On today's holiday edition of the 'Global Exchange' Podcast, we speak with the outgoing Japanese Ambassador to Canada, Kenjiro Monji. Join Colin and Ambassador Monji for a discussion on the Ambassador's distinguished career, his impressions of Canada, the importance of Canada-Japan relations in the 21st century, and the importance of public diplomacy. As a special treat, towards the end of the Podcast, Ambassador Monji also provides a musical example of his own public diplomacy skills.

Bios:

Colin Robertson (host) - A former Canadian diplomat, Colin Robertson is Vice President of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and a Senior Advisor to Dentons LLP.

Kenjiro Monji - Japanese Ambassador to Canada.

Book Recommendation:

“The Remains of the Day” - by Kazuo Ishiguro (https://www.amazon.ca/Remains-Day-Novel-Kazuo-Ishiguro-ebook/dp/B00I1ZJIA4/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1514573575&sr=1-2)

Related Links:

- “Canada-Japan Relations” – Government of Canada (http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/japan-japon/bilateral_relations_bilaterales/index.aspx?lang=eng)

- “Building on a Friendship: Canada-Japan Relations in 2017” – Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada (https://www.asiapacific.ca/blog/building-friendship-canada-japan-relations-2017)

- “In wake of Trudeau's summit no-show, Japan raises possibility of a Trans-Pacific Partnership without Canada” – Marie-Danielle Smith [National Post] (http://nationalpost.com/news/politics/in-wake-of-trudeaus-summit-no-show-japan-raises-possibility-of-a-trans-pacific-partnership-without-canada)

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Head over to our website at cgai.ca for more commentary.

Produced by Jared Maltais. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

Disclaimer: This Podcast was originally recorded on October 28th 2017.