Report

From 17 to 22 February 2025, the Co-Chairs of the Canada–Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group (CAJP) – Senator Stanley Kutcher and Terry Sheehan, MP – conducted their annual visit to Japan, which comprised meetings and fact-finding site visits in Tokyo, Fukuoka and Kumamoto.

While in Tokyo on 17, 18 and 22 February 2025, the Co-Chairs met with members of the Japan–Canada Diet Friendship League (DFL), officials from the National Diet of Japan and Japanese state ministers. From 19 to 21 February 2025, they travelled to Japan’s southern island of Kyūshū for site visits and meetings with local representatives, community leaders and business persons in Fukuoka, the island’s most populous city, and in Kumamoto, the capital of the Kumamoto Prefecture.

The CAJP’s primary purpose is to promote exchanges between Canadian and Japanese parliamentarians, to propose initiatives likely to lead to a better mutual understanding of bilateral and multilateral challenges, and to develop cooperation between Canada and Japan in all areas of human activity. The specific objectives of the Co-Chairs’ February 2025 visit included initiating and maintaining parliamentary relations with members of the DFL, learning more about Japan’s efforts regarding defence and economic recovery from natural disasters, and identifying potential areas of collaboration in relation to peace and security, trade and academic exchanges.

The Co-Chairs were supported by Corentin Bialais, Advisor to the CAJP. At meetings and during the fact-finding site visits, they were also accompanied by officials from the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo.

MEETINGS DURING THE VISIT

A.   The Japan–Canada Diet Friendship League

Elections held on 27 October 2024 for Japan’s House of Representatives led to significant membership changes. Consequently, the Co-Chairs’ visit provided an opportunity to meet newly elected members, as well as to maintain relationships with re-elected members. Because of the elections, during the General Assembly on 17 February 2025, the DFL elected a new executive team. In particular, Ms. TSUCHIYA Shinako, who previously served as the DFL’s Vice-Chair, was elected as Chair and Mr. GOTO Yuichi was elected as Vice-Chair.

B.   Diet Committee Chairs

On 17 and 18 February 2025, the Co-Chairs met several committee chairs in Japan’s upper and lower chambers.

Senator Kutcher and Mr. Sheehan met with Ms. HORIUCHI Noriko, Chair of the House of Representatives’ Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. Ms. HORIUCHI welcomed Canada’s strengthened presence in the Indo-Pacific region and thanked Canada for its participation – alongside Japan and other allies – in the Enforcement Coordination Cell, a multinational naval operation designed to enforce United Nations sanctions against North Korea. Senator Kutcher reiterated Canada’s commitment to the region through its Indo-Pacific Strategy and identified concerns about North Korea’s growing collaboration with Russia in the context of the war against Ukraine. The Co-Chairs and Ms. HORIUCHI also discussed the importance of ensuring that Canada and Japan coordinate their international development actions to help fill the gap created by the United States’ reduced international aid commitments.

Furthermore, Senator Kutcher and Mr. Sheehan met with Mr. ENDO Takashi, Chair of the House of Representatives’ Standing Committee on National Security, who was accompanied by two committee members: Mr. SHINOHARA Takashi and former Minister of Defense KIHARA Minoru. Participants focused on current geopolitical flashpoints, including Taiwan and Ukraine, and the role that Canada and Japan can play in addressing the resulting security risks. Regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine, Mr. SHINOHARA stressed the importance of committing to internationally recognized borders and Senator Kutcher praised Japan for sanctioning Russian energy imports, especially because Japan relies on energy imports to meet its needs. Mr. ENDO and former Minister KIHARA said that they are looking forward to Canada’s leadership in hosting the upcoming G7 meetings, including that involving G7 ministers of defence.

As well, Senator Kutcher and Mr. Sheehan met with Mr. MIYAZAKI Masahisa, Chair of the House of Representatives’ Standing Committee on Economy, Trade and Industry. Mr. Sheehan outlined concerns about the U.S. tariff imposed on steel, the tariff’s potential impacts on prices and jobs, and Canada’s response to the tariff. Senator Kutcher and Mr. Sheehan stressed the importance of ensuring that like-minded countries coordinate their responses to tariffs. Mr. MIYAZAKI highlighted the vital role that parliamentarians can play in addressing trade-related issues through direct advocacy with U.S. legislators. In addition, Mr. MIYAZAKI thanked Canada for its support of Japan’s science-based approach to the treatment and discharge of the contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant at a time when some countries – including China and Russia – were banning imports of fish and seafood from Japan because of safety concerns.

Moreover, Senator Kutcher and Mr. Sheehan met with Ms. MAKIYAMA Hiroe, Chair of the House of Councillors’ Standing Committee on Economy and Industry. Ms. MAKIYAMA described the 2023 Memorandum of Cooperation between Japan and Canada on battery supply chains as an example of fruitful collaboration between the two countries, and stressed Canada’s importance as a supplier of critical minerals to Japan. As well, Ms. MAKIYAMA praised Japan’s and Canada’s efforts to reform the World Trade Organization and to support a rules-based international trade regime through the work of the Ottawa Group. Mr. Sheehan underscored the importance of collaboration between Canada and Japan when facing adversity and recalled former Japanese Prime Minister ABE Shinzo's leadership following the United States’ withdrawal from the negotiations that preceded the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Mr. Sheehan characterized that leadership as a source of inspiration for like-minded economic partners seeking to respond to the rise of protectionism.

C.   State ministers, additional parliamentarians and other activities

On 17 February 2025, the Co-Chairs met with State Minister of Defense HONDA Taro, who thanked Canada for its participation in naval exercises and freedom-of-navigation activities in the Indo-Pacific region. In a discussion centred on health security, Senator Kutcher mentioned the need to increase cooperation in responding to health emergencies, including through building on the experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting the work of the World Health Organization. Senator Kutcher, Mr. Sheehan and State Minister HONDA also highlighted the need to fight disinformation, including in relation to such health issues as vaccinations.

Senator Kutcher and Mr. Sheehan also held a courtesy call with Ms. ERI Arfiya, member of Japan’s House of Representatives. Discussions during the meeting focused on disinformation and health security, as well as Japan’s and Canada’s experiences in countering disinformation relating to vaccines and responses to natural disasters. Participants underlined the importance of improving online literacy as a way to build trust, and noted that governments and civil society organizations have a role to play in that respect.

On 22 February 2025, Senator Kutcher met with representatives of Kraiany, a non-profit organization aiming to promote ties between Ukraine and Japan. The discussion centred on Kraiany-led initiatives designed to support the Ukrainian community in Japan.

FACT-FINDING SITE VISITS

A.   Fukuoka

On 19 February 2025, the Co-Chairs travelled to Fukuoka for meetings with members of the Fukuoka-Canada Society, including Mr. NUKI Masayoshi, Honorary Consul of Canada in Fukuoka and Senior Advisor to Kyūshū Electrical Power, the island’s main power provider. Participants discussed energy policy and decarbonization. In particular, they exchanged views about the development of renewable energy, as well as the potential for – and challenges of – small modular nuclear reactors in expediting the transition to low-carbon emitting energy sources.

Officials from Kyūshū’s Bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Economy provided Senator Kutcher and Mr. Sheehan with a briefing that included an overview of both the regional economic outlook and some factors contributing to the region’s economic vitality. The officials explained that Kyūshū benefits from its location near significant international shipping lines and major Asian population centres, specifically in China, South Korea and Taiwan. According to them, these factors made Kyūshū a hub for some of Japan's export-oriented manufacturing industries, including automobile, steel and semi-conductors. Finally, the officials indicated that the combination of economic vitality and the presence of high technology industries is making Kyūshū a main destination in Japan for foreign students and workers.

As well, Senator Kutcher and Mr. Sheehan visited Fukuoka Growth Next and met with Mr. SATO Mizuno, Director of Global Startup Support Section. According to Mr. SATO, Fukuoka Growth Next is a startup incubator that supports the development of startup foreign companies in Japan by providing office space, advice and help with visa applications that enable these startups to be registered in Japan and their founders to be relocated there. Mr. SATO also gave an overview of the variety of companies that Fukuoka Growth Next supports, and provided a tour of the facility.

B.   Kumamoto

On 20 February 2025, the Co-Chairs travelled to Kumamoto, where they met with the Kumamoto Prefecture Governor KIMURA Takashi and Kumamoto City Mayor ONISHI Kazufumi.

Governor KIMURA described the Kumamoto Prefecture’s economic recovery from earthquakes in 2016, particularly noting how the prefecture became a hub for the semi-conductor industry. As well, Governor KIMURA detailed the major investment that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited made in Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing to become majority owner; the joint venture recently opened a semi-conductor plant in Kumamoto, with the plant expected to employ more than 3,400 individuals. Mayor ONISHI emphasized the importance of high-quality groundwater in the region as a factor that contributes to attracting semi-conductor manufacturing. Moreover, Mayor ONISHI noted that Kumamoto City regularly participates in the United Nations Water Forum to promote water preservation, as well as to share and develop Kumamoto’s expertise in this preservation. Senator Kutcher, Mr. Sheehan, Governor KIMURA and Mayor ONISHI shared their hope for enhanced relations between Kyūshū and Canada, and supported the establishment of a direct air route between Kumamoto and Edmonton, Alberta, which is currently being examined by the relevant Canadian and Japanese authorities. Finally, Governor KIMURA and Mayor ONISHI thanked Canada for its support following the earthquakes in Japan in 2016.

On 21 February 2025, Senator Kutcher and Mr. Sheehan toured Kumamoto Gakkuen University and met with – among others – Mr. HAYASHI Hiroshi, the university’s president. Mr. HAYASHI drew attention to the university’s work and highlighted its partnerships with Canadian higher-education institutions, including exchange programs with the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Carleton University in Ontario and Saint Mary’s University in Nova Scotia. Senator Kutcher, Mr. Sheehan and Mr. HAYASHI exchanged views about ways to foster academic cooperation between Japan and Canada, as well as to improve on-campus mental health.

As well, Senator Kutcher and Mr. Sheehan visited the headquarters of the Western Army of the Ground Self-Defense Forces, where they met with Lieutenant General ARAI Masayoshi, Western Army’s commanding general. Lieutenant General ARAI explained that the Western Army is responsible for defending Kyūshū and the Ryukyu Archipelago, both of which are at the forefront of geopolitical flashpoints in the East China Sea, including Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula. Senator Kutcher, Mr. Sheehan and Lieutenant General ARAI underscored the situation in Japan’s westernmost island group – the Nansei islands – and noted that these islands would be particularly vulnerable if there were to be a conflict near Taiwan, which is close to the Nansei islands. They also discussed plans to protect and – if necessary – evacuate civilians on the Nansei islands, as well as the role of the central government and local authorities in supporting such efforts.

Lastly, Senator Kutcher and Mr. Sheehan toured the Kumamoto Industrial Revitalization Expo, which showcased private companies, educational institutions and other organizations linked to the semi-conductor industry, which is driving the region’s economic recovery.

Travel Expenses

Travel expenses associated with this activity can be found in the delegation’s financial report. This report is available in the Financial Disclosure section of the Parliamentary Diplomacy website.

Respectfully submitted,