Conferment of the Ambassador’s Award upon Ms. June Takahashi
2024/4/30
On April 30, 2024, Ambassador YAMANOUCHI Kanji conferred the Ambassador’s Award upon Ms. June Takahashi, one of the founders and representatives of Takahashi Dojo in Ottawa, for her contributions to the development of Japan-Canada relations through judo and for her long-standing efforts in helping Japanese Canadians.
Ms. June Takahashi is the first female judoka in Canada to earn a black belt and holds the highest rank in the country, 7th dan. She was also active in the process of achieving and implementing the Redress Agreement for Japanese Canadians in 1988. The Redress movement was a movement seeking apology and compensation for the Canadian government's unfair treatment of Japanese Canadians during World War II. As one of the key members of the Japanese Canadian Redress Secretariat, she worked tirelessly for decades to improve the status of Japanese Canadians across the country through the Ottawa chapter of the National Association of Japanese Canadians. In 1969, she founded Takahashi Dojo alongside her late husband Masao Takahashi, an 8th Dan judoka and a second-generation Japanese Canadian. Takahashi Dojo has made remarkable achievements in the spread of Japanese culture through martial arts and has played a remarkable role in the development of judo in Canada, producing many Olympic and Paralympic judo athletes. Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his sons, including current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s son all trained at Takahashi Dojo. Through her judo instruction, she greatly contributed to the friendship between Japan and Canada. Takahashi Dojo is also a hub for the Japanese community in Ottawa, offering a place for the Ottawa Go Club and calligraphy and ink painting classes.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Yamanouchi delivered a congratulatory address, praising Ms. Takahashi's achievements and presented her with a certificate of commendation. In response, Ms. Takahashi delivered her acceptance speech and expressed her gratitude to her family, friends, the members from the dojo, and the members of the local Japanese Canadian community who attended the ceremony. This was followed by congratulatory speech from Ms. Anne Scotton, who served as Executive Director of the Japanese Canadian Redress Secretariat for the Government of Canada from 1988 to 1990. She spoke about Ms. Takahashi’s contributions to the Japanese Canadian community. Ms. June Takahashi’s granddaughter Ms. Mariko Takahashi also gave a congratulatory speech. After that a toast was made by the former President of the Ottawa Japanese Community Association (OJCA), Ms. Sachiko Okuda. The ceremony concluded with remarks by Ms. Takahashi’s son, Mr. Allyn Takahashi.
Ms. June Takahashi is the first female judoka in Canada to earn a black belt and holds the highest rank in the country, 7th dan. She was also active in the process of achieving and implementing the Redress Agreement for Japanese Canadians in 1988. The Redress movement was a movement seeking apology and compensation for the Canadian government's unfair treatment of Japanese Canadians during World War II. As one of the key members of the Japanese Canadian Redress Secretariat, she worked tirelessly for decades to improve the status of Japanese Canadians across the country through the Ottawa chapter of the National Association of Japanese Canadians. In 1969, she founded Takahashi Dojo alongside her late husband Masao Takahashi, an 8th Dan judoka and a second-generation Japanese Canadian. Takahashi Dojo has made remarkable achievements in the spread of Japanese culture through martial arts and has played a remarkable role in the development of judo in Canada, producing many Olympic and Paralympic judo athletes. Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and his sons, including current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well as former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s son all trained at Takahashi Dojo. Through her judo instruction, she greatly contributed to the friendship between Japan and Canada. Takahashi Dojo is also a hub for the Japanese community in Ottawa, offering a place for the Ottawa Go Club and calligraphy and ink painting classes.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Yamanouchi delivered a congratulatory address, praising Ms. Takahashi's achievements and presented her with a certificate of commendation. In response, Ms. Takahashi delivered her acceptance speech and expressed her gratitude to her family, friends, the members from the dojo, and the members of the local Japanese Canadian community who attended the ceremony. This was followed by congratulatory speech from Ms. Anne Scotton, who served as Executive Director of the Japanese Canadian Redress Secretariat for the Government of Canada from 1988 to 1990. She spoke about Ms. Takahashi’s contributions to the Japanese Canadian community. Ms. June Takahashi’s granddaughter Ms. Mariko Takahashi also gave a congratulatory speech. After that a toast was made by the former President of the Ottawa Japanese Community Association (OJCA), Ms. Sachiko Okuda. The ceremony concluded with remarks by Ms. Takahashi’s son, Mr. Allyn Takahashi.
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| Congratulatory address by Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Ms. June Takahashi and Ambassador Yamanouchi holding the award certificate |
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| Acceptance speech by Ms. June Takahashi |
Congratulatory address by Ms. Anne Scotton |
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| Congratulatory address by Ms. Mariko Takahashi |
Ms. Sachiko Okuda, former President of the Ottawa Japanese Community Association (OJCA), leads a toast |
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| Ambassador Yamanouchi, Ms. June Takahashi, and guests |
Remarks by Mr. Allyn Takahashi |
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| Group photo with the Takahashis |