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Report on Japan-Related Information Specialists in Canada

Tomoko Goto

Since Sept. 2004, there are no specific activities made as a group. However, Mr. Tadanobu Suzuki, the University of Victoria Library, gave a presentation on Nitobe Inazo at the conference of Japan Studies Association of Canada (JSAC) which took place on Oct. 15 - 17, 2004 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The conference was well attended with about 200 participants. The year 2004 marks the 75th anniversary of a diplomatic relations between Canada and Japan and the Historical Division of Foreign Affairs Canada had their conference in conjunction with JSAC. Also, as the first day of the conference, Oct. 15, is the 71st anniversary of the death of Nitobe Inazo in Victoria, Mr. Suzuki's presentation was timely and well taken. According to Mr. Suzuki, JSAC is interested in having a workshop on Japanese resources. Therefore, Mr. Suzuki and I are thinking to present a workshop at the 2005 JSAC conference. Since Mr. Suzuki will take the T-3 workshop in January 2005, this will be a good chance to use whatever he learns from it.

Ms. Lynne Kutsukake, the University of Toronto, spent three months at Keio University Library from Sept. to Nov. 2004. This is a part of a staff exchange program between Keio University and the University of Toronto. During 2003-2004, a librarian from Keio (Ms. Yumiko Murata) spent six months at the University of Toronto. A second librarian from Keio (Ms. Hijiri Okamoto) also spent six months there from August 2004 to January 2005.

There will be the 5th annual meeting on Sat. Jan. 29, 2005 at the Japan Foundation, Toronto. Ms. Asako Yoshida, the University of Manitoba, will give a report on 2004 JF-NDL Training Program for Information Specialists for Japanese Studies. Ms. Hijiri Okamoto, Keio University, and Ms. Lynne Kutsukake, the University of Toronto, will have reports on staff exchange program between the two universities. Mr. Tadanobu Suzuki, the University of Victoria, will give a report on T-3 workshop held at Duke University.

With the generous support of Japan Foundation, Toronto, Canadian information specialists on Japan had a meeting once a year since March 2000. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange ideas and to deliver various reports including JF-NDL workshop. The last four meetings were very valuable and meaningful to each participant and to his/her institution. But the time has come to evaluate and review how each information specialist on Japan was benefited from the meetings and how it was reflected to their work. In our next meeting we will evaluate and discuss future plans for the Canadian information specialists on Japan.

The membership of the group increased from 21 (2002) to 27 (2004). Throughout the year, member interactions are mainly done through the listserv. However, it is not very active yet and need some kind of improvement.