The Emperor and the Empress are visiting Canada and Hawaii from Friday through July 17. Their visit to Canada takes place at a good time, as Japan and Canada are celebrating the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations. It is hoped that the visit will further strengthen the friendly and cooperative relationship that exists between the two countries.
Japan opened its legation in Ottawa in 1928, and Canada established its counterpart in Tokyo in 1929. As the Emperor said in a statement before this week's visit, "Japan and Canada have steadily built a close relationship based on friendship and cooperation" since bilateral diplomatic ties resumed after World War II.
For Canada, Japan is the third-largest destination of Canadian exports (worth $9.2 billion in 2007) and the fourth-largest source of imported goods (worth $15.4 billion in 2007). In 2008, Japan's exports to Canada, valued at ¥1.116 trillion, included automobiles, machinery and electronic appliances. Meanwhile, imports from Canada, valued at ¥1.322 trillion, were mainly in the form of coal, foodstuffs and raw materials. In 2005, the two countries adopted the Peace and Security Cooperation Agenda.
The Emperor has a fond memory of Canada. In 1953, as the 19-year-old Crown Prince, he visited the country for the first time on his way to Britain to attend the coronation of Queen Elizabeth as a proxy for his father, the Emperor Showa. He recalls that the official residence of the lieutenant governor of British Columbia in Victoria was where he spent his first night ever in a foreign country.
In Hawaii, the Imperial couple will attend the celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of a scholarship foundation carrying the Emperor's name and established to celebrate the couple's wedding in 1959.
The trip is taking place even though the Emperor's health is not perfect. He had a prostate cancer operation six years ago. The Empress has a knee problem. The Imperial Household Agency has warned that the visit schedule may change depending on the health conditions of both. We wish them a safe and enjoyable trip.
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