Conferment of the Ambassador’s Award upon Ms. Keiko Nagasawa
2025/6/23
On June 23, 2025, Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi conferred the Ambassador’s Award upon Ms. Keiko Nagasawa for her contributions to mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Canada.
Since Ms. Nagasawa moved to Ottawa, she has been providing support to new immigrants from Japan as well as local Japanese Canadians in Ottawa. She has also been involved in the promotion of calligraphy and sumi-e, teaching the next generation of calligraphers. Furthermore, she has been supporting the Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No. 120 for years as Vice-President and is actively involved in activities to promote Ikebana.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Yamanouchi presented Ms. Nagasawa with a certificate of commendation in recognition of her contributions not only to the introduction and preservation of Japanese culture, but also to the promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and Canada through her support of the Japanese community. In response, Ms. Nagasawa gave a speech expressing her joy at receiving the award and her gratitude to those who have supported her activities up to now.
This was followed by congratulatory speeches from Ms. Anne Breau, President of the Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No. 120 and Ms. Sachiko Okuda, former President of the Ottawa Japanese Community Association (OJCA). In closing, Mr. Ken England, Director of the Northeast Asia Division at Global Affairs Canada, gave a toast.
At the venue, calligraphy and sumi-e works by Ms. Nagasawa’s students were on display along with a Sogetsu School of Ikebana arrangement by Ms. Breau and two Ohara School of Ikebana arrangements by Ms. Nagasawa's students, Ms. Christine Marcoux and Ms. Annie Fontaine, adding colour to the atmosphere.
Since Ms. Nagasawa moved to Ottawa, she has been providing support to new immigrants from Japan as well as local Japanese Canadians in Ottawa. She has also been involved in the promotion of calligraphy and sumi-e, teaching the next generation of calligraphers. Furthermore, she has been supporting the Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No. 120 for years as Vice-President and is actively involved in activities to promote Ikebana.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Yamanouchi presented Ms. Nagasawa with a certificate of commendation in recognition of her contributions not only to the introduction and preservation of Japanese culture, but also to the promotion of mutual understanding between Japan and Canada through her support of the Japanese community. In response, Ms. Nagasawa gave a speech expressing her joy at receiving the award and her gratitude to those who have supported her activities up to now.
This was followed by congratulatory speeches from Ms. Anne Breau, President of the Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No. 120 and Ms. Sachiko Okuda, former President of the Ottawa Japanese Community Association (OJCA). In closing, Mr. Ken England, Director of the Northeast Asia Division at Global Affairs Canada, gave a toast.
At the venue, calligraphy and sumi-e works by Ms. Nagasawa’s students were on display along with a Sogetsu School of Ikebana arrangement by Ms. Breau and two Ohara School of Ikebana arrangements by Ms. Nagasawa's students, Ms. Christine Marcoux and Ms. Annie Fontaine, adding colour to the atmosphere.
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| Congratulatory address by Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Ms. Nagasawa and Ambassador Yamanouchi holding the award certificate |
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| Acceptance speech by Ms. Nagasawa |
Congratulatory address by Ms. Breau, President of the Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter No. 120 |
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| Congratulatory address by Ms. Okuda, former President of the Ottawa Japanese Community Association (OJCA) |
Mr. England, Director of the Northeast Asia Division at Global Affairs Canada, leads a toast |
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| Conferment Ceremony | Guests enjoying conversation at the Official Residence |