National Day Reception for the 63rd Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan
2023/2/13
On February 13, prior to the 63rd Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan on February 23, Ambassador Yamanouchi hosted a reception to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.
The reception was attended by approximately 600 guests, including the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, former Prime Minister, the Honourable Anthony Rota, Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Labour, the Honourable Bill Blair, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, the Honourable Stan Kutcher, Senator, Co-Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, the Honourable Terry Sheehan, MP, Co-Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, His Worship Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa City, 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 as well as local businesses.
A drum collaboration performance by an indigenous drum group Spirit Wolf Singers and Oto-wa Taiko was played as a prelude to the reception. The National Anthem of Japan was sung by soprano singer Ms. Noriko Hashimoto, and the National Anthem of Canada was played by cellist Mr. Jacob MacDonald,
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Yamanouchi reflected on Japan-Canada relations in 2022 and underlined the historical significance of the year 2023 as the 95th anniversary of Japan-Canada relations as well as the outcome of the visit of Prime Minister Kishida to Ottawa in January 2023. The Ambassador also expressed his hopes to continue to work together to further strengthen Japan-Canada relations.
The Right Honourable Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada, gave his remarks as our guest of honour. His remarks was followed by that of the Ministers and the Mayor of Ottawa, and a toast by the Honourable Stan Kutcher.
The Chef of Ambassador Yamanouchi, Mr. Shima, served the guests Sushi and Tempura. A variety of booths for Sake tasting, Japanese rice tasting (Japanese curry and Chirashi-zushi), Japanese tea tasting, Japanese company and tourism promotion attracted the guests, including a booth featuring Hiroshima (host city of the 2023 G7 Summit) and Osaka (host city of 2025 EXPO) as well as a display of Japan-Canada exchange postcards from Wakayama prefecture.
A beautiful ikebana arrangement by the Ikebana International Ottawa Chapter embellished the stage.
The reception was attended by approximately 600 guests, including the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada, the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, former Prime Minister, the Honourable Anthony Rota, Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Labour, the Honourable Bill Blair, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, the Honourable Stan Kutcher, Senator, Co-Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, the Honourable Terry Sheehan, MP, Co-Chair of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group, His Worship Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa City, 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 as well as local businesses.
A drum collaboration performance by an indigenous drum group Spirit Wolf Singers and Oto-wa Taiko was played as a prelude to the reception. The National Anthem of Japan was sung by soprano singer Ms. Noriko Hashimoto, and the National Anthem of Canada was played by cellist Mr. Jacob MacDonald,
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Yamanouchi reflected on Japan-Canada relations in 2022 and underlined the historical significance of the year 2023 as the 95th anniversary of Japan-Canada relations as well as the outcome of the visit of Prime Minister Kishida to Ottawa in January 2023. The Ambassador also expressed his hopes to continue to work together to further strengthen Japan-Canada relations.
The Right Honourable Wagner, Chief Justice of Canada, gave his remarks as our guest of honour. His remarks was followed by that of the Ministers and the Mayor of Ottawa, and a toast by the Honourable Stan Kutcher.
The Chef of Ambassador Yamanouchi, Mr. Shima, served the guests Sushi and Tempura. A variety of booths for Sake tasting, Japanese rice tasting (Japanese curry and Chirashi-zushi), Japanese tea tasting, Japanese company and tourism promotion attracted the guests, including a booth featuring Hiroshima (host city of the 2023 G7 Summit) and Osaka (host city of 2025 EXPO) as well as a display of Japan-Canada exchange postcards from Wakayama prefecture.
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 drum performance by indigenous drum group Spirit Wolf Singers and Oto-wa Taiko |
National Anthem by Ms. Noriko Hashimoto (Soprano singer) and Mr. Jacob MacDonald (Cellist) |
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| Osaka and Hiroshima PR booth and JNTO booth |
Japan-Canada exchange postcards from Wakayama prefecture |
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| Sake booth |
Japanese tea booth |
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| Sushi booth |
Japanese rice booth |
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 Guests at the reception |
| Ikebana arrangement by Ikebana International Ottawa Chapter |