Japanese Reflections of a Canadian Diplomat

~ Roundtable Discussion with Margaret Huber ~

Event Report

On November 8th, the CCCJ was pleased to welcome back to Japan an old friend and great supporter of Japan, Canada's former Consul General in Osaka, Ms. Margaret Huber.  Margaret has just come to the end of a stellar career in the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, a career which took her from Ottawa to Japan, Washington, New York, Manila, Milan, and Brussels.  Her last posting, as Canada's Ambassador to Jordan and Iraq (based in Amman Jordan, but with frequent travel inside Iraq) was perhaps her most challenging in terms of overcoming danger and physical hardship. But what many of the 20 or so attendees did not know was that her very first overseas experience was in Japan for work at a trading company. During this time she quickly gained a deep appreciation and affection for Japan. After a year in Japan she returned to Canada to obtain a Master's degree at the University of Ottawa, then she moved back to Japan for a 2 year intensive Japanese studies in preparation for assignment as the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo's first female Trade Commissioner.

Margaret is now moving on to the next phase of her career, as a Leadership Fellow at Harvard University.   In response to questions about Japan's constant struggle, with its isolationist tendencies, she emphasized the importance of encouraging young Japanese people and future leaders to venture beyond their own borders and embrace a global point of view; something she is looking forward to promoting in her new role.  She also spoke at length about the need for Canada to accelerate the pace of engagement in the fast growing Asian region, including of course the world's 3rd largest economy Japan.  In that regard she ended the discussion with the hope that one day, perhaps when the 2020 Tokyo Olympics once again thrust Japan into the global spotlight, the careful application of a little 'sports diplomacy' might lead to the re-opening of a Canadian Consulate in Osaka.