Government of Japan

The Government of Japan’s contribution to the University of Toronto is advancing scholarship and helping forge stronger business and cultural ties between Japan and Canada.

While separated by 7,500 kilometres of ocean, Canada and Japan maintain close political, economic and cultural relationships. These include the recently concluded Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as international organizations such as the G7, G20, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Monetary Fund.

At the Japan-Canada Summit in May 2016, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe noted that Japan wished to support Japanese studies at Canadian universities in order to promote mutual understanding between the two countries. One year later, the Government of Japan designated $5 million to establish the Centre for the Study of Global Japan at U of T, as well as an endowed chair in Japanese politics and global affairs. This is the first endowment of its kind to be supported by a contribution from the Government of Japan to a Canadian university, and it builds on the University’s expertise as the home of Canada’s first department of East Asian studies.

Because of this generous gift, U of T will be able to attract leading scholars of Japan’s political, diplomatic and global affairs. The centre, based at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, will contribute research, share knowledge and acquaint students in Canada with Japan’s internal politics and international diplomacy—all of which will promote a better understanding of one of the world’s most influential cultures and its third-largest economy.