cherry blossoms and traditional culture in the Tohoku region of Japan.
