National Day Reception for the 64th Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan
2024/2/13
On February 13, celebrating the 64th Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan on February 23, Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi hosted a reception at Hotel Château Laurier.
The reception was attended by approximately 700 guests, including the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada, the Honourable Greg Fergus, Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Mr. Terry Sheehan, MP, Co-Chair of Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, Gen. Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, and many other Canadian federal government officials, Senators, Members of Parliament, Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, heads of diplomatic missions, academics, cultural groups, Japanese-Canadian communities as well as local businesses.
A taiko drum performance by Ms. Tsubasa Hori was played as a prelude to the reception, followed by a Japanese Canadian high school student singing Japan’s anthem “Kimigayo” and a young string quartet playing Canada’s “O Canada”.
In his opening and welcome remarks, looking back the Japan-Canada relationship in 2023 and up to date, Ambassador Yamanouchi described that this bilateral relationship has reached a new stage and expressed his and his team’s commitment to further strengthening and deepening it.
The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada, gave his remarks as the guest of honour. It was followed by congratulatory remarks by Speaker Fergus and Minister Champagne and a grand Kagami-biraki (ceremonial opening of a sake cask) Ceremony with various dignitaries , and a toast was proposed by Co-Chair Sheehan.
In addition to a nigirizushi (Nigiri Sushi) demonstration by the Chef of Ambassador Yamanouchi, Mr. Shima, sushi rolls, tempura, and home-style dishes using Japanese seafood were served at the venue. Guests enjoyed Japanese sake and whisky tasting, a display of Japan-Canada exchange postcards created by students of Wakayama Prefecture, a promotional video on tourism in Japan and the Expo 2025. There were also booths by Japanese companies and organizations.
A beautiful ikebana arrangement by the Ikebana International Ottawa Chapter embellished the stage.
The reception was attended by approximately 700 guests, including the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada, the Honourable Greg Fergus, Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Mr. Terry Sheehan, MP, Co-Chair of Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, Gen. Wayne Eyre, Chief of the Defence Staff, and many other Canadian federal government officials, Senators, Members of Parliament, Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, heads of diplomatic missions, academics, cultural groups, Japanese-Canadian communities as well as local businesses.
A taiko drum performance by Ms. Tsubasa Hori was played as a prelude to the reception, followed by a Japanese Canadian high school student singing Japan’s anthem “Kimigayo” and a young string quartet playing Canada’s “O Canada”.
In his opening and welcome remarks, looking back the Japan-Canada relationship in 2023 and up to date, Ambassador Yamanouchi described that this bilateral relationship has reached a new stage and expressed his and his team’s commitment to further strengthening and deepening it.
The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada, gave his remarks as the guest of honour. It was followed by congratulatory remarks by Speaker Fergus and Minister Champagne and a grand Kagami-biraki (ceremonial opening of a sake cask) Ceremony with various dignitaries , and a toast was proposed by Co-Chair Sheehan.
In addition to a nigirizushi (Nigiri Sushi) demonstration by the Chef of Ambassador Yamanouchi, Mr. Shima, sushi rolls, tempura, and home-style dishes using Japanese seafood were served at the venue. Guests enjoyed Japanese sake and whisky tasting, a display of Japan-Canada exchange postcards created by students of Wakayama Prefecture, a promotional video on tourism in Japan and the Expo 2025. There were also booths by Japanese companies and organizations.
A beautiful ikebana arrangement by the Ikebana International Ottawa Chapter embellished the stage.
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| Ambassador Yamanouchi making his opening remarks |
The Rt. Hon. Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada making his remarks |
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| A taiko drum performance by Ms. Hori |
National Anthems by young musicians |
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| Kagami-biraki (ceremonial opening of a sake cask) Ceremony |
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| Tasting Corner of Premium Japanese Sake and Whisky |
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| Tasting Corner of Seafood from Japan |
People lined up for nigirizushi by Chef Shima |
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| Japan-Canada exchange postcards from Wakayama prefecture |
Guests at the reception |
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| Ikebana arrangement by Ikebana International Ottawa Chapter |