09/16/2026
On August 29, the Regina Matsuri, a Japanese Summer Festival organized by the Regina Japanese Cultural Club Inc, was held in Regina, SK. It was the first festival since the COVID-19 pandemic and the first in seven years.
At the opening ceremony, Mr. André Boutin-Maloney, Honorary Consul-General of Japan in Regina, and Mr. Brad Crassweller, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan and Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport, announced the designation of September as Japanese Heritage Month in Saskatchewan.
The establishment of Japanese Heritage Month commemorates a historic milestone in September 1988, when the Government of Canada and the National Association of Japanese Canadians reached a redress agreement following the hardships experienced by Japanese Canadians, including forced relocation, internment, and the confiscation of property. The designation also recognizes the contributions of the Japanese Canadian community to Saskatchewan’s richness through cultural and educational exchanges, as well as its longstanding efforts to foster friendship between Japan and Saskatchewan.
Following the proclamation, the Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary expressed respect and appreciation to the Japanese Canadian community, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for their efforts to establish Japanese Heritage Month. The Consulate also expressed hope that the designation will contribute to further development of friendly relations between Canada and Japan, and Japan and Saskatchewan, for generations to come.
The festival featured a variety of food and booths, including Japanese cuisine and yo-yo fishing. Performances showcasing Japanese culture, such as Yosakoi dance, taiko drumming, and judo and karate entertained the audience. For the first time, a 27-member delegation from Fujioka City, which has a Friendship City Agreement with Regina, participated in the festival. The delegation presented traditional Japanese performing arts, including hayashi music and Nankin Tamasudare, adding to the celebration of Japanese culture and the friendship between Regina and Fujioka.
