E.H. Norman Library

When the Embassy building was completed in 1991, the library was established on the B2 level alongside the art gallery and theatre, as a cultural facility representing Canada. In May 2001, on the tenth anniversary of its opening, the library was renamed the "E.H. Norman Library" in memory of Canadian historian and diplomat E. Herbert Norman (1909-1957), who dedicated his life to promoting friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of Canada and Japan.

The Library is open to the general public and offers services such as reference materials for on-site use and the lending out of books and audiovisual materials. It also serves as an Information Centre responding to general inquiries about Canada and as a Study in Canada Centre assisting students planning study in Canada.

• See the E.H. Norman library online catalogue

Library user guide

Hours of operation

• 13:30 p.m. to 17:30 p.m. Last entry: 17:00 p.m.
• Closed weekends and Embassy holidays

There is no smoking, food or beverages allowed in the library.

Visitor access to the Embassy of Canada to Japan requires government-issued photo identification (e.g. passport, drivers license, national qualification card, resident card or my number card), or two forms of identification

1. employee or health insurance card
2. an unexpired photo ID (e.g. company/corporation).

Equipment

• Computers are free to access information about Canada. No printer available.
• Video and DVD players available free of charge to view library materials.

Checkout/Registration

• Books, DVDs, videotapes and CDs can be borrowed free of charge.
• Up to 5 books may be borrowed for 4 weeks.
• Up to 5 DVDs, 5 videotapes and 5 CDs may be borrowed for 2 weeks.
  • Loan periods can be extended if there are no other reservations.
• Materials may be sent to users by mail at the user's expense.
• User registration is required to borrow materials from the Library.
• Registration is accepted by e-mail at tokyo.lib-bib@international.gc.ca, or complete an application at the service counter. Individual registrations only. Provide the following, as well as a copy of a photo ID:
  • Surname
  • First name
  • Current address and postal code in Japan
  • Current telephone number (home and/or cellular)
  • E-mail address
  • Work place or school address, postal code and telephone number
  • Nationality
  • If you are not a permanent resident of Japan, please provide the address and telephone number outside Japan
  • Occupation (please choose number)
    (1) Student (2) Academic (3) Business Person (4) Media (5) Professional (6) Other

Contact

Embassy of Canada to Japan
Public Affairs Section
7-3-38 Akasaka, Minato-ku
Tokyo 107-8503, Japan
Tel: (011-81-3) 5412-6200
E-mail: tokyo.lib-bib@international.gc.ca

• General questions about Canada are accepted by e-mail or postal mail.
  • The library cannot respond to inquiries about visas, travel, taxes, customs duties, etc.
• The library also distributes promotional materials on various aspects of Canada upon request. 

About E. Herbert Norman

The historian and diplomat E. Herbert Norman was born in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture on September 1, 1909, the third child of Canadian missionaries. After studying at the University of Toronto, Cambridge, Columbia, and Harvard, he joined Canada's Department of External Affairs in 1939. After WWII Norman was seconded at the request of the United States to the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers, where he was involved in the democratization and reform of occupied Japan. In August, 1946 he was appointed head of the Canadian Liaison Mission in Japan, and in September, 1951 served as chief advisor to Canada's representative at the San Francisco Conference on the Japan Peace Treaty. He became Canada's High Commissioner to New Zealand in 1953 and Ambassador to Egypt/Minister to Lebanon in 1956.

One of Norman's great achievements was his role in bringing in UN emergency forces to safeguard the peace in the Suez Crisis of 1956. Engulfed by the storm of fanatical McCarthyism during the Cold War, he took his own life while posted in Cairo on April 4, 1957.

In memory of Norman's lifelong achievements and efforts to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Canada and Japan, this library is named the "E.H. Norman Library".