Consulate General of Japan in Toronto

10/21/2026

The Shodo Canada has launched an online exhibition featuring 122 adult works and 28 student works, all submitted to the 19th Annual Japanese Calligraphy Competition in Canada. More than a showcase for artwork, this exhibition provides a space for "dialogue" among calligraphers, transcending generational and community boundaries. Please enjoy the works via the link below.

The 19th Annual Japanese Calligraphy Competition in Canada proudly received 122 entries from adults and 28 from students, representing a breathtaking diversity of participants—from four years old to one hundred and one years young. Entrants came from across the country, each bringing their own sto...

10/19/2026

🍁 Kotoba Series 🍁
Today's Japanese word: 紅葉 "Kōyō" (Koh-Yoh)
紅葉 (Kōyō) refers to the changing colours of autumn leaves — the reds, oranges, and yellows that transform landscapes across Japan each fall. Written with the characters for "crimson" (紅) and "leaf" (葉), the word reflects the rich red hues that are especially prominent in Japan's autumn scenery.
Among the iconic symbols of Kōyō are the momiji (Japanese maple 🍁) and ichō (ginkgo 🌿), whose brilliant reds and yellows can be seen across Japan from October through November.
Both Japan and Canada share a deep appreciation for the beauty of autumn foliage this season! 🇯🇵🇨🇦

Photo 1: NatashaG
Photo 2: t.mas/イメージマート

10/19/2026

10/16/2026

On October 13, a special talk by Professor Suzuki Kazuto, Professor at the Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo and Director of the Institute of Geoeconomics, was held at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, with the support of the Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto. The talk was titled "The Current Security Environment Facing Japan and Canada, and Future Prospects."
Chaired by Professor Mark Manger, Interim Director of the Centre for the Study of Global Japan (CSGJ) at the Munk School, the event drew approximately 60 participants, including scholars, students, and members of the broader community. Professor Suzuki offered insights into the shifting international order and the evolving security environment in East Asia, the growing significance of economic security through the lens of geoeconomics, and Japan's national growth strategy. A lively exchange of views followed his presentation, covering a wide range of topics including security, the international order, and the importance of Japan-Canada cooperation. Consul-General Matsunaga was in attendance at the event.

10/09/2026

Happy Thanksgiving! 🍂🦃

In Ontario, Thanksgiving dinner tables are filled with turkey accompanied by classic harvest foods like potatoes and stuffing.

In Japan, the harvest season is closely associated with rice. 🌾
Golden rice fields with their stalks bending under the weight of ripened rice — like the one pictured here — are a timeless symbol of autumn's abundance. Rice has held a deep spiritual and cultural significance in Japanese society.

Do you have a favourite harvest food? Let us know in the comments 👇😊

10/08/2026

Join the Toronto Japanese Garden Club's 74th annual Fall Flowers and Bonsai show at the JCCC! View wonderful ikebana and bonsai displays, paint a pumpkin, and more!
More info here: https://japanesegardenclub.ca

Enjoy the beauty of fall at our upcoming show

10/08/2026

Congratulations to Anne Carson on the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature! 🏅📖

Born in Toronto, Ms. Carson is known for her innovative writing that bridges classical and contemporary literature across cultural borders. In one interview, she mentions that in Kinds of Water, she drew inspiration from Japan's traditional travel writing, a genre that often interweaves poetry and prose. Her acclaimed Autobiography of Red (赤の自伝) and Wrong Norma (かみあわないノーマ) have been translated and published in Japanese.

We warmly congratulate Ms. Carson on this well-deserved honor!

Photo: Jay Dixit/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

10/08/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Kenso Soai on this wonderful achievement!

🎉Congratulations to Japanese scientist Kenso Soai (Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University of Science, Japan) who shares the 2026 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of non-linear effects and autocatalysis in asymmetric organic synthesis!

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2026/press-release/

10/07/2026

Join Professor Kazuto Suzuki, a leading scholar of economic securities, as he gives a talk on October 13 on "The Current Security Environment Facing Japan and Canada, and Future Prospects" next week! Limited seats are available!

Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo; Director, Institute of Geoeconomics at International House of Japan

10/05/2026

Last week in collaboration with The Japanese Paper Place, the Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto celebrated artists who utilized washi paper in their work at the Thursday Osaki Washi event. The Osaki family produces two kinds of Japanese washi paper: Seichosen Kozo and Seikosen Mitsumata. Both employ traditional paper making methods that help provide a strong material for artists' works to shine!