Hi all, I received the below email last week with some items that may be relevant. I edited the message for brevity.

Note the request for opt-in to the new Japan Canada Academic Network (JCAN) List on the embassy website with the form link below.

best Jim

________________________________ From: ESAKI HIROTO hiroto.esaki@mofa.go.jp Sent: August 5, 2026 10:35 To: James Young young@cs.umanitoba.ca Subject: [Embassy of Japan in Canada] Sharing information and Request [JSPS Alumni Manitoba-Saskatchewan]

Please allow me to take this opportunity to introduce the embassy's initiatives and request.

As you may know, 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the bilateral Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Science and Technology, signed in May 1986. To commemorate this milestone, the Embassy is advancing several initiatives to showcase and deepen our research ties. For background and updates, please see the Embassy$B!G(Bs anniversary page https://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/Japan-Canada-Science-Technology-Coope...

$B!&(BA Canada-based Principal Investigator (PI) list featuring Japanese researchers who are active PIs in Canada, and https://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/2026_shared_images/PI-Map-List.pdf $B!&(BA $B!H(BBRIDGE Researchers$B!I(B list of Japanese researchers with research experience at Canadian institutions https://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/Japan-Canada-Science-Technology-Coope... $B!&(BList of programs available for Canadian students and researchers to study and conduct research in Japan https://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/2026_shared_images/JAPAN-CANADA-Research-Fund...

I hope these lists will be useful for your activities!

In connection with these efforts, I would now like to create an opt-in directory of researchers who: $B-!(BAre currently based at Canadian institutions, $B-"(BHave existing research connections with Japan (e.g., past collaborations, funding, appointments, study/research experience), and $B-#(BAre open to future collaboration with partners in Japan.

I propose to publish this directory as the Japan Canada Academic Network (JCAN) List on the Embassy$B!G(Bs website to improve visibility and matchmaking for Canada?Japan research collaboration.

Attached file is the detail information about this initiative. Registered Form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/MFfWqLkiCP I would like to complete the list by September, so once the list can be shared, I plan to set a deadline for information provision.

Participation is strictly opt-in; entries will be published on the Embassy$B!G(Bs website and can be edited or removed upon request at any time by contacting me. I aim to publish the initial JCAN List shortly after the submission deadline and update it periodically. I value the JSPS alumni community$B!G(Bs leadership in connecting researchers across Canada and Japan, and Embassy would deeply appreciate your help in inviting your members to participate.

Thank you very much for your continued support of Canada?Japan science and technology cooperation. Please don$B!G(Bt hesitate to contact me if you would like any additional details.

Sincerely, Hiro $B!<!<!<!<!<(B Hiroto ESAKI (Mr.)

First Secretary (Education, Science, Technology, Innovation) Embassy of Japan 255 SussexDr., Ottawa, ON, K1N 9E6, CANADA

E-mail: hiroto.esaki @mofa.go.jp