After 95 years, Canada and Japan turn the page on a new chapter

The year 2023 is a truly one for Japan and Canada. First of all, this year marks the 95th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. In 1928, Japan opened its Embassy in Ottawa, following the agreement between then-Japanese prime minister Giichi Tanaka and his Canadian counterpart, William Lyon Mackenzie King. This was even before the Statute of Westminster of 1931. Japan and Canada have worked together, and today, we are proud that our two nations are mutually irreplaceable partners. However, this was not always self-evident. There were difficult and painful times in the past, and both the Canadian and the Japanese peoples had the wisdom and courage to overcome challenges and build a strong friendship. In 1988, the Canadian government and Japanese Canadians finally reached the Redress Agreement to bring justice for the actions against Japanese Canadians during the Second World War. That same year, Canada participated in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET), which has grown to be one of the biggest international exchange programs of the world. Canada has significantly contributed to the JET by sending more than 10,000 participants. It is worthwhile to note that the Redress Agreement, which overcame the past, and the JET, which has been shaping the future, took place the same year. In this context, I would extend my heartfelt gratitude and respect to people of Japanese descent in Canada, as well as the JET alumni, who are formidable bridges between Japan and Canada. Kanji Yamanouchi is the ambassador of Japan in Canada. Photograph courtesy of the Japanese Embassy Today, the world is at an historic turning point. We face a geopolitical reality where authoritarian states attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force. Canada and Japan—sharing fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law—work together to deal with the challenges we face. In January, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida came to Ottawa and had fruitful discussions, a perfect start for Japan’s G7 presidency. In April, Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly visited Japan for the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. In May, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the G7 Hiroshima Summit, where the leaders discussed pressing issues, including a free and open international order based on the rule of law, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and strengthening relations with the Global South. Moreover, our two nations are stepping up their bilateral co-operation based on the “Canada-Japan Action Plan for contributing to a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” which was announced last October. Negotiations on the Canada-Japan General Security of Information Agreement and Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters are underway. Defence co-operation between our two countries is expanding. In June, two Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force training fleets called at Victoria, B.C., and conducted a joint exercise with the Canadian Navy. In addition, the Canadian frigates HMCS Ottawa and Vancouver, and the support ship MV Asterix called at Yokosuka, Japan, last month. On climate change, Canada-Japan Environmental Policy Dialogues have been held between our environment ministers to address global warming. Canada and Japan, key members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, have significantly developed their bilateral economic and commercial partnership. Later this week, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura will visit Ottawa to deepen our co-operation in the fields of industrial technology and battery supply chain, an essential element towards reaching net zero by 2050. In October, Minister of International Trade Mary Ng will visit Osaka to attend the G7 Trade Ministers’ Meeting, and lead the “Team Canada” trade mission consisting of more than 160 Canadian companies to expand business opportunities. The Japanese government welcomes and appreciates Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. Clear progress has been observed, notably with the appointment of Canada’s Ambassador to Japan Ian McKay as special envoy for the Indo-Pacific, and the establishment of an Indo-Pacific Trade Representative in Jakarta, Indonesia. We expect the strategy will contribute to peace and prosperity in the region. On Sept. 19, the Embassy of Japan and the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group will hold a reception for the 95th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations to celebrate the progress of the Japan-Canada bond and to show our determination to work harder for the betterment of the world and our bilateral relations. This will also be the first-ever Japan Self-Defense Forces commemorative reception held in Ottawa, emphasizing the importance of security co-operation at home and abroad. Military bands from both countries will perform together to demonstrate their close harmony. As we look towards the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations in five years, I believe that Japan-Canada relations are entering into a new chapter and will make further progress, building on the history that we have nurtured together. Kanji Yamanouchi is the ambassador of Japan in Canada. The Hill Times