Canada-Japan Literary Awards Ceremony for the 2024 Award Winners
2025/11/19
On November 19, the Embassy of Japan and the Canada Council for the Arts jointly hosted Canada-Japan Literary Awards ceremony for the 2024 award winners at the Canada Council for the Arts office. The Canada-Japan Literary Awards* recognizes the literary merit of books written by Canadian authors on Japan, on Japanese themes or on themes that promote mutual understanding between Japan and Canada. It also recognizes books translated from Japanese into English or French by Canadian authors.
The 2024 English-language winner is Mr. Art Miki’s “Gaman – Perseverance: Japanese Canadians' Journey to Justice” (published by Talonbooks). The French-language winner is Mr. Etienne Lehoux-Jobin’s “Penriuk et sa douleur: Ossements aïnous retenus prisonniers” (published by Université du Québec).
At the beginning of the ceremony, Ms. Michelle Chawla, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Council for the Arts, delivered a congratulatory address. Following this, Ambassador Yamanouchi Kanji offered congratulatory remarks to both winners and commended their achievements in deepening mutual understanding between Japan and Canada, as well as among communities within Canada. He also expressed his hope that Canada-Japan Literary Awards would serve as an opportunity for Canadians to learn more deeply about Japan. Afterwards, Mr. Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois also offered his congratulations to each of the winners.
Following this, Ambassador Yamanouchi and Director and CEO Chawla presented a certificate to each winner. In response, each winner delivered an acceptance speech and expressed their gratitude to those who had supported their activities up to that point.
At the reception following the ceremony, Japanese cuisine and sake were served. The participants deepened their connections, making it a meaningful opportunity.
*The funds for the Canada-Japan Literary Awards are financed in part by the Canada-Japan Fund, established in 1988 by the Government of Japan to further strengthen the ties between the arts and cultural communities of both countries. The Canada Council for the Arts administers and manages this fund.
The 2024 English-language winner is Mr. Art Miki’s “Gaman – Perseverance: Japanese Canadians' Journey to Justice” (published by Talonbooks). The French-language winner is Mr. Etienne Lehoux-Jobin’s “Penriuk et sa douleur: Ossements aïnous retenus prisonniers” (published by Université du Québec).
At the beginning of the ceremony, Ms. Michelle Chawla, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada Council for the Arts, delivered a congratulatory address. Following this, Ambassador Yamanouchi Kanji offered congratulatory remarks to both winners and commended their achievements in deepening mutual understanding between Japan and Canada, as well as among communities within Canada. He also expressed his hope that Canada-Japan Literary Awards would serve as an opportunity for Canadians to learn more deeply about Japan. Afterwards, Mr. Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois also offered his congratulations to each of the winners.
Following this, Ambassador Yamanouchi and Director and CEO Chawla presented a certificate to each winner. In response, each winner delivered an acceptance speech and expressed their gratitude to those who had supported their activities up to that point.
At the reception following the ceremony, Japanese cuisine and sake were served. The participants deepened their connections, making it a meaningful opportunity.
*The funds for the Canada-Japan Literary Awards are financed in part by the Canada-Japan Fund, established in 1988 by the Government of Japan to further strengthen the ties between the arts and cultural communities of both countries. The Canada Council for the Arts administers and manages this fund.
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| Congratulatory address by Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Congratulatory address by Mr. Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois |
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| Awarding a certificate from Ambassador Yamanouchi to Mr. Art Miki |
Awarding a certificate from Director and CEO Chawla to Mr. Etienne Lehoux-Jobin |
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| Commemorative photo with the award winners |
The reception following the ceremony |
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| Meeting with Senator Tony Loffreda | Serving and explaining Japanese sake |