About

Honorary Board of Advisors

An Honorary Board of Advisors provides advice based on diverse contacts and experiences

The CCCJ Honorary Board of Advisors (HBA) taps the enthusiasm and connectivity of influential Japanese leaders with ties to, and an active interest in, Canada – drawing on insights based on broad experience in Japan and abroad.

The HBA supports the work of the CCCJ in attracting new members and securing access to senior levels of business and government, particularly focusing on sectors covering Forestry, Natural Resources, Energy, Tourism, Hi Tech, Cultural Industries, Automotive, Aviation, Finance, Trade and Government.

Ambassador Sadaaki Numata, formerly Japan’s Ambassador to Canada and Advisor to Kajima Corporation, is Chairman of the HBA.

 

Sadaaki Numata
MEET

Sadaaki Numata

ESUJ
Chairman

Personal

Born in 1943 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Married with two children. Hobby: Singing (folk songs with the guitar).

Education

He was an American Field Service exchange student at The Choate School, Wallingford, Connecticut, USA in 1960-61. He earned an LL.B. from the University of Tokyo in 1966 and an M.A. in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University in 1968.

Professional Background

Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1966 he served in various positions at the Ministry including Director, First International Organizations (GATT) Division, Economic Affairs Bureau, Director, Japan-US Security Division, and Director, First North America Division, both in the North American Affairs Bureau. He was posted as Deputy Japanese Representative to the Conference on Disarmament, Geneva (1987-88) and Deputy Head of Mission at the Japanese Embassy in Canberra, Australia (1989-91), as well as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Japanese Embassy in London (1994-97). In 1998 and 1999, he served as Foreign Ministry Spokesman / Director General for Press and Public Information. In 2000, he was appointed Ambassador to Pakistan; from 2003 to 200

Previous governor Next governor
Cancel
Kanemitsu Anraku
MEET

Kanemitsu Anraku

Sony, Mizuho
Advisor

Personal

Born in Tokyo.

Married with two children.

Loves skiing, golfing.



Education

1964 Graduated from the University of Tokyo, Degree in Economics

 

Professional Background

April 1964 Joined Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

September 1967 Seconded to Economic Planning Agency

February 1970 Returned to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

January 1975 Secretary of Prime Minister, Takeo Miki

May 1977 Returned to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

March 1979 Vice President, Administration and Finance, Nissan Canada Inc.

March 1984 Vice President, Finance, Nissan Motor Corporation in U.S.A.

January 1988 General Manager, Finance Department, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

January 1992 General Manager, Accounting Department, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

June 1993 Director, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. June 1997 Managing Director, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

May 1999 Representative Director and Executive Vice President, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

April 2000 Director and Vice Chairman, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

June 2000 Vice Chairman, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

March 2002 Retired Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

April 2002 Representative Director and President, Nissan Real Estate Development Co., Ltd.

June 2005 Advisor, Nissan Real Estate Development Co., Ltd.

July 2006 Advisor, Nissan Network Holdings Co., Ltd.

June 2007 Retired Nissan Network Holdings Co., Ltd.

June 2007 Director, Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. June 2010 Director, Sony Corporation

 

Current Positions

Director, Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

Director, Sony Corporation

Director, National Policy Research

Previous governor Next governor
Cancel
MEET

Sarah L. Casanova

Advisor

Titles

Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
External Director

Kao Corporation
Outside Director

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd
Outside Director

Professional Background

January 1991            Joined McDonald’s in Canada

January 1997           Appointed Senior Director, Marketing of McDonald’s Russia/Ukraine

July 2001                Appointed Senior Director, Marketing of McDonald’s Canada

October 2004           Appointed Vice President, Marketing of McDonald’s Japan

April 2007               Appointed Senior Vice President, Business Development of McDonald’s Japan

July 2009               Appointed Managing Director of McDonald’s Malaysia

May 2012               Appointed Managing Director of McDonald’s Malaysia and Regional Manager McDonald’s Singapore and Malaysia

August 2013           Appointed Representative Director, President and CEO of McDonald’s Japan

March 2014             Appointed Representative Director, President and CEO of McDonald’s Holdings Japan

March 2019             Appointed Representative Director and Chairman of McDonald’s Japan

March 2021             Appointed Representative Director and Chairman of McDonald’s Holdings Japan

June 2023         Appointed External Director of Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

March 2025        Appointed Outside Director of Kao Corporation

March 2025        Appointed Outside Director of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.


April 1965              Born in Canada

December 1990       Master of Business Administration from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Previous governor Next governor
Cancel
Tomofumi Hiraku
Advisor

Personal

Born: March 23, 1956, Gifu

 

Education

1978 Graduated From the University of Tokyo, Degree in Economics

 

Career

1978 Entered the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI*)

1991 Multilateral Trade Negotiator, International Trade Policy Bureau, MITI

1993 Director , Industrial Labour Policy Office,€Industrial Policy Bureau, METI

1994 Consul, Consulate-General of Japan at Vancouver, Canada

1997 Director, Tariff Division, International Economic Affairs Department, International Trade Policy Bureau, MITI.

1998 Director-General, General Coordination and Policy Planning Department, Kansai Bureau, MITI

2000 Director, Planning Division, Coal and New Energy Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, MITI

2001 Director, Policy Planning Division, Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, METI* 2002 Director, Economic and Fiscal Management Bureau, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan

2005 Deputy Director-General, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, METI

2006 Deputy Director-General, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, METI

2008 Director-General, Kansai Bureau, METI

2009 Director-General, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, METI 2010 Retired METI€

2011 Joined IBM Japan *MITI was reorganized to METI(Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) in 2001

2021 Chairman of the Board, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC)

 

Family

wife, son.

Previous governor Next governor
Cancel
Susumu Kaminaga
Advisor

Personal

Date of birth 3 December 1946

Profession

Advisor Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.

Education

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo



June2004 –  President, Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.



June 2002 – June 2004   Managing Director, Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.



June 2000 – June 2002       Director and General Manager　Micro Technology Division

Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.



June 1999 – June 2000       General Manager, Micro Technology Dryprocess Division, Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.



March 1999 –          Non Executive Director, Surface Technology Systems plc



March 1995 – June 1999   Director, Surface Technology Systems Ltd.,　UK subsidiary of Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.



April 1993 – March 1995   General Manager, New Business Development Department, Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.



April 1987 – April 1993      Manager, Planning and Development Department, Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.



November 1981 – April 1987         General Manager, European Office, Duesseldorf, Germany, Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.

             

May 1969 – November 1981          Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.



May 1969      Graduated from the University of Tokyo

Previous governor Next governor
Cancel
Akiko Kosuda
MEET

Akiko Kosuda

Advisor

Personal

Japanese, born in Tokyo, Japan

Married with a daughter

Loves Gardening, Travelling, Tennis and Swimming

Current

-Outside Director of Meiho Facility Works Ltd.

-Certified Executive Coach

-Supervisor of Tokyo Girls Collection

 

Professional background

As a Catalyst for a sustainable future of the world, actively led various projects, such as cross boarder partnership, Women’s Leadership Program, Global Leadership development, Invest to Japan and Overseas.

2012~:  -Executive Board Member of India Japan Global Partnership, India Center Foundation

2011~:  -Advisor to Coach A Co., Ltd., the largest executive coaching firm with a global network

             -Business Coach for Leadership development, Organization development and Career design

2009~:  -Executive Vice President of DHR International, Executive search firm headquartered Chicago

             -Chairperson of Personnel Manager’s Association of foreign affiliated companies

2005~:  -HR Director of McDonald’s Corporation Japan

            -Executive member of Steering committee of Asia Pacific Women’s Leadership Association

2001~:  -Human Resources Vice President of Prudential Corporation Asia, Japan

1999~:  -Human Resources and Administration Director of CIGNA-Sopmp Japan Securities Co., Ltd.

1992~:  -Human Resources Director of British Airways Japan

1979~:  -Sales Manager of British Airways Japan

Degree of International business management

Certificate of Executive coaching

MBTI certified user

Previous governor Next governor
Cancel
Tetsuro Masuda
MEET

Tetsuro Masuda

Mitsubishi
Advisor

Personal



Date of Birth: 24th March, 1938

Nationality: Japanese

Family: Wife and two sons.

Education

BA in Public Law, Tokyo University, 1962

Career History

1962 Joined Mitsubishi Corporation, Oil Dept. B, Tokyo

1966 Mitsubishi Corporation, London Branch

1970 Manager, Gas Carbon Dept, Mitsubishi Corporation, Tokyo

1990 General Manager, LNG Business Division, Mitsubishi Corporation, Tokyo

1994 Became a Director of Mitsubishi Corporation

1994 President of Mitsubishi Australia, Ltd

1996 Chairman of Mitsubishi Corporation (UK) PLC in London Chairman of Mitsubishi Corporation International N.V. EUR

1997 Appointed Managing Director of Mitsubishi Corporation and General Manager of Mitsubishi Corporation's Kansai Branch, Osaka

2000-2008 Corporate Advisor, Mitsubishi Corporation, Tokyo

 

Civic Positions Held

1994 President of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sydney Inc

1994 Director of the Japan Society of Sydney

1994 Director of Japanese School in Sydney 1996 Chairman, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in London, Inc, UK

1995 Chairman, the Federation of Japan Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Australia

1996 Deputy Chairman, Japan Club, UK

1996 Director, Japanese School Ltd.UK

1996 Trustee, Rikkyo School in England

1996 Councilor, Gyosei International College, UK 1996 Director, Japan Society in the UK

1998 Member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Trade, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry

1998 Member of the Board of Executive Directors and Vice Chairman International Committee, Kansai Economic Federation

 

Conference Talks and Presentations

"LNG Contracts", International Bar Association, 1987

"Japanese Economy and Energy" Cambridge University, 1988

"International Economy and Energy" Nanzan University, 1989

"Comparison between the economies of Japan and Australia", University of Western School, University of Pennsylvania in US, 1997

 

Publications, Essays and Articles 

Article on The Middle East Issue in The Nikkei Financial Daily Article in Sekai Shuho (World Affairs Weekly), published by the JIJI Press of Japan Since 2000, a regular contributor to Sentaku Magazine (mainly natural gas topics)

 

Awards and Decorations

The Most Distinguished Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Third Class-August 2001

Previous governor Next governor
Cancel
Nakatani Yoshio
MEET

Yoshio Nakatani

Advisor

Personal

Born: 1941, Kyoto

Nationality: Japanese

Family: Wife and two sons, and one Grandson

Likes: Cooking, Eating, Drinking

Education

Kyoto University, 1964

Career History

1964 Joined Toyota Motor Sales Company*

The company became Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) in 1982 by amalgamation.

1985 Executive Assistant to President of Toyota Canada Incorporated (TCI)

1991 General Manager for Americas Operations, TMC Tokyo

1995 TCI President, Canada

2003 Retired from TMC to become Senior Managing Director of Japan Automotive Recycling Promotion Center (JARC)

2007 Resigned from JARC after inaugurated the new Automotive Recycling System in Japan

2007 President of Japan Operations, Woodbridge Foam Corporation (WFC)

2012 Retired from WFC, June

Special Activities

2001 Speech delivered to CCCJ on theme of Free trade between Canada and Japan

2002 Recipient of Special Citation from the Canadian Government as appreciation for contribution to deepening the understanding between two nations

Previous governor Next governor
Cancel
Terukazu Okahashi
Advisor

Current Position

Outside Director, Info Mart Corporation
Outside Director, Mercuria Investment Co.,Ltd.
Senior Advisor, Sotheby's Japan
Executive Trustee, Nezu Art Museum
Director Emeritus, Japan Animal Welfare Association
Advisor, Sankyo Corporation

Date of Birth

November 25th 1949

Education

Faculty of Business Administration, Konan University, 1972

Experience
Advisor, Seiko Holdings Corporation, 2011
Managing Officer; Mitsui & Co.,Ltd. President & CEO,Mitsui & Co.,(Canada) Ltd., 2009
Deputy General Manager, Osaka Office, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., 2004
General Manager, Merchandising Division, Retail Business Unit, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., 200
President Secretary, Secretariat, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., 1999
General Manager, Business Promotion Department, Planning & Coordination Division, Osaka Office, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., 1996
Logistics Information Division, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., 1992
General Manager, Processed Oil Section, Oils Division, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., 1989
Food Department, Mitsui & Co. (USA) Inc., Chicago Office, 1985
Oils Division, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., 1984 Secretariat, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., 1981
Grain & Oils Division, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., 1979
Food Department Trainee (New York), 1978
Grain & Oils Division, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., 1976
Overseas Finance Department, Finance Division, Osaka Office, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., 1972
 

Previous governor Next governor
Cancel
Advisor

Personal

Born in 1945 in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Hobbies: Cooking, Golf, Tennis, Fishing. 

 

Professional Background

An international marketing and management professional with over 40 years of experience in Canada/USA– Japan forest products trade.

April, 2012: Chairman, Interex Forest Products Japan Limited

April, 1995: President & General Manager, Interex Forest Products Japan Limited

September, 1993: Vice President & General Manager, Interex Forest Products Japan Limited         

November, 1991: Managing Director, Seaboard Timber & Plywood Asia Ltd. (location – Tokyo)

January, 1990: General Manager, Seaboard Timber & Plywood Asia Ltd.

August, 1988: Manager, Lumber Sales, Seaboard Lumber Sales Ltd. (Vancouver head office)

February, 1985: General Manager, Seaboard Timber & Plywood Asia Ltd.

April, 1983: Manager, Market Development Coordinator, Seaboard Timber & Plywood Asia Ltd.

May, 1977: Market Development Coordinator, Seaboard Timber & Plywood Asia Ltd.

April, 1969: North American Timber Division,  Ataka & Co., Ltd, Nagoya Office

March, 1969: Graduated from Nanzan University (Nagoya), British/American Department, Foreign Language Faculty

Previous governor Next governor
Cancel
MEET

Kazuhiko Toyama

Partner and Chairman, IGPI Group
Advisor

Kazuhiko Toyama has started his career with BCG and later became one of the founding members of Corporate Directions, Inc. (CDI), a Tokyo-based independent management consulting firm, eventually becoming its CEO. In 2003, he was appointed to lead Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan (IRCJ), a government-backed restructuring fund, as COO. In 2007, when IRCJ was dissolved, he founded Industrial Growth Platform, Inc. (IGPI), and served as CEO until September, 2020. He graduated from Faculty of Law of the University of Tokyo and holds an MBA from Stanford University. He has passed the Japanese National Bar Examination.

CEO, Japan Platform of Industrial Transformation, Inc. (JPiX).

Chair, Public Policy Council, KEIZAI DOYUKAI (Japan Association of Corporate Executives), Chairman of Japan Association of Corporate Directors (JACD), Member of The Tax Commission (CAO), Member of the Council of Experts Concerning the Corporate Governance Code (FSA), Member of the Council of New Form of Capitalism Realization (Cabinet Secretariat), Outside director of Panasonic Corporation.

Previous governor Next governor
Cancel