News

116 golfers. A record-breaking day. And Canada’s own Ambassador to Japan leading the charge — at least for most of the round.

Last week, the CCCJ Golf Scramble returned to the stunning Tsutsujigaoka Country Club in Tochigi, and it didn’t disappoint. Ambassador Ian McKay had his team in close contention right to the end, but it was Yusuke Ito, Joe Odell, Greg Rozitis, and Yoshiji Matsuda who took home the top honours — including the traditional Canadian championship toques (wool beanies) to ‘top off’ their incredible win!

On March 17th, 2026, the Professional Development and Education Committee of the CCCJ hosted the ever-so-popular Canadian Universities Alumni Mixer, Leprechaun Edition, at Coaster Shimokitazawa.

It’s election time once again, and we invite you to take part by either nominating a fellow member, or putting your own name forward, for the Board of Governors of the CCCJ.

Serving on the Board is a valuable opportunity to help shape the Chamber’s direction while deepening your involvement in the Canada–Japan business community.

“Leaders cast a very big shadow.” With that powerful observation, the CCCJ Global Diversity Management Committee’s second Effective Communication Series event set the tone for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion at the Embassy of Canada.

The panel brought together four distinguished leaders from across industries: Sarah Casanova, former Director and Chair of McDonald’s Japan and Honorary Board Advisor to the CCCJ; Mitsuru Irie, Co-founder & CEO of MI-6 Ltd.; Aaron Reist, Head of Professional Services at Woven by Toyota; and Mayu Isoi, Senior Director at Chapman CG. Drawing from experiences in global corporations, startups, and cross-cultural teams, they explored what leadership empowerment looks like in practice.

On November 14th, 222 people dressed in beautifully coloured dresses, kimonos and black ties gathered at the newly opened The Fairmont Tokyo for the annual Maple Leaf Gala, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the CCCJ. Pre-festivities started with receptions on both the 43rd and 4th floors, each offering stunning views of the Rainbow Bridge, generously sponsored by Northleaf Japan and Funeral Support Services respectively.

On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ) hosted the seminar Effective Communication: A Key Driver of Career Growth at the Marunouchi Nijubashi Building in Tokyo. This seminar was organised by the Global Diversity Management Committee as part of the CCCJ’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. The hybrid event welcomed professionals both in-person and online, offering practical insights into how effective communication influences leadership, collaboration, and career advancement.

The seminar featured Philippe Godbout, Managing Director at Dassault Systèmes Japan, and Sarah Casanova, Honorary Board of Advisor at the CCCJ, who shared personal experience, strategic frameworks, and actionable tips to enhance communication skills.The seminar was moderated by Tomoko Ebine, Chair of the Global Diversity Management Committee, CCCJ Governor, and Ai Nakagawa, Governor and Treasurer of CCCJ.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ), through the generous support of DLA Piper’s Tokyo office, hosted an exclusive roundtable titled “LNG Canada – A Narrow Road to the Deep North”, spotlighting the evolving energy partnership between Canada and Japan. Moderated by Peter Armstrong, CCCJ Vice-Chair and DLA Piper's ENR Sector Head, Asia, the event convened senior representatives from government and industry, including Mitsubishi Corporation, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Natural Resources Canada, and Trade & Invest British Columbia. 

The discussion traced the development journey of LNG Canada, emphasized British Columbia’s strategic role as a gateway to Asia, and highlighted Canada’s potential as a long-term energy supplier to Japan. The panel also explored LNG’s role in supporting Japan’s energy transition and decarbonization goals, reinforcing the importance of cross-border collaboration in shaping a sustainable energy future.

The spring 2025 edition of the Canadian Universities Alumni Mixer was held on Thursday, April 17th, at Hobgoblin Shibuya. Once again, participants — around 50 Canadian alumni and friends — enjoyed a cheerful and “beer-full” evening making new connections and revitalizing past acquaintances. A huge “thank you” to Hobgoblin Pub for donating a complimentary drink for each participant! We enjoyed the popular trivia game with prizes donated by Adria (Wine) International -- thank you, Asa! Many had extremely favourable comments about the event as being fun, accessible, and easy to meet new people. Several newcomers expressed interest in joining the CCCJ, so the organizers in the Pro-D and Education Committee will follow-up.

It is election time once again, and we’d like to cordially ask you to help the Chamber, and help yourself become even more involved in the Canadian community in Japan, by running for the Board of Governors of the CCCJ!


You will need to have another member fill out the document below if you wish to be nominated. If you do not know someone to do this, please let Nicolas Chow Chin Sung, Gordon Hatton or Seiji Omote know who will be more than happy to help you find a nominator.

Greater activity in the Chamber will not only make your Japan/Canada exposure more effective, but more enjoyable and constructive.

On Friday, December 6, over 250 distinguished guests gathered at The Okura Tokyo for the annual Maple Leaf Gala, hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ). This year’s theme, Régénération, set the tone for an evening of renewal, connection, and celebration.

Guests were treated to a vibrant atmosphere with lively music, a meticulously curated eight-course meal, and opportunities to reconnect with peers in the business community. Among the evening's esteemed attendees were Ian McKay, Canada’s Ambassador to Japan and Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific; Christa Deguchi, Gold Medalist in Women’s Judo 52kg at the Paris Olympics; Kelly Deguchi, representing Canada in Women’s Judo 57kg; and Myaku-Myaku, a cultural ambassador for the Osaka Expo 2025.

The popular networking event was Back! On Thursday, October 17th, at the cool Coaster in Shimo-kitazawa, CCCJ welcomed a vibrant crowd, ushering in various industries- marketing, legal, government and more- all eager to reconnect with fellow alumni.  The warm atmosphere coupled with a beer in hand, more than 70 attendees mingled with new connections within the business community over turkey dishes and poutine by adding the Fall festivities.

A huge thank you goes out to Coaster for providing an excellent venue, ensuring the drinks flowed smoothly, and generous offer of Coaster T-shirts for the Quiz Show winners! We also express our sincere gratitude to all who joined us, many proudly repping their alumni merch as well as alumni offices back in home campases in Canada to contact their alumni in Japan for helping spreading words about this event.

On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, the CCCJ hosted the latest installment of its Net-Zero Forum Series. The event presentations focused on Canada’s pivotal role in supplying critical minerals and resources for Japan’s energy transition, followed by a panel discussion. Over 70 participants attended, learning about the landscape of Canadian’s critical materials, support programs for Japanese companies, and other key topics from industry experts.

We hope attendees gained valuable insights into Canada’s strategic resources. The evening concluded with appetizers, refreshments, and networking opportunities.