Newly Arrived Ambassador Attends Annual Sakura Ball
The Sakura Ball was held at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) on April 20, with newly arrived Ambassador of Japan to Canada Norihiro Okuda and Consul General Eiji Yamamoto in attendance with their wives. This was the fifth annual Ball, an event that is at once a fundraiser as well as an opportunity to confer the Sakura Award to an outstanding individual who has actively promoted Japanese culture and raised awareness of the legacy of Japanese Canadians.
This year’s recipient was internationally celebrated symphony conductor Seiji Ozawa, whose daughter, Seira Ozawa, accepted the award on his behalf. Mr. Ozawa was recognized for having conducted the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in the 1960s and thereby providing great encouragement and a source of pride for local Japanese Canadians at the time.
Ambassador Okuda praised the recognition of Mr. Ozawa, and at the same time highly praised the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre for its many activities such as the Sakura Ball which at once preserved and raised awareness of the Japanese Canadian heritage. He also said that, although he had arrived just four days prior to the Ball, he would like to devote his best efforts to strengthening Japan-Canada relations.
About 400 guests were in attendance, including Ontario Premier Katherine Wynne and federal Member of Parliament John Carmichael.