NIKKEI

Japanese Canadian National Museum Newsletter ISSN#1203-9017 Autumn 2001, Vol. 6, No. 3

Roy Hamaguchi, a Gizmo Award Winner by John Hurst A Canadian engineer of Japanese ancestry who experienced with his family the dislocating effects ofthe Second World War on Japanese , has been honored for his work in inventing assistive devices for people with disabilities. Roy Hamaguchi was one of five technically skilled volunteers living in Lower Mainland communities who received Gizmo Awards recently, from the Tetra Society of North America. The awards ceremony was held at the Hilton Metrotown in Bumaby. Tetra matches skilled technicians, designers and engineers with people with disabilities who • face obstacles to independence in such areas as self-care, work and leisure. Hamaguchi, of West Vancouver, won the Hydrecs Award for Emergent Technology. He modified a laser pointer for a child with cerebral palsy that would meet strict school district safety Roy Hamaguchi poses with fellow retired engineer, Murray Henry, at the 2001 requirements. "They wanted a light Gizmo Awards ceremony. Each man won an awardfor inventing devices to assist source strong enough to allow the persons with disabilities. (Tetra Society photo, 2001) child to point at various things on his desk or on the blackboard," Contents Hamaguchi said in an interview with the North Shore News. "The problem Roy Hamaguchi, A Gizmo Award Winner 1 is the school board bans laser pointers The Biography of Sataro Kuwahara, Retail Merchant 2 because they can damage the retina Steveston Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre 4 if shone directly in a child's eye." Fraser Valley Buddhist Church' 45th Anniversary Service 5 A retired optical engineer, he Bamfield, Vancouver Island 6 commented, "Technically, it was not The First Powell Street Festival 8 difficult. The difficulty came in Mary Hirano:Cultural Events Coordinator 11 trying to convince the (Surrey) school Does Anyone Know? 12

Continued on page 2 board that lasers can be made safe." combined with a liking for Announcements Regular laser pointers have a beam calculation." With many other Nikkei Heritage Dinner diameter that almost matches the , the Hamaguchi September 15,2001 pupil size of the eye. If aimed at the family was relocated during the eye, the laser directs all the energy Second World War to an internment Dedication of Charcoal Pit Kiln into the retina, damaging it camp. The spent one and a half years Galiano Island, September 16, 2001 permanently. He increased the in a camp at Minto mine, near Bridge beam's diameter from two River, B.C., before moving to the Annual General Meeting millimeters to 14 millimeters, nearby community of Greenwood, in October, 13, 2001 spreading the energy over a larger 's west Kootenay area. A filter was added to the front region, near the U.S. border. Wine/Sake Tasting of the beam to reduce its strength Hamaguchi graduated from November 2,2001 further. The beam is attached to the high school in Greenwood, and from child's head with a velcro strap and the University of British Columbia. Nikkei Fishermen's Reunion shines up to a distance of nine meters. While he was a student at UBC, he November 3, 2001 By enlarging the beam size and came to know Audrey, the woman Mochitsuki adding a light filter to the pointer, who would become his wife. They December 29, 2001 Hamaguchi was able to dilute the would meet again later when they 12:00 - 4:00 pm laser's strength enough to make it were working in Eastern , safe for use in the classroom. He said Ray as an engineer and Audrey as a the school board is so pleased with public health nurse. the pointer, it is duplicating the The Hamaguchis have two Nikkei Images is published by device for other disabled students. children. A son is graduating from the Japanese Canadian National Museum "The best part was to see the the Plastics Technology Program at child's face when he tried it out. He British Columbia Institute of Tech­ can't verbalize and he can't use his nology, and a daughter who gradu­ Editorial Board: arms very well, but he had this ated from a college in the U.S. and Stanley Fukawa, Grace Hama, tremendously happy smile on his lives in New York. Frank Kamiya, Mitsuo Yesaki, face," Hamaguchi said. "It's a Nature and wildlife photog­ Carl Yokota simple thing too, but it makes a whole raphy have always been Hamaguchi's lot ofdifference for him because now hobby in his free time. Currently, he he's able to communicate more." volunteers for the Tetra Society of SUbscription to Nikkei Images His past projects for Tetra North America and the Japanese Ca­ is free with your yearly subscription to JCNM: have ranged from non-slip bathtubs nadian National Museum. Family $25 seats to wheelchair bumpers that Hamaguchi is one of more than 50 Individual $20 allow kids to play power soccer. active Tetra volunteers in Vancouver, Senior/Student $15 Hamaguchi was born in most of whom are retired engineers, Senior Couple $20 Steveston as one of nine children in mechanics or scientists. The local Non-profit Association $50 a Japanese-Canadian family. "I was chapter tackles about 100 challenges Corporate $100 always interested in doing things with every year. Call Tetra at 604-688­ $1 per copy for non-members my hands," he said, "and this was 6464. The Biography of Sataro Kuwahara, JAPANESE CANADIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM Retail Merchant by Tom Kuwahara 120-6688 Southoaks Crescent, On November 19, 1886, Christianity and became a Methodist. Burnaby, B.C., V5E 4M7 Sataro Kuwahara was born in Hikone When he was about 18 years Canada City, Shiga Prefecture. Not much is of age, he told his father that he tel: (604) 777-8000 known about his early childhood wanted to go to Canada and fmd work fax: (604) 777-7001 except he learned a little English in as an interpreter. As he was the eldest [email protected] school and was very interested in the of seven children, his father www.jcnm.ca possible financial rewards available (Tomejiro) was quite upset that his in Canada. He learned about first son wanted to leave home. 2 March 29, 1914, Hiroshi was born. go into the retail business In the summer of 1914, Sataro's step­ permanently and Sataro began to mother became ill and his wife and work full time at it. He did not have son had to go to to look after any problem selling his Mission farm his many brothers and sisters. During to a Mr. Saito. In 1923, Sataro moved the First World War very few ships his family to Calgary and leased a crossed the Pacific, so Sataro was home near the store. Here three more separated from his family for four children were born: Ken, Grace and years. On October 24, 1914 Sataro Dick. became a naturalized Canadian. In At first Mr Nishio sent small his work, he spent some time at the items such as toys, novelties, and Banff Springs Hotel and the Royal necklaces, but the public wanted Alexandra Hotel in Winnipeg. other goods like silk, rayon and Seeing no future in working cotton fabrics. However, the as a bell-hop, Sataro persuaded a Mr. quantities involved in these goods Chiba to go into farming with him. were enormous and to solve this On December 4, 1917 they bought problem they started a wholesale Sataro Kuwahara. (Tom Kuwahara fifteen acres of prime berry land in company which they called "Oriental photo. date unknown) Mission, B.C. and cleared five acres. Importing Co." Rayon brocades were However, since he was so Mr. Chiba did not like farming so sold in large quantities to funeral determined, Tomejiro finally gave up Sataro carried on by himself. On this casket companies to line their coffins. trying to change his mind and wished farm, two of Sataro's sons, Tom and Low priced cotton crepes were sold him well in his new profession as an Mitsuo, were born. Since he in a vast array of colours to many English-Japanese interpreter. understood English better than most wholesalers. Silk yarns were shipped On board the ship that was of the other Mission Japanese, he on special fast trains to Winnipeg coming to Canada, Sataro tested his assisted in many business meetings where they were made into silk English but when he spoke to the on their behalf and interpreted for stockings. Nippon Bazaar was not sailors working on board, he found them. involved in this silk yarn business, to his dismay, that he could not Ippei Nishio who operated but they sold large quantities of silk understand what they were saying an importing company for Japanese stockings to consumers in Calgary. nor could they understand what he goods became a friend of Sataro's In 1932 under the new name was saying. and pursuaded him to travel in the "Nippon Silks & Products Co Ltd.", Under these circumstances, Western Provinces selling his the company moved into a 8250 when he landed in Canada he could products. Farming is very seasonal square feet building across the street only take menial jobs that came along and Sataro became a salesman in the from Woolworth's and one-halfblock until he could improve his off-season. It was during these travels from the Bay store. They had 28 part­ understanding of the English that Sataro became convinced of a time and full-time employees language. In 1908 he found a steady great future in trade between Japan working for them and were job as an elevator-boy in the and Canada. However, first he considered the leader in the sale of prestigious Hotel Vancouver, where wanted to have a store of his own and silk hosiery and yard goods in he quickly became the head bell-man. looked at many possible locations. Calgary. In this position he also found Finally, he found one across the street On March 3, 1935 they employment for other Japanese to from where he usually stayed when opened another store in Regina under work in various cities such as Banff, in Calgary. the management of G. Kitagawa. Lake Louise, Winnipeg and Calgary. Forming a partnership with Tokujiro Wakabayashi was hired to For about twelve years he worked for two of his friends, Genzo Kitagawa help him. A few years later, S. Inouye the CPR and in his spare time he and Shigejiro Inouye, they formed a and his son Fred opened another studied English, built a couple of company they named "Nippon branch in Edmonton. Eizo Bob Hori houses, and courted a Miss Setsuko Bazaar" and sold products that Mr. also joined the company. In 1939 Matsubayashi. Nishio sent them. Their original plan when Canada's relations with Japan On April 25, 1912 he was to stay in business only for one were deteriorating, Sataro and married Setsuko Matsubayashi in a month before Christmas but since the Continued on page 4 Methodist Church in Victoria. On profits were so good they decided to 3 company opened a store in manufacturing company in Canada early years continued to grow as a Vancouver across the street from the called Tan Jay, of Winnipeg. family business for many years after Hotel Vancouver. Sampei Sugiura Ultimately they became the largest his death. In May 1958, a branch and Jiro Matsuoka became the new distributor for Tan Jay in Western store was opened in Medicine Hat partners in this company called Canada. A new company was set and in April 1971 another was "Nippon Silks BC Ltd." up to sell ready-ta-wear called Karen opened in Lethbridge. At the peak When the Pearl Harbour Tina and many stores were started of the company's growth it had 18 Attack came, Sataro worried that he under this name. stores located in six cities in Western would lose everything he had worked Sataro felt that he was a very Canada. The company owned five for. He had had great dreams of lucky man and wanted to help others. buildings in prime retail locations, building a large trading company, If he found out that there were any employed about 200 full time and doing business between Canada and Japanese coming to Calgary, he part time workers and reached an Japan. He had sent one of his sons, would meet them at the train station annual sales plateau of almost Mitsuo, to learn the language and be and entertain them although they $5,000,000. in a position to buy merchandise to were strangers to him. He became Sataro's accomplishments ship to Canada. Japan also wanted President of the Japanese Social club have been recognized by the this trade to increase and they had which helped many Japanese that residents of Calgary and a special awarded him with a Medal of Merit were being relocated due to the war. display was recently opened at the from the Nippon Industrial This group set up a Co-op to help Fort Calgary Museum. Association on November 25, 1936. local Japanese obtain food that Professor K. Suyenaga of On December 7, 1941 they became difficult to obtain. He was Doshisha University, Curator of the had to eliminate all references to interested in golf and started the Historical Museum of Ohmi "Nippon" and the name of the com­ Alberta Japanese Golf Association Merchants has reported to the pany was changed to Silk 0 Lina and sponsored many annual Kuwahara family in Canada that Ltd., which emphasized the fact that tournaments. there is a display in Japan, in the they were in the silk business. Up to The War was devastating for prefecture of his birth, of Sataro this time they only leased the stores Sataro as it was for many people Kuwahara's accomplishments. The as Japanese were not allowed to buy living at that time. His son, who Merchants of the feudal fiefdom of property. When this restriction was happened to be in Japan when the war Ohmi have for hundreds of years lifted on March 6, 1946 they bought started, was conscripted and died in been recognized as the most the Regina store on July 18, 1946. Saipan. He also learned his father had successful entrepreneurs in Japan. On October 20, 1947 they bought the died and all his relatives in Japan After the Emperor was restored in three-storey Calgary store. were desperately poor. Sataro 1868, Ohmi became Shiga Except for silk hose, they did suffered a stroke in April 1950, and Prefecture, and Sataro was able to very little in the silk fabrics business although the doctor said he would die bring that Ohmi tradition to Canada's and started to sell more and more within weeks, he lived three more prairie provinces and he and his sons ladies ready-to-wear. Every few years until July 11, 1953. did very well despite the grave weeks they received truck loads of The company that Sataro problems caused by the war between clothing from the largest sportswear had started and nurtured during the Canada and Japan.• Steveston Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre by Kelvin Higo On September 22, 1988, the An ad hoc committee Canadians from the West Coast. It Japanese Canadian Redress comprised ofestablished community was also felt that a facility such as a Agreement was signed and the groups including the Steveston cultural centre could be a place where Canadian government issued an Community Society, the Japanese this population could attend and apology for the past injustices against Language School, United Church, spend their remaining years enjoying the Japanese Canadians. Shortly the Buddhist Church, and the Judo/ various activities and functions. thereafter, capital construction grants KendolKarate clubs met to discuss Through the generous were available to those regions and the opportunity to build a lasting donations from the Japanese areas able to show support for a memorial to the Japanese Canadian Canadian Redress Committee capital project and willing to Issei and Nisei who were impacted ($500,000), the B.C. Government contribute financially to it. by the relocation of the Japanese

4 The Centre is also home to the Steveston Kokufu Shigin Group where shigin is still practised today. Mr. Toshio Murao, co-sponsor ofthis group, recently travelled to Japan to attend a shigin contest. This is the second tournament he has attended in recent years and he reports that he thoroughly enjoyed the various activities and the opportunity to sing at this prestigious event. There is also a very active Japanese Craft group of between 15-35 members working diligently underthe tutelage of several instructors who provide guidance on constructing paper cranes from cigarette boxes to making Japanese dolls out of fish can labels. Members also sell their crafts at the July 1st Salmon Festival held annually .. in Steveston Park and donate the proceeds to the Centre. Steveston Japanese Canadian ClI/wra/ Centre (Kell'in Higo Karaoke is also a very popular activity and at photo, 200J) any given time there are several groups operating out of GOBC Fund ($259,000), community fundraising the senior's lounge where the karaoke machines are ($100,000), the Steveston Community Society and the located. These groups tend to be smaller in size so that City of Richmond, the Japanese Canadian Cultural everyone has an opportunity to take their turn at singing. Centre was built in Steveston Park in 1992. The Steveston gateball group is also indirectly The philosophy of the Centre is to provide affiliated with the Centre and can take advantage of any activities primarily for the Issei and Nisei members of of the City ofRichmond's leisure activities. Any affiliated our community and secondly to thc following Nikkei group of the Centre can book transportation for a nominal generations as a place to promote and keep alive the fee, which assists these groups in travelling to other cultural and heritage legacy of our community. Though venues to partake in activities or outings. the Japanese Canadian community has first opportunity The Tatsumi Japanese Dance Society uses the at any space that is available in the facility, there are no Centre for its practices. The Society recently celebrated restrictions as to who else may use the centre. It was felt its 30th Anniversary by hosting a sold out performance that we as Japanese Canadians should be the last to at the Gateway Theatre. Chiyoko Hirano as the head discriminate against other ethnic groups because of the instructor plays an integral part in the promotion of the injustices to our community. cultural heritage ofthe Japanese Canadians by continuing Currently a wide variety ofgroups use the facility to teach Japanese dances to a new generation of children. including the Japanese Language School that operates She also chairs the Japanese Canadians activities during five days a week in the Centre. Language is often thought the Salmon Festival on July 1st in Steveston. She organizes to be a unifier to our cultural past and as such an important a variety of activities and demonstrations in the Martial skill to maintain. The Wakayama Kenjin Kai also meets Arts Centre as well as the Cultural Centre. regularly at the facility and it is interesting to note that The Chinese Seniors Circle meets once weekly over 300 persons attended this group's last social activity. and the Richmond Golden Rods and Reels Society Many of the Steveston area residents can call Wakayama convenes twice weekly in the Centre. Prefecture their ancestral home, which accounts for this Overall, the Centre is being well utilized but it group's strong membership. This group also has a regular is hoped that we can look to hosting more cultural bonsai club which meets once a week in the centre to activities in the future to keep some of the Nikkei share techniques and ideas about this ancient art form. traditions alive and meaningful for new generations. 0­ Fraser Valley Buddhist Church' 45th Anniversary Service by Stan Fukawa On May 13, 2001, in a structure reminiscent of Bradner in the heart of the daffodil growing country, it pre-war Japanese Canadian communities, a small crowd was built on land donated to the Buddhist congregation of mainly Nikkei gathered to celebrate the 45 th by Mr. Kazuo Imamura. anniversary of the building of the temple in 1955 by Master of ceremonies was Joe Tateyama, thirteen dedicated families who returned to the Coast after president of the Fraser Valley Bukkyokai. Rev. Orai the internment years. Located on Haverman Road in Continued on page 6 5 Fujisawa conducted the service with a special sermon by Shikaze, Joe Tateyama, and Yosh Kariatsumari. He urged Bishop Kyojo Ikuta, head of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist the people to participate in a project to collect the life Churches of Canada. Bishop Ikuta's father Shinjo was stories of all Japanese Canadians who lived or who still the priest who officiated at the ceremony opening the live in the Aldergrove-Matsqui-Abbotsford area for a year FVBC 46 years previously. Representatives from the or more. Canada, B.C., Vancouver and Steveston Jodo Shin The afternoon concluded with the traditional organizations also participated. Japanese Canadian buffet - sushi, sashimi, ter(vaki At the end of the service, Stan Fukawa spoke on salmon, BBQ mackerel, chow mein, manju and other behalf of a committee including Nobby Ishikawa, Naomi goodies. ~ Bamfield, Vancouver Island by Midge Ayukawa If The films were mailed out for Margaret described her developing and then carefully placed childhood when she rowed herself in a photo album. Now she has daily across Bamfield Harbour to donated this invaluable record to the attend the one-room school. She JCNM. Margaret drew a rough named older Nisei boys who were sketch of where the boats had been also at that school. The Uyede family anchored and referring to some of the lived two houses away from her photos, she pointed out her home, and home, and the Suzuki's wcre also where some of her Japanese nearby. Other Japanese families neighbours had lived. She also had li ved on the shore of Grappler Creek. photos of the Canadian Navy officer, She recalled that the Uyedes had two How many of us who and the ship that had escorted the little girls who were Margaret's casually take snapshots ever think of boats. (See map and photos) After younger sister's age. Margaret said the import of what may now have briefly scanning the shelves and she occasionally visited the Uyede been recorded for posterity? In early shelves of books in her living room, home to play with the girls and December 1941, eleven-year-old she zeroed in on one particular book enjoyed the Japanese rice cracker Margaret Wishart (now Wright) and then identified the navy ship as treats Mrs. Uyede often gave her. joined the many others in Bamfield likely to be the HMCS GIVENCHY, The mother of Margaret's friend, who were taking photos of the a Battle Class Trawler. Ebba Ostrom, used to visit baek and Japanese Canadian fishing boats that This fortuitous connection forth with Mrs. Uyede. were anchored in the harbour. has not only provided us with A few years after the Immediately after the December 7, priceless photos, but also given us an Japanese were expelled from the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor by the opportunity to gather information on area, Margaret moved away from Japanese military, the boats, from the some of the Japanese Canadian Bamfield to continue her education west coast of Vancouver Island ­ fishers who lived in onc small in Esquimalt, where she lived with Tofino, Ucluelet-had been rounded community on the west coast of her maternal grandmother. She up by the Canadian Navy. Rough Vancouver Island, Bamfield. The recalled that the transition from a weather had forced the boats to take story Margaret wove of her childhood one-room school to a large urban high shelter at Bamfield for two days and the area she lived in appeared to school had been traumatic and she before they were able to resume their be almost idyllic. The Japanese was as quiet as a mouse. But one journey to the Fraser River. Canadian families were accepted by day when she was in grade nine she In January 2001, Margaret the general populace and did not all spoke up. What had aroused her was discussed the photos with me. live in a separate area. There were a fellow student's comment that Everyone had rushed out with their occasional rumours and people were vandalizing the Takata cameras but the films, she later heard, misunderstandings, however. For Tea Garden. (Note: The Takata Tea had been confiscated by the example, when her neighbour, the Garden had for decades been a authorities. Hers however had Uyede family, had the two kanji popular site on the Gorge Inlet where survived because none had paid characters for Uyede painted on the families picnicked, enjoyed the attention to a child rowing around the roof of their house, some people English-style tea served in a Japanese fleet on an errand to pick up the wondered later if it was a message tea house surrounded by a beautiful family's daily supply of goats' milk. for possible Japanese invaders. Japanese garden. The father and 6 B .\ \ 1 I I J 1) • [) I ( I L) -1 I first engineer at the Esquimalt dockyard. Margaret's grandmother had married William Trowsdale, the Foreman of Works of the Marine Department in 1900. When the British ship, HMS Hood, had returned from a bp"n,'':,(' Fdmily trip to Japan (likely 1910), a sailor had presented a Hom'.:') complete tea set to Margaret's grandmother and a delicate '5~~1:!~11 • coffee mug to the young daughter, Ethel (Margaret Store. , School. ,'~';'.;';~ ­ Wright's mother). Ten place settings of the tea set were ,• donated a while ago to the Royal British Columbia ,, Museum but Margaret had retained a few pieces, , Port Alhern; I Homl'~ presumably for sentimental reasons, since the set had been " .. I passed down from grandmother to mother and then to I -- Margaret. Margaret also donated several books from the extensi ve collection she had gathered when she had managed the bookstore at Woodwards in the Mayfair Mall, Victoria. The JCNM will especially treasure the items not ,. only for their historical value but also because of the Ucluplct \\'.(()l \l.l! donor, Margaret Wright, who had been a remarkable I S L ..\ r, I) young girl who dared to speak up because she had a positive memory of a small group of Japanese Canadian fisher families in remote Bamfield. We thank Margaret Wright -a very special person. I checked a 1940 Tairiku publication, Zai Kanada /~JI /)//:\ hojinjinmeiroku [Record of Japanese in Canadal. The following were listed as living in Bamfield: Uyede Ichizo, Map ofBamfield showing area where the Japanese troller Suzuki Shoichi, Hiraoka Heijiro, Hiraoka Masao, fleet anchored prior to steaming for the Fraser River. Kawaguchi Yoshigoro, Kondo Bunnosuke, Takeuchi (Drawn by Tim de Lange Boom, Omega Design, Victoria) Fujitaka, Kakiuchi Iwakichi, Kakiuchi Iwaichi. (Some uncle ofToyo Takata, a national advisor and fonner board names may have different kanji readings). member of the JCNM were the proprietors.) He said Some ofthe Japanese Canadians stayed in touch that the expulsion of the Japanese Canadians from the west coast had been necessary, a wartime precaution. Margaret protested vehemently, and the ensuing free-for­ all was interrupted by the teacher who suggested a debate. Margaret argued that the Japanese were not spies and the government actions had been unwarranted. Many others claimed otherwise. When the debate was over, the class took a vote and decided that Margaret had been the victor. She had been the most persuasive she said because she KNEW the Japanese Canadians and KNEW they were not dangerous, while the others had just "bought" the propaganda. She is over-modest however, because she must have had an extraordinary ability for public speaking since she later became a radio broadcaster, and also conducted weekly interviews on a daytime television program in Victoria, "Maturity of the Golden Years." Margaret not only donated the original snapshots that she had taken in December 1941, but also some fine bone china that had belonged to her maternal grandmother, Margaret Trowsdale (Mrs. W. H. P. Japanese trollers in Bamfield harbour before steaming for Trowsdale), who was the daughter of A. C. Muir, the the Fraser River. (1CNM photo, 1941) 7 with their Bamfield friends. and that the Hiraoka family had to fish, Fred Shoichi Suzuki to Margaret contacted some of her moved to Golden where Kiyoshi Uclulet and Ichiro Henry Uyede to friends and heard that the two Uyede passed away but Masao may still be Bamfield. ~ girls became teachers in Vancouver, there. Two men returned to the area The First Powell Street Festival by Tamio Wakayama Since I was never directly at Language Aid, run by several assignments, I spent a lot more involved in its organization, I can't beautiful recent immigrants from aftemoons and evenings participating provide you with a detailed structural Japan. I walked into the unassuming in the rich social life of Tonari account of the first Powel! Street store front office near Main Street Gumi. My usual routine was to go Festival. I can, however, share with and was greeted by the lovely and for my late morning coffee break to you my remembrances of an gracious Michiko who quickly the Lenity Cafe on Hastings and then extraordinary moment in our translated my letter. During our long hang out at Language Aid and communal life when so many conversation, I happened to mention Tonari Gumi. One morning Miehiko divergent streams came together to that I was looking for a teacher of walked into the Lenity and demanded spawn the remarkable celebration the shakuhachi, which I had begun we talk. She was brimming with called the Powell Street Festival. to study in Japan and she suggested I excitement - wc had to mount a photo Although I was born in the walk up the street to Tonari Gumi exhibit on Japanese Canadian Fraser Valley, I didn't return to the to meet Take-chan. Michiko was and history! As a Japanese immigrant, West Coast until 1972 when I stopped still is a most warm and generous she had had no knowledge ofNikkei over in Vancouver after a year spent host, and I couldn't have asked for a history until she began to hear the in Japan, which was the final leg of better introduction to the community dramatic biographies of her Issei my journey through the political and that was about to engulf my life. clients - the hardships of the early social movements of the tumultuous On entering Tonari Gumi I pioneering years, the vitality of Littlc 60s. The ancestral land had been was immediately assaulted by an Tokyo, the trauma of the uprooting, immensely rewarding but in the end amplified voice blaring out the the courageous rebuilding of the stifling heat and humidity of bilingual numbers of Bingo. Seated shattered lives in the post war period. summer in Tokyo made me long for at badly scarred tables scattered It was a powerful and important story the open spaces of home. In around the large room were about 20 that was so little known. It had to be Vancouver I happened to meet up seniors who reminded me so much told and would I, as a photographer, with an old friend who whisked me of my own parents and while they be willing to help. I dampened her off to the wilds of Thurlow Island, stared intently at their cards, a bevy enthusiasm by responding that I had located some 100 plus miles north of of young attractivc women scurried absolutely no interest in the topic and Campbel! River, and the pristine around refilling tea cups and plates besides, I was having too much fun beauty of this wilderness island of cookies and sembe. I somehow playing hotshot photographer. She became a magnet that drew me back managed to locate Take in the midst said I should get back to being a real each summer. of this madness and was immediately person and a real artist and although Eventually I relocated my put at ease by his megawatt smile. I didn't say anything, I thought it was studio in an old home in We sat and talked for a long time and awfully presumptuous of her to tell Vancouver's Strathcona area and I was delighted when he suggested I me how to run my life. Despite my began to delve into commercial come once a week to his home to play negativity, I did agree to attend a photography, which, from the lofty the shakuhachi. I spent the rest of the meeting to discuss her idea. heights of my artist and political afternoon meeting others in this We met at my house and the purity, I had always disdained. dynamic group of young Nisei, dozen or so people who came were However, in the spring a letter from Sansei and new immigrants who pretty evenly divided into Sansei, my mother managed to arrest my were forging a lively renaissance of Nisei and recent immigrants. It was nearly complete transfonnation into their community. On the short walk the first time I met Gordon Kadota a slick, city photographer. After hours home I remember thinking how much who was to play a critical role not of fruitless labor wrestling with my I had felt at home in this rather bizarre only in the photo project (he rescued mother's indecipherable calligraphy, place that, in some curious way, our floundering attempts to publish my roommate suggested I walk up the seemed so absolutely right. the exhibit in its book form) but also street to Hastings Street and seek help Since I was in between in the birth of the Powell Street

8 Festival. I suspect the Canadian born the upheavals of the 60s, I had never of Little Tokyo, was also significant shared my unease at the novel used my growing consciousness to for it gave us a strong sense of prospect of working with our ethnic question my own life growing up as recapturing conquered territory. peers for the denial of our racial an Enemy Alien. But now, in this In our minds the festival heritage in the desolate post-war dusty studio on Powell Street, it was concept had a certain noble grandeur years had led inevitably to a rejection all coming together. We were finally but, in so many ways, it was doomed ofour community. However, we were reclaiming our past and together we to failure and to this day I'm amazed all carried away by Michiko's began to shed the wartime legacy of that it ever came to be. The main infectious enthusiasm and in the end, ignorance and subconscious shame. thrust of the festival was to cut committed ourselves to the project. We mounted the first version through all generational, religious We even anted up $100 each to get of our exhibit at the Centennial and organizational lines to be a true the ball rolling. Museum in June of 1976 with a gala celebration of the entire community. We organized ourselves opening. Kuniko, an architect from Surely it would work for, after all, under the unwieldy title of the Japan, had designed these beautiful weren't we the living embodiment of Japanese Canadian Centennial cedar walls for additional hanging the Nikkei ideal of four generations Project and got down to work. After space and the show looked great. The working in perfect harmony? successfully registering the JCCP as exhibit itself was well received and Unfortunately, when we went to a non-profit society we applied for our granting sources were eager to apply this worthy vision to the real several grants and once we had continue their support, which was world we ran head first into a sufficient funds we rented the third fortunate for the ad hoc committee polarization that we had helped to floor of a bakery on Powell Street for coordinating the Japanese Canadian create. our project studio. We di vided up the Centennial, was about to invite us to On one side ofthe communal necessary tasks and since I was the become one of their two national fence, were the new kids on the block only photographer, I was designated projects. We agreed to expand the represented organizationally by as project director and curator of the exhibit to include the post war period Tonari Gumi, Language Aid and exhibit. Thanks to the trust built up of resettlement in all parts of Canada the JCCP (the membership was by Tonari Gumi and Language Aid and immediately went to work on the interchangeable). We had come we received the full cooperation of second phase of our project that was through the upheavals of the 60s the Issei and once we had our first to eventually produce A Dream of imbued with the sense that we were small collection of historic photos, I Riches: The Japanese Canadians at the forefront of a new and mounted a mini exhibit at Tonari 1877-1977 which has been seen in enlightened millennium. We were the Gumi. The seniors had a great time, nearly 40 venues in Canada, the U.S. chosen ones and in order to establish especially the women who would and Japan. the new order we first had to bull our giggle at the photo of Mr. so and so It was around that time that way through the reactionary old who used to be such a lady's man. the idea ofthe festival first arose. I'm establishment which, on Powell Michiko explained the project and not sure but I think it was Take who Street was presented by the JCCA, asked for further donations of first came up with the concept but the the Buddhist Church and just about material which, from that point on, idea spread like wildfire. To all of us everybody else. Of course, we arrived in a steady stream. in the new coalition on Powell Street, regarded the old leadership as overly We met frequently to review it made perfect sense: what better cautious and impossibly new material. I remember Randy way to celebrate our centennial than unimaginative - definitely not cool. Enomoto whom we used to call our to come together for a grand party We were about to pay heavily for our Buddha because of his gentle and which would symbolize all that we insufferable arrogance. And for their calm demeanor, red faced and were feeling in those heady days of part, the old Nikkei order was spluttering with anger as he related renewal and affirmation. But more alarmed by the invasion of these the latest example of our wartime than celebration, the festival would brash young upstarts into their betrayal by racist politicians. It was be a firm, political statement that we, traditional stomping grounds. Who an exhilarating time of awakening the Nikkei, had survived a century of are these people? Probably radical through the discovery of an often­ racial oppression and that we were hippies or out and out communists painful history that had affected our still very much alive and kicking. Our and besides they have no manners. lives so profoundly. Ironically, even choice of Oppenheimer Park, the This schism had been though I had been fully involved in vital center of the prewar community continued on page 10 9 developing for a number of years. peripherally involved in the that bad and since they were so hard When Tonari Gumi and Language community through his volunteer working and so obviously sincere, Aid first began operating in the area, work with a support group of the maybe we should pitch in and give they were greeted with skepticism by victims of Minamata disease. Poor them a hand. When the call finally the older Nisei who were unwilling guy didn't know what he was getting ended Rick, for the first time, realized to admit the Issei, who were, after all, into and it wasn't long before he was that the Nisei had a special way of their own parents, needed help and floundering in a sea of opposition. I relating involving almost a totally even if there were problems, it was remember after one particularly different language and without these strictly an internal family matter and contentious meeting at the Language vital keys, his mandate to gain the not something for complete strangers School, Rick, Take and I were support of the older generation was to meddle in. Take recalls that before involved in a heated exchange with hopeless. However, all was not lost opening Tonari Gumi, he and Jun the head of one of the martial arts for Gordon continued to work the wanted to get a feel of what life was schools. The sensei who was one of phones and the walls of resistance like for the regular denizens of skid those macho, ultra nationalistic types slowly began to crumble. The rest, row so they joined the long lineup in the Mishima mold, punctuated his as they say, is history. for the free lunch organized daily by vicious harangue by accusing Rick, The festival did indeed the Franciscan Sisters on Dunlevy who spoke no Japanese, of being an happen on a brilliant summer's Street. Unfortunately they were seen 'Indian', which I guess, meant weekend filled with plenty of hot sun and when word got back to the someone who has forsaken his and even warmer spirits. In the days community many were appalled that cultural heritage. At that point I preceding the event, I remember these two unknown beggars had jumped in and said if he was an walking by Oppenheimer Park on my brought such shame upon the good example of Japanese manhood I way to the project studio and name of Japanese Canadians. There would much rather be an 'Indian' or watching the magic transformation as were other incidents but as long as just about anything else. Take who the green space began to fill with the the various organizations could was desperately trying to interpret all huge main stage with its brightly function within their own spheres this polyglot gibberish, managed to colored Centennial banner and all they could maintain an uneasy peace. restore enough calm so we could those back braking 2x4 booths, and Organizing an all-inclusive festival, leave before coming to blows but on when I saw the city workers in their however, was a completely different the way home we were all terrified cherry pickers stringing festival matter. that our lovely festival was about to banners from Powell Street lamp Recognizing the contribut­ implode. posts, I had a sense that we, the ions made by both the old and new At the eleventh hour Rick Nikkei, had finally arrived. From the Nikkei organization to the went to see Gordon Kadota at his blur of activity of the festival impoverished downtown eastside, downtown office and what followed weekend, two memories vividly city council approved the grant was an epiphany for our beleaguered remain - the unbridled joy ofthe Issei application. In addition, the festival coordinator. In near tears, he and the visceral beat of Taiko which concept fit perfectly with a city plan explained his frustrations in rallying gave us our first brief glimpse of the to restore Oppenheimer Park which community support and after calming powerful role this ancient form had deteriorated into a physical and his distraught guest with reassurances would play in the growth of our sociological swamp. The Centennial that he would see what he could do, community. In the end we were Arts Workshop, which had been Gordon picked up the phone to call exhausted but immensely pleased for formed to administer the grant, hired one of his Nisei cronies. For the next the complex festival had run like a Rick Shiomi, a young Sansei from ten minutes the conversation fairly well tuned machine and more Toronto, as festival coordinator. One meandered around the health and importantly, we had achieved our of the Tonari Gumi staff, Mayu sanity of mutual friends, the state of principle objective of a strengthened Takasaki, a Steveston Sansei who had their golf games, the disastrous united community that had come just returned from a self-confessed Canuck's season, the weather, their together to celebrate and reaffirm a two-year stint in Japan to find her respective businesses and then worthy heritage. identity, agreed to be the volunteer finally, Gordon segued smoothly into I leave the final word to two coordinator. Rick was living in a the festival- how it was such a great leading players in the festival drama dilapidated house on Cordova Street idea for the Centennial, how these that was to eventually include a cast and up to then, had only been kids from Tonari Gumi weren't all of thousands. The event could have 10 died stillborn in its fIrst year but there moment of the fIrst festival. I thank on Saturday evening, counting tickets was so much more that could be them for their words and their many and money. We looked out at the park mined from the rich mother lode. contributions to the Powell Street and suddenly the stage lights went Mayu and Rick volunteered to Festival that has given all of us so out and all was black. Ofcourse, we coordinator the festival in the many joyful moments and so many were frantic because that evening a following years until our fledgling reasons to take pride in being famous odori sensei from Japan was creation was strong enough to Japanese Canadians. performing and now she was survive and grow into the giant that standing alone on a very dark stage. it is today. But more importantly, they Being volunteer coordinator That was the one and only time we firmly rooted two essential principles for the first festival wasfarfrom easy. have ever attempted an evening show that determined the festival's vigor Since I was responsible for finding at the festival...... Mayu Takasaki. and validity: that it shall be inclusive and organizing over 100 volunteers, My strongest memory ofthe of all elements of our community and I called every friend and relative I fi rst Powell Street Festival is of the that it shall be an authentic had, some of whom I hadn't spoken people I got to work with,jrom Takeo expression of our contemporary life to in many, many years. And then Yamashiro and Noriko Hirota to and culture whether it be a traditional once the festival actually began I Gordon Kadota and so many of the odori or the insane antics of Koko remember feeling exhausted and sansei like Mayu Takasaki and Ken and Garbanzo or the intriguing exhilarated all the time. Everything Shikaze. My encounters with them installation art of Bart Uchida or tako that we did was for the first time and transformed my world and gave me yaki and teriyaki salmon in the food mistakes were made. I can remember a mother lode of characters, booths but no hamburgers and hot very clearly sitting in Rick's living emotions and perspectives that fed dogs. I have asked these two to share room across the street from the park my own creativity...... Rick Shiomi • with us their most memorable Mary Hirano: Cultural Events Coordinator for the Steveston Salmon Festival by Mitsuo Yesaki Japanese Cultural Show was a involvement, Mary has been demonstration of kimonos by Tsugie instrumental in expanding the Takabayashi, one of Japan's leading Japanese Cultural Show by inviting teachers in traditional clothes. other cultural and crafts clubs to Besides this attraction, there were participate. As the number of twelve craft exhibits, with participating clubs increased, the hall demonstrations of origami, nihon became too small, but more space ningyo, kami ningyo, senior's crafts became available with the and bread dough creations completion of the Japanese Canadian accompanying these exhibits. There Cultural Centre in 1992. The martial were also demonstrations of obon arts demonstrations of judo, kendo dancing, taisho koto playing and and karate are now given in the Judo judo, kendo, karate and iaido Hall and the ikebana, bonsai, pottery, techniques. These exhibits and calligraphy and boat models are demonstrations were held in the exhibited in the Kendo Hall. The Martial Arts and Japanese Canadian origami, nihon ningyo, kami ningyo, Mary Hirano (Mary Hirano photo, 2000) Cultural Centres. bread dough flowers and the seniors' The Japanese Cultural Show Mary Hirano has been handicrafts are now displayed in has become a prominent attraction of teaching traditional Japanese dance separate rooms in the Cultural the annual Steveston Salmon in Steveston for the past 30 years. She Centre. The Japanese Cultural Show Festival, due primarily to Mary was asked about 11 years ago to assist adds a distinct ethnic flavour to the Hirano. Mary spends countless hours in coordinating the Cultural Show for Steveston Salmon Festival, the weeks before Canada Day the Salmon Festival. At that time, the underscoring the long history of the coordinating the many exhibits and entire Cultural Show, except the Japanese in this fIshing village. demonstrations for the festival. A martial arts demonstrations, was The crafts and martial arts special attraction of this year's confIned to the Kendo Hall. Since her Continued on page 12 11 club members volunteer their Steveston Community Centre Japanese heritage and the Festival is services for the Japanese Cultural Society. These mementos of a popular venue where she can share Show. Mary has arranged for the appreciation and the popularity ofthe her enthusiasm with the general Steveston Community Centre Japanese Cultural Show have spurred public. Second, coordinating the Society to give participating clubs a greater numbers of participating show gives Mary an opportunity to small honorarium in lieu of expenses clubs and volunteers. Fifteen clubs meet the many talented people incurred to present the exhibits. Also, and three individual craftspersons practising their esoteric arts and the Society presents Friends of participated in the 2001 show with crafts in Steveston. She finds Steveston certificates to all clubs and well over 200 volunteers. satisfaction in drawing out reticent annual stickers for every year of Mary volunteers her time artists to show their handicrafts and participation. A few ofthe craft clubs each year in organizing the Japanese to watch them improve with public sell their wares during the festival Cultural Show for two reasons. First, appreciation of their talents. et with any profits reverting to the she is extremely proud of her Does Anyone Know? Japanese Language and Community Centre in Chemainus, BC.

A letter was received this October from Emily Holmes of Chemainus, BC. She presently lives with her family in the former Japanese Language and Community Centre, the only building left of the once thriving Japanese community. The original building was remodaled into a residence by previous occupants. Mrs. Holmes appreciates the historical significance of the building, but as no one is interested in preserving it as an heritage site, the Holmes plan to renovate it to more comfortably accommodate their family. She has included A recent photograph ofthe Japanese Canadian Language School and photographs as well as line drawings Community Centre in Chemainus. (Emity Holmes photo,2000) of the west, east and south views of the house with her letter. recei ving any information and Language and Community Centre. et We would appreciate photographs of this Japanese Special thanks to our supporters. Your generosity is much appreciated. We gratefully ack.no~iledgethe following donations received during the period May 10 to July 20, 2001. Anonymous. Kiyoshi Kitagawa. N. Vancouver Michi Sailo, Surrey Tats & June Aoki, Qualicum Beach Hajime Jim Kobayashi, Scarborough, O~ Yuko Shibata, Vancouver J,W. & W.J. Awmack, Victoria Catey & Rosalie McAllistcr, Nanaimo John & Yurika Shintani, Vancouver Kenneth & Nobu Elli~. Winnipeg, MS Terry Nakarnura, Toronto, ON Yoshiya Tabata, Mio, Wakayama-ken, JAPAN Kana Enomata, Scarborough, ON Rosalind NishL Richmond Ken & Rosemarie Takeuchi, Vancouver Su~an Hidaka, Scarborougb, ON Toshio Odamura, Vancou ....er Margaret Wright Gerald & Ayako Higashi, Kaslo !rene Okano, Winnipeg. MB Sam Yamamoto. Delta Kelvin Higo, Richmond (United Way dire(ted donation) Mary Ono, Salinas, CA Stanley & AiJeen Yokota, Toronto, ON Robert T. Ito, , CA Selwa Oyama, Burnaby Members are a vitaJ part of the Museum, and we welcome your interest and support. New and Renewing members for the period May 10 to July 20. 2001are as follows: Tats & June Aoki, Qualicum Beach Allan & Mitzi Kobayasbi, Waterloo, ON Lana Panko, While Rock J.W. & WJ. Awmack, Victoria Hajime Jim Kobayashi, Scarborough, Of'i unda Reid & Family. Vancouver Owen Towo Charters. Toronto, ON Matt & Jean Kobayasbi, Kelowna Michi Saito, Surrey Alan & Ruriko Davi~ & Family, Edmonton, AB Yoko Kusano, Onawa. ON Yuko Shibata, Vancouver L.A. Dinsmore, Scarborough, ON T Matsumura. Scarborough, ON Sam & Kumiko Shinde, Richmond Kenneth & Nobu Ellis, Winnipeg, MB Carey & Rosalie McAllister, Nanaimo Kazumi & Yu.rika Shintani, Vancouver Kana Enomoto, Scarborough, ON Florence Mitani, Winnipeg, MB Miriam Smith, New Wesuninster Bruce & Vivian Ettinger & Kalie Ettinger, San Francis.co. CA Mr. & Mrs. Ken Miyoshi, Surrey Ed Suguro, Sean1e, WA USA Stanley & Masako Fukawa & Family, Burnaby Kassie and Shirley Nakamura, London, ON Yoshiya Tabata. Mio. Wakayama-ken, JAPAN Art & Ann Gorai, Seattle, WA Rosalind Nishi. Richmond Takao Tanabe &Anona Thorne, Parksville Too & FumikoGreenaway, Nelson Mary Ohara, Bwnaby Dan Tokawa, Nonh Vancouver Susan Hidaka, SCarOOrough, ON Dr. Mona G. Oikawa, Winnipeg, MB Sam & June Yamamoto. Delta Gerald & Ayako Higashi. Kaslo Hitoshi & Setsuko Okabe. Surrey SllUl1ey & Aileen Yoko",- Toronto, ON Frank & Naomi Kamiya & family, N. Vancouver Seiwa & Tsuruko Oyama. Burnaby

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