80th Anniversary of Canada-Japan Relations

  The original members of the first Canadian legation in Tokyo, 
  September 1929. From right, James Langley, Herbert Marler, Hugh
  Keenleyside and Kenneth Kirkwood.
 

 80 Years of Canada-Japan
 Relations

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan were in Canada from July 3 to 13 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Canada-Japan diplomatic relations. During their 10-day stay, the Emperor and Empress visited Ottawa, Toronto, Victoria and Vancouver.  To mark the occasion of this historic visit – the first to Canada by the Emperor as the hereditary Japanese head of state – the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada commissioned a series of brief essays by a number of Canadians who are close to the Canada-Japan relationship.

Anne Park Shannon, an historian of Canada-Japan ties and former Canadian diplomat in Tokyo, looks at the earliest days of the bilateral relationship, which is much more than the 80 years of the diplomatic relationship.

Yoshi Kawasaki, director of the Canada-Asia Program at Simon Fraser University, explains the significance of the Imperial visit.

Charles McMillan,  Professor of International Business, Schulich School of Business, York University, notes the missed opportunities in the Canada-Japan relationship in past years.

Carin Holroyd, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Waterloo and Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation and a former co-President of the Japan Studies Association of Canada, looks at the current relationship and hopes for the results of the visit.






Finally, Yuen Pau Woo, President and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation, sums up the Canada-Japan relationship and warns against complacency based on the misconception that little has changed in the bilateral relationship – or in Japan itself.