Member of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: November 19, 2012
• Invested on: November 22, 2013

Yoshi Yoshihara has increased the profile of Canadian theatre abroad. Founder and senior executive of Komatsu Canada Limited, he is also an important patron of the arts. A frequent theatre-goer, he built bridges between Canadian and Japanese cultures by translating over 40 Canadian works of drama and introducing them to Japanese audiences. His desire to share Canadian culture led him to co-found the Maple Leaf Theatre, in Tokyo, where he promotes the work of Canadian playwrights.