Guest Speaker: Friday June 15, 2018
Location: The National Club, 303 Bay Street
Topic: Japan - Canada Relations and
What Japan is doing in Canada
Host: Knud Westergaard
Ms. Takako Ito Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) in 1985. Her overseas postings include Embassies in Canada (1988-1991), Malaysia (2001-2003), Indonesia (2010-2011), the Mission of Japan to the United Nations in NY (1997-2001) and the Mission of Japan to ASEAN as Deputy Chief of Mission (2011-2014).
At home, she served as Principal Deputy Director for Asia Europe Partnership Division (2003-2005), Negotiator for Economic Partnership Agreement (2005-2007), Principal Deputy Director for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs Division concurrently Transnational Crimes Division (2007- 2009), Director of Development Assistance Policy Planning Division (2009-2010), Assistant Press Secretary and Director of International Press Division (2014-2016), and Assistant Chief of Protocol of MOFA as well as Master of the Ceremonies at Imperial Household Agency (2016-2017).
She graduated from Sophia University in Tokyo in 1985 (B.L. in international legal studies) and received M.A. in international affairs from Norman Patterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, Canada, in 1988.
Her hobbies include playing the traditional Japanese musical instruments (Japanese harp (Koto) and Banjo (Shamisen)), collecting antiques, playing golf, scuba diving, travelling and enjoying good food. She won the Canadian National Kendo Championship in 1987.
She has received the Order of Civil Merit (Encomienda) from the Kingdom of Spain and the Order of the Crown (Officier) from the Kingdom of Belgium
Ms. Ito’s husband, Claude, was born in Ottawa. They have two children.