Message from Executive Director Takashi Ishida
March 20, 2015
On the brink of the Vernal Equinox, marking the Northern Hemisphere’s long-awaited shift from winter to spring, we have our own major transition to announce. Effective September 1, 2015, the Japan Foundation, Toronto will be moving to a new location in the Hudson’s Bay Centre at 2 Bloor St. East.
The Japan Foundation opened its Toronto office in 1990, and later expanded its operations to become a cultural centre in 1995. At that time, we moved to the Colonnade Building and opened a public lending library, exhibition space and event hall. Over almost 20 years, countless exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, demonstrations, concerts, conferences, author’s and artist’s talks, and other events were organized, often in cooperation with Canadian partners, presenting diverse aspects of Japanese art, culture and society. We have appreciated our luck at being housed in the historic Colonnade building in the lively Yorkville neighbourhood. Most recently, we were proud to join the area’s arts and cultural organizations as a founding member of the Bloor Street Culture Corridor.
We are happy to be moving only a few short blocks east, to the dynamic intersection of Bloor and Yonge. The Japan Foundation will be just as accessible, if not more. Our new location is almost directly atop Bloor-Yonge Station, and the Foundation will continue to offer library service, gallery exhibitions, language classes and various free cultural events.
While preparing for the big move this summer, we will experience a brief suspension of regular service. During the springtime, however, we will continue our operations. Please visit our event calendar page for upcoming events, and our moving page. Our weekly newsletter will also keep you up-to-date on our progress.
In the meantime, we’ll look forward to seeing you during our last few months in the Colonnade!
Warm regards,
Takashi Ishida
Executive Director
