Conferment of the Foreign Minister’s Commendation to Mr. Kiyoshi Nagata

On December 12, a conferment ceremony for Mr. Kiyoshi Nagata, a recipient of the Foreign Minister's Commendation for 2024, was held at the official residence of the Consul-General of Japan in Toronto. In his opening congratulatory remarks, Consul-General Matsunaga Takeshi stated that Mr. Nagata was awarded the commendation in recognition of his dedication to the preservation and promotion of traditional Japanese culture through his various activities. This included over 40 years of performances both in Canada and overseas, his work as a composer of music for games and films, and his work as an educator teaching students at the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music, as well as other taiko groups. The Consul-General also praised Mr. Nagata's active collaborations, supported of the Government of Canada, with Canadian musicians and artists of other cultures and traditions that contributed toward strengthening friendly relations between Japan and Canada. Mr. Nagata's taiko group, Nagata Shachu, which he founded in 1998, received the Foreign Minister's Commendation in 2019. Click here to read the Consul General's congratulatory remarks.