(From left to right) Mayor Smith with Yoshiaki Takahashi, Consul-General of Japan in Vancouver, Rear Admiral Ryoko Azuma and Danielle Laporte from representing the District of Hope. (Image Credit: Supplied)

By Fraser Valley Today staff

International Connection

Hope mayor celebrated sister-city tied at Japanese navel reception

Oct 9, 2026 | 11:25 AM

HOPE — Hope Mayor Victor Smith celebrated the community’s sister-city relationship with Izu, Japan, during a reception aboard a Japanese naval vessel in North Vancouver.

Smith represented the District of Hope at the Sept. 15 reception aboard JS Kashima at Burrard Dry Dock Pier, during a visit by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Training Squadron.

The event was co-hosted by Rear Adm. Ryoko Azuma, commander of the Japan Training Squadron, and Yoshiaki Takahashi, Japan’s consul-general in Vancouver.

The evening provided an opportunity to celebrate Hope’s connection with Izu, in Shizuoka Prefecture, renew friendships and build new relationships between Canada and Japan.

Guests shared food and sake, watched a drumming performance and spoke with crew members and other attendees. Smith also reunited with Takahashi for their third meeting.

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Drummers greeted guests at a reception aboard JS Kashima while it rested in a Burrard Dry Dock Pier in North Vancouver last month. (Image Credit: supplied)

Smith and District of Hope representative Danielle Laporte met Azuma, who became the first woman to command a warship squadron in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in 2018.

They also met Queenie Choo, an honorary captain of the Royal Canadian Navy affiliated with HMCS Vancouver and the first Chinese-Canadian woman to receive the honorary title.

JS Kashima and JS Yamagiri visited Vancouver from Sept. 15 to 18 as part of the squadron’s overseas training voyage. Public tours and cultural exchanges provided opportunities to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries.

by Fraser Valley Today staff

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Hope mayor celebrated sister-city tied at Japanese navel reception

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