I LOVE SUSHI: Japan Foundation's travelling sushi exhibition comes to the Embassy of Japan in Ottawa

Sushi is easy to find in Canada, but most of us know only a small part of its story. A free-to-browse travelling exhibition from the Japan Foundation looks at the dish through art, history and a recreated sushi shop. It is coming to Ottawa this month.

The Embassy of Japan in Canada's Japan-Related Event Calendar lists The Japan Foundation Traveling Exhibition: I LOVE SUSHI from November 16 to December 4. The venue is the Embassy of Japan at 255 Sussex Drive. Below we cover what is confirmed, what the exhibition contains and what you should check before you go.

The confirmed details

The information below comes from the embassy's event calendar, which was last updated November 3, 2026.

The phone number comes from the embassy's English homepage, which also lists I LOVE SUSHI under upcoming events. The calendar entry links to a separate exhibition page and an event flyer.

What the exhibition covers

The Japan Foundation's I Love Sushi project page describes several kinds of exhibits:

• ukiyo-e paintings and woodblock prints
• scale figures of seafood
• food samples
• videos and installations
• a replica of a Japanese sushi restaurant

The page also says the show touches on parts of Japanese history and culture. It names Hibino Terutoshi, described as an authority on local sushi traditions, as supervisor.

The Japan Foundation, Toronto's description covers the same ground. It says the show explains how Japan took in sushi in its original form and adapted it to local environments and lifestyles. It also looks at sushi as a possible food for the future, given today's food issues. The visit includes a simulated trip to a sushi shop in Japan.

The Japan Foundation links sushi to washoku, Japanese cuisine. Its project page notes that washoku is registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Ottawa is part of a longer tour

I LOVE SUSHI has been touring for years. The Japan Foundation's schedule lists 2025 stops in Mongolia, Brunei, Tanzania and Botswana. It also lists "2026 second semester Canada," which was marked as to be confirmed when we checked.

Ottawa is not the first Canadian stop. The Japan Foundation, Toronto showed the exhibition from September 15 to October 9, 2026. Admission there was free, and the organizers recommended booking a time slot in advance. Those were Toronto's rules, though. Don't assume Ottawa uses the same system.

Other stops have also been free. The Embassy of Japan in Singapore listed free admission for its 2023 run. In our view, there is a good chance the Ottawa stop will be similar, but this is not confirmed.

Why it may be worth a visit

This section is our opinion, not reporting. For Japanese speakers in Canada, the exhibition offers a calm way to share a familiar food with Canadian friends, coworkers or children. The ukiyo-e prints and the restaurant replica may make it easier to explain sushi etiquette and history than words alone.

It may also suit families looking for a short cultural outing before the holidays. The run is about three weeks long, with a two-day break in late November. If you want a quieter visit, it may help to go early in the run.

If you are outside Ottawa, the embassy calendar lists other Japan-related events in the region this fall. One example is an Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Nature from November 13 to 15.

Before you go: a quick checklist

• Confirm the opening hours on the embassy's exhibition page or flyer, which are linked from the event calendar.
• Check whether admission is free and whether you need to reserve.
• Ask whether you need to bring ID to enter the embassy building.
• Remember it is closed on November 23 and 24.

Have you been to the Toronto showing, or are you planning to visit in Ottawa? Share your tips and impressions with other Japanese speakers in the DOJI community. You can also browse more Japan-related happenings on DOJI Events.