Embassy of Canada in Tokyo
Encyclopedia
The Embassy of Canada to Japan is the main diplomatic mission
from Canada
to Japan
, located in Tokyo
. The embassy is Canada's third oldest "foreign" legation after Paris
and Washington
(the High Commissions to other Commonwealth states are not considered "foreign" by the Canadian government).
The reason for the legation's creation had much to do with anti-Asian feeling in the Canadian province of British Columbia during the first half of the 20th Century. Prime Minister Mackenzie King was anxious to limit Japanese migration to Canada, saying "our only effective way to deal with the Japanese question is to have our own Minister in Japan to visa passports.".
The British government was hesitant to anything that might be seen to undermine Imperial unity, but finally in May 1929, the Canadian legation opened. The first "minister" was Sir Herbert Marler. The embassy soon added trade and political roles to immigration. Construction of the chancery was completed in 1934.
In 1938 the minister came back to Canada without being replaced. In 1941 once Canada and Japan were at war the legation staff was placed under arrest and not repatriated to Canada until mid-1942.
After the war, Canada's leading Japan expert, Herbert Norman, instead of being minister to Japan was attached to represent Canada with Supreme Commander Allied Powers, General Douglas MacArthur
.
In 1952 Canada and Japan had normalized relations and the legation was upgraded to an embassy, and R.W. Mayhew
became Canada's first ambassador to Japan.
Canada build a new chancery, Place Canada, which opened in 1991. The building also includes non-diplomatic tenants, such as the City Club of Tokyo.
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, located in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. The embassy is Canada's third oldest "foreign" legation after Paris
Embassy of Canada in Paris
The Canadian Embassy in France is the main diplomatic mission of Canada to France. It is located at 35 avenue Montaigne, in the 8th arrondissement. The ambassador resides at 135 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré...
and Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
(the High Commissions to other Commonwealth states are not considered "foreign" by the Canadian government).
The reason for the legation's creation had much to do with anti-Asian feeling in the Canadian province of British Columbia during the first half of the 20th Century. Prime Minister Mackenzie King was anxious to limit Japanese migration to Canada, saying "our only effective way to deal with the Japanese question is to have our own Minister in Japan to visa passports.".
The British government was hesitant to anything that might be seen to undermine Imperial unity, but finally in May 1929, the Canadian legation opened. The first "minister" was Sir Herbert Marler. The embassy soon added trade and political roles to immigration. Construction of the chancery was completed in 1934.
In 1938 the minister came back to Canada without being replaced. In 1941 once Canada and Japan were at war the legation staff was placed under arrest and not repatriated to Canada until mid-1942.
After the war, Canada's leading Japan expert, Herbert Norman, instead of being minister to Japan was attached to represent Canada with Supreme Commander Allied Powers, General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
.
In 1952 Canada and Japan had normalized relations and the legation was upgraded to an embassy, and R.W. Mayhew
Robert Wellington Mayhew
Robert Wellington Mayhew, was a Canadian politician and diplomat.Born in Cobden, Ontario, the son of Charles Mayhew and Sarah Dunlop Mayhew, he founded the Sidney Roofing and Paper Co. Ltd. in 1912 which became one of Victoria's largest businesses.He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons...
became Canada's first ambassador to Japan.
Canada build a new chancery, Place Canada, which opened in 1991. The building also includes non-diplomatic tenants, such as the City Club of Tokyo.