The Canadian Embassy kicked off Canada's largest festival in Japan on Tuesday, aiming to increase Japanese awareness of the country.

The festival, Think Canada 2001, is being held between March and July and features approximately 200 events in six categories: arts and culture, business, science and technology, politics and society, education, and food and living.

"One of the key aims of the festival is very simple -- to encourage Japanese to think more about Canada, about today's Canada," Ambassador Leonard J. Edwards told a news conference at the embassy.

Edwards explained that while many people in Japan are familiar with Canadian icons such as the maple leaf and the Rocky Mountains, these images reflect only one side of Canada. Think Canada aims to show the country's many other facets as it enters the 21st century, including high-tech innovations and artistic achievements, the ambassador said.

The High Tech Caravan is one Think Canada event taking place outside of Tokyo. Visiting 10 cities across the nation from Fukuoka to Sapporo, a team of embassy officers and Canadian industry experts will showcase advanced technologies, such as information technologies and those related to health and the environment.

One of the cultural programs, Canadian Film Festival 2001, will feature eight new Canadian feature films plus award-winning short productions and animated movies. The festival will be held in Tokyo from April 24 to April 30.

Other events taking place between April 18 and April 22 will include a visit by two Canadian Navy vessels to Nagoya port, a symposium on peace and security issues, an ice hockey match and a beach clean-up.