Official Visit of Consul General Uchikawa to New Brunswick (October 29-31, 2025)
From October 29 to 31, Consul General Uchikawa and his spouse made an official visit to New Brunswick.
They paid a courtesy call on the Lieutenant Governor, Louise Imbeault, with whom they discussed the history of New Brunswick, the friendly relations between the province and Japan, as well as various shared social issues. The Lieutenant Governor also discussed various topics of interest related to Japan. This meeting provided Mr. and Mrs. Uchikawa with an opportunity to introduce the JET Programme and the MEXT Scholarships.
They subsequently met with the Premier, Susan Holt, to discuss the current and future state of relations between Japan and New Brunswick, particularly in the fields of fisheries and natural resources. The Consul General also requested her continued support in ensuring the safety of local Japanese residents and presented initiatives related to Japanese language education at two universities in the province, as well as the JET Programme and MEXT Scholarships.
At the office of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Francine Landry, they discussed Japan–New Brunswick cooperation in the fisheries and natural resources sectors, and requested the province’s continued support for the protection of Japanese nationals. They also presented Japanese language education initiatives in the province, the JET Programme, and MEXT Scholarships.
Mr. and Mrs. Uchikawa then met with the Minister of Natural Resources, John Herron, to discuss economic relations between Japan and New Brunswick, particularly in the areas of mining and forestry, both strategic sectors for the province.
They also met with the Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Pat Finnigan, with whom they discussed economic relations between Japan and New Brunswick in these sectors, which are also major exporters to Japan.
With the Minister responsible for Opportunities NB, Minister responsible for Economic Development and Small Business, Minister responsible for NB Liquor and Cannabis NB, Luke Randall, they discussed strengthening bilateral economic relations, as well as promoting Japanese alcohol imports in New Brunswick.
Finally, the couple met with the Deputy Minister of the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour, Dan Mills. Together, they discussed the situation of higher education and the labour market in the province, and they presented Japanese language education programs at two provincial universities, along with the JET Programme and MEXT Scholarships.