On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, the program participants visited the Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver. They heard fromDeputy Consul General Satomi Okagaki and Consul for Economic Affairs Keiji Hisata　regarding the current situations of Canada and British Columbia, where Vancouver is located, the relationship between Canada and Japan mainly in terms of the economy, and the history of Japanese immigrants. The Q&A session covered topics such as Canada’s economic activities, immigration issues, and indigenous peoples.

The comments from the participants after their visit included the following: “Receiving detailed explanations directly from the diplomats, I became fully aware of my lack of knowledge,” “I’ve learned about the unique relationship with Canada’s indigenous peoples,” and “I’ve learned about Canada’s consideration for indigenous peoples, as well as the country’s wealth of resources, such as wood and water. This was a good opportunity to change my perspective on how I should see things during my stay in Canada.” Fostering the participants’ international understanding, the program allows them to spend meaningful time.