2024 New Year Reception
2024/1/5
On January 5, Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi hosted the 2024 New Year Reception at his residence. Approximately 130 guests attended this event, including Japanese nationals and Japanese Canadians living in the Ottawa area.
As his opening remarks, Ambassador Yamanouchi extended his condolences for the Earthquake in Noto Peninsula in January 2024 and his gratitude for the solidarity from the Canadian side. He also reviewed the Japan-Canada relationship in 2023, and mentioned the prospects and significance of the development of Japan-Canada relations in 2024, and expressed his wish to promote overall bilateral cooperation with help of Japanese Canadians and Japanese nationals in Ottawa. The Ambassador and friends also opened the Kagami-Biraki, a ceremonial sake barrel-opening ceremony, to wish the participants a happy and prosperous year 2024.
Mr. Shima, Chef of Ambassador Yamanouchi, prepared a variety of Japanese dishes for the occasion, including osechi (a set of Japanese festive dishes served on New Year’s Day), sushi and tempura. Japanese sake were also served.
An ikebana flower arrangement by Ms. Anne Breau, President of the Ikebana International Ottawa Chapter were displayed.
*Kagami-biraki is a ceremony performed at celebratory events in Japan. ‘Kagami’ refers to the lid of the sake barrel, and ‘biraki’ means ‘to open’, so kagami-biraki literally means, ‘opening the lid’. Because of its round shape, ‘kagami’ is also as symbol of harmony. Kagami-biraki therefore represents an opening to harmony and good fortune, and is often performed to celebrate the New Year and the start of a new departure in life or business.
As his opening remarks, Ambassador Yamanouchi extended his condolences for the Earthquake in Noto Peninsula in January 2024 and his gratitude for the solidarity from the Canadian side. He also reviewed the Japan-Canada relationship in 2023, and mentioned the prospects and significance of the development of Japan-Canada relations in 2024, and expressed his wish to promote overall bilateral cooperation with help of Japanese Canadians and Japanese nationals in Ottawa. The Ambassador and friends also opened the Kagami-Biraki, a ceremonial sake barrel-opening ceremony, to wish the participants a happy and prosperous year 2024.
Mr. Shima, Chef of Ambassador Yamanouchi, prepared a variety of Japanese dishes for the occasion, including osechi (a set of Japanese festive dishes served on New Year’s Day), sushi and tempura. Japanese sake were also served.
An ikebana flower arrangement by Ms. Anne Breau, President of the Ikebana International Ottawa Chapter were displayed.
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| Opening remarks by Ambassador Yamanouchi |
Kagami-biraki ceremony by Ambassador Yamanouchi and guests |
 Ikebana flower arrangement by Ms. Anne Breau |
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*Kagami-biraki is a ceremony performed at celebratory events in Japan. ‘Kagami’ refers to the lid of the sake barrel, and ‘biraki’ means ‘to open’, so kagami-biraki literally means, ‘opening the lid’. Because of its round shape, ‘kagami’ is also as symbol of harmony. Kagami-biraki therefore represents an opening to harmony and good fortune, and is often performed to celebrate the New Year and the start of a new departure in life or business.