Nikkei Images

National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre Newsletter ISSN#1203-9017 Spring 2004, Vol. 9, No. 1 From the Diaries of the Rev. Kosaburo Shimizu by Grace Arai for the summers of 1917 to 1921 to impoverished natal family, Tokujiro the the Japanese Methodist Missions and Kosaburo set out for Canada in Vancouver, Steveston, Victoria and immediately after the latter’s the Okanagan Valley and for two graduation from Taga Elementary years, 1924 to 1926, to Ocean Falls. School in 1907. By May they had Ordained in 1927, my father then joined Shiga-ken friends in New served at the Japanese United Westminster, B.C., and thirteen-year Church in Vancouver during the old Kosaburo started work as a prewar years, in Kaslo for the houseboy in the home of Mr. and internment years, and in Toronto in Mrs. Albert Hill. This kindly Christian the post-war years until his death in couple acted not only as his 1962. employers but also as his surrogate Kosaburo Shimizu was born parents for eight years, including the in 1893 in the village of Tsuchida in two years after his graduation from Shiga Prefecture, the second son of high school in 1913. rice-farmer Kojuro Shimizu and his The following narrative wife Yasu. When Kojuro died in introduces the 1913-1915 diaries. The 1903, Kosaburo’s thirteen-year old phrases and passages in italics are Kosaburo Shimizu. (Shimizu Family brother, inherited responsibility for the excerpts from the diaries as translated photo, ca.1945) household of seven members that by Tsuguo Arai. included a year old sister. In 1906 In 1909 when he was Kosaburo’s oldest sister, Uno, Choosing His Path, 1913-1915 sixteen, Kosaburo Shimizu, my married Tokujiro Shimizu, a relative 1913 to 1915 were critical father, started writing in a diary, a twenty years her senior, and the years. During these three years, practice he continued daily for over couple adopted Kosaburo as their Kosaburo worked through fifty years. In 1990 twenty-eight heir. To earn money for their own disappointment and frustration to years after our father’s death, my household and to help Kosaburo’s Continued on page 2 brother Victor asked my husband, Tsuguo Arai, to translate parts of the Contents From the Diaries of the Rev. Kosaburo Shimizu 1 diaries into English. A Legacy of Two Cultures 6 Tsuguo responded by The Oriental Home and School in Victoria 8 translating every diary entry from Steveston Buddhist Church 75th 9 1909 to 1941. The diaries tell the Early Days in Silverdale 10 story of a young immigrant from The Ikeda Family and the Canadian Men’s National Gymnastics Team 12 Shiga Prefecture, who early A Wildlife Photographer 13 determined to educate himself to Life After 42 16 help the Japanese live fuller and Japanese Canadian Internment Camp in Eatonville? 18 better lives. He began his Christian Things Japanese Sale 19 From the Museum-A Report from the Manager/Curator 20 ministry as a student assigned in turn 1 prepare himself for university and in the New Westminster Japanese Announcements emerged a mature and confident Methodist Church. At Takano’s Things Japanese Sale young man. After graduating from request, Kosaburo occasionally NNM&HC Royal City High School in June 1913, taught English at the church’s night Saturday May 15, 2004 Kosaburo was well aware that he school. After the class, he often JCNM Lecture Series stood at a crossroad. During his six dropped into the Russell Hotel, Japanese Picture Brides years of schooling in Canada, where Takano and Shimotakahara Dr. Midge Ayukawa Kosaburo had developed aims worked and lived, and avidly Tuesday Mar. 16, 2004 beyond those planned for him by his exchanged ideas with them and other Role of Sports in Bridging Cultures adoptive father, while Tokujiro young men from the church on topics Anne Dore, Alan Sakai thought only of having Kosaburo from English poetry to Japanese Thursday April 22, 2004 return to Tsuchida to their new house exclusion and most frequently about and care for him in his old age. their aspirations. Adventures in Wildlife Photography Kosaburo’s resolve to In a quandary about steps to Roy Hamaguchi Tuesday May 18, 2004 continue his education precipitated a take after completing high school, clash over how he should fulfill his Kosaburo consulted Takano and Rev. Title To be Annouced duties as the adopted heir and led Abe. Appreciating their advice and Dr. Patricia Roy Kosaburo to question the Japanese concern for his future, he Tuesday June 22, 2004 tradition of filial relations. In coping characterized them as true with his differences with Tokujiro, Christians. They do not pay lip Kosaburo found strength in his newly service. They act sincerely and realized Christian faith and in the kindly.(20 June 1913) At Rev. Abe’s Nikkei Images is published by support of his Christian friends. He suggestion Kosaburo began teaching the National Nikkei Museum also received advice and regularly at the church’s English night and Heritage Centre Society encouragement from his mentors, the school on June 23, 1913. His regular ministers who served the New attendance at church services Editorial Committee: Westminster Japanese Methodist followed. On August 17, 1913, Stanley Fukawa, Grace Hama, Church successively from 1913 to Kosaburo was baptized. Jim Hasegawa, Frank Kamiya, 1915: Rev. Yoshimune Abe, Rev. Kosaburo was himself Mitsuo Yesaki, Carl Yokota Giichi Suga, and Rev. Yoshimitsu surprised by his sudden decision to Akagawa. be baptized. At a church service, he Subscription to Nikkei Images In 1915 his friend Masanori explained his conversion. I was is free with your yearly Kanna remarked that only four or baptized last Sunday, thus entering membership to NNMHCS: five years earlier, Kosaburo, raised the Kingdom of God. Even though Family $25 in a strong Buddhist family, had been I was baptized, I did not feel Individual $20 against the Christian church. Since anything particularly different. I Senior/Student $15 those first years in New have been here for six years Senior Couple $20 Westminster, Kosaburo had already and have visited the Non-profit Association $50 introduced by Saburo Shinobu and church for the past three or four Corporate $100 Shinji Fujimoto and had intermittently years but refused to get baptized. $1 per copy for non-members attended its night school. He had, Why then this time? I asked the however, resisted a closer association minister to baptize me and now I NIKKEI PLACE with Christianity. He declined the am a Christian. Why? It seems 6688 Southoaks Crescent, invitations of his friends, Yuhei Sakai strange to me too. There must be a Burnaby, B.C., V5E 4M7 Canada and Tetsuji Fukushima, to attend reason for this...I would like to talk tel: (604) 777-7000 church services and told Rev. Abe in about the moon scene that I saw fax: (604) 777-7001 February 1913, that he was not last night. At about 10:00 PM I [email protected] interested in Christianity. was on my way to town from Takai- www.jcnm.ca At the same time, however, sama’s house. I looked up at the Kosaburo took immense pleasure in sky. It was dark. To the east there his friendship with Midori Takano and was a huge, dark cloud, but its Toraryu Shimotakahara, both active edges were shining brightly like 2 pain instead of bringing them happiness. Happiness comes only after they understand fully its truth. It was the same for me. After I became a Christian, I wavered a lot. I have a tendency to speak superficially instead of improving myself. This is probably because I still don’t fully understand Christianity. (15 Dec. 1914) Kosaburo did not record whether he wrote to his family and adoptive father in Japan about his baptism, but apparently it would not have been seriously objectionable to them. What was totally unacceptable was Kosaburo’s goal of continuing his education instead of quitting the houseboy position and finding full-time work. Mistaking Kosaburo’s success in the McGill University entrance examinations as having entered university, an angry Tokujiro arrived back in Canada in September 1913, bent on compelling Kosaburo to fulfill his obligations as his adopted heir. Tokujiro brought with him the weight of centuries of Japanese adherence to filial piety, a code of familial obligations adopted from Confucianism. The father held supreme command over the family like the ruler over his subjects, the lord over his retainers. Since the From the left: Uno Shimizu, unidentified woman, Tokujiro Shimizu and Yasu hierarchical pattern held in the case Shimizu. (Shimizu Family photo, date unknown) of husband over wife, older son over silver. When I saw this, I realized, I experienced about Christianity. younger son, it is not surprising that “Ah, this is what I felt about (24 Aug. 1913) Kosaburo received accusatory letters Chrisitanity...” If you bring a two Once committed, Kosaburo from his eldest sister and elder or three-year old child and plunged into active participation in the brother. In the letter, I found such pointing to the cloud ask him, “See church. He taught Sunday school, strong words as “unfilial son” and the cloud? Its edges are shiny like attended Wednesday night prayer “How dare you say…” The letter silver. What’s behind it?” He would meetings, and led the Koyu-kai, the condemned me as if I were bad and not be able to answer. No, the child night school students’ corrupt. It was cruel… I just feel can see the cloud, but cannot tell association. Other young men came so sorry for their total lack of what’s behind it. If you bring in a to him with their doubts and questions understanding of me. . . . I could five or six-year old and ask the and Kosaburo did his best to bolster not sleep from anxiety… (13 Nov. same question, he will say, “There their faith. After a long discussion 1913) is light” But a thirteen or fourteen- with Genzo Kitagawa and Densaburo In the oyako (parent and year old will answer, “That’s the Mori, Kosaburo wrote: Christianity child) relationship, the child’s moon”. I reflected that this is what first annoys people, giving them Continued on page 4 3 indebtedness to the parents was his goal, Kosaburo felt like a horseman one subject with all my strength. considered “higher than the highest sitting on an unwilling horse. Trying to catch two rabbits, one peak and deeper than the deepest Although Kosaburo looked will lose both. (25 Feb. 1915) ocean”. In repayment for that debt, upon 1914 and 1915 as wasted years, Although he told both Rev. filial piety demanded that the child that period impelled Kosaburo to Suga and his principal, Mr. McMillian, obey the father’s wishes at the exert strenuous self-education efforts that he was considering electrical sacrifice of his own desires. and gave him the time to ponder on engineering as his future field of As the adopted heir, his readings, work on molding his own study, he was most keenly interested Kosaburo was further bound by the character, and gain experience in at this time in the lives and characters prescribed duties of the atotori (heir, working with others in the programs of great men. Reading about these successor) relationship. The of the church. Observing the bare men led him to successor son’s role required that he trees in November, Kosaburo noted contemplate becoming a leader to live with his parents, bring his wife that though they appeared guide fellow Japanese to better lives. into the household, support the dormant, the trees were quietly Biographies of Abraham Lincoln, Dr. household, and care for his preparing for their spring growth. David Livingston, Napoleon parents and unmarried siblings in their They endure cold, frost, and other Bonaparte, and Benjamin Franklin illness and old age. In return he would hardships and store their energy. inspired him because great men inherit the house and property of his They are not just sleeping. They were ordinary men who endured parents. The position of successor are preparing...We young men must until they succeeded. (12 Nov. was not, however, unchangeable. An do the same. Before we come to the 1914) heir, whether first-born or adopted, world and advance, we need to An inspirational quotation, could be replaced by a more suitable prepare ourselves and foster our neatly written, heads every entry in candidate. Disappointed and strength and ability (9 Nov. 1914). the 1914 and 1915 diaries up to humiliated by Kosaburo’s During this time, October 1915. Taken from his recalcitrance, Tokujiro heatedly undecided whether to attend readings and a book on quotations, threatened to disinherit Kosaburo and university in Japan or North America, the maxims deal with such moral and sever all connection with him. Kosaburo diligently followed a personal issues as individual integrity, Kosaburo accepted the threat program of studies in both English and ambition, determination, and truth. with equanimity perceiving that the Japanese. To the many lessons from Many quotations concern hope, the gulf in their values forecast continuing Funk and Wagnalls’ Art of Writing light at the end of dark times,a difficulties. and Speaking in English, Kosaburo favorite theme throughout his life. In In spite of his refusal to obey added the Waseda Chugaku Kosaburo’s 1914 copy of Emerson’s Tokujiro’s wishes, Kosaburo correspondence courses, which Essays (now in my possession) the recognized his responsibility to care included Asian history, calligraphy, aphoristic sentences are underlined for Tokujiro and the breach with his ethics, and classical Chinese. In his throughout. Kosaburo remarked later family if he entered university. He own reading of Emerson, Ruskin, and in life that these precepts had made wrote, It is difficult to cut off Carlyle, Kosaburo was excited to a great impact on his thinking. human relationships.Kosaburo discover stimulating ideas and ideals. Kosaburo shared with many decided to wait for his adoptive father Of books like Nitobe’s Shuyo other Japanese young men an to have a change of heart. (Mental Training), Kosaburo wrote: interest in developing public speaking For the next two years As I read self-improvement books, skills. In January 1914 Kosaburo Kosaburo struggled with his dilemma. I gain self-confidence. This is the decided to pay the $4 monthly fee out Not only was leaving his ailing father way to maintain my courage and of his $18 a month salary for to go off to university problematic, confidence. (20 Nov. 1914) membership in the Public Speaking but responding to his family’s pleas To study was Kosaburo’s Club of America. He enthusiastically for money while trying to save for greatest pleasure. He was hungry to participated in debates and speech university also added to his learn everything. I would very much meetings of the Seinen-kai, Ephorse frustration. Moreover, Kosaburo like like to study everything I touch, Alliance, night school, and an several of his Japanese friends could feel, see, or hear. I am a generalist association of Japanese high school not find a full-time job during British and not a specialist. Not too good. graduates. In spite of these efforts Columbia’s economic downturn of I should not allow my mind to rove at self-cultivation and study and his 1913-1914. Unable to move toward so freely. I should concentrate on frequent admonitions to himself to 4 work hard with courage and determination, Kosaburo felt he was regressing intellectually. He would break into a cold sweat at the thought of time passing with no progress toward his goal of attending university. For a young man in his early 20s, Kosaburo was unusually aware of the swift passage of time. The passing of time is like water flowing. As a child, I thought that the saying was an exaggeration. Now I know that time is faster. With my eyes I can see the flow of water, but I cannot see the passing of time with my eyes. I must move forward. I must win over time. (16 July 1914) His daily schedule in 1914: get up at 6:00 AM for cold-water rubdown and study; start household work at 7:00 AM; finish work between 2:00 and 3:00 PM; study or prepare night school materials till 5:00 PM; prepare dinner at 5:00 and finish clean-up after dinner by 7:00 PM; go to night school for 8:00 PM class; finish teaching night school at 9:30; drop into the Russell Hotel to talk to friends till 11:00 PM; bed at midnight. Kosaburo was an exacting judge of his own use of time. He was particularly chagrined by his inability to overcome drowiness during the precious afternoon study period. My Agnes Hill, Albert Hill and unidentified woman seated. Kosaburo Shimizu and body does not follow my mind’s Rev. Yoshimitsu Akagawa standing. (Shimizu Family photo, date unknown) command (1 Sept.1915). Attributing his sleepiness to a weak will and the after graduation as he looked for a spirit of hakujin volunteer teachers of lack of a definite goal for his study, job. Seeing his friend Harry Bond the night school. The warm welcome Kosaburo felt he needed conviction, sitting at a desk in a law office, given him and his night-school an independent mind, and an Kosaburo felt bitter envy, confident students by the Sunday school at invincible will (11 July 1914). He that he would have had a similar Queen’s Avenue Methodist finally admitted, however, that since position were it not for discrimination. Church and the youth group at St. he kept such late hours, taking a nap The news of increasing restrictions Stephen’s Presbyterian Church also before study would eliminate the on the Japanese in the B.C. labour impressed him. These experiences problem. market and in land ownership in led Kosaburo to believe that if the The effect of racial California filled Kosaburo and his hakujin and the Japanese were discrimination could not be so easily friends with alarm and anger. While correctly educated, friendships solved. Having experienced Kosaburo deplored the greed and fostered between them could friendship, acceptance, and success venom of hakujin (white person, gradually eliminate exclusion in high school, Kosaburo discovered Caucasian) calling for exclusionary arguments. The need to educate the the heavy hand of discrimination only actions, he admired the sacrificial Continued on page 6 5 two communities became part of Kosaburo¹s mission. Out of his experiences in mentoring the young men at the New Westminster Japanese Mission, his readings, and his reflections on the meaning of life, Kosaburo arrived at a sense of his life mission. On June 30, 1914, Kosaburo wrote: I must work hard to serve people, God, and the world. Observing the aimless life of some Japanese at the billiard tables, Kosaburo decided that he must stand and work for them. After a study of Gideon at the Queen’s Avenue Sunday School on January 17, 1915, Kosaburo experienced an epiphany: Now I realize that my work, enthusiasm, busy days, and deliberations were given to me because God wants me to be a leader. While impatient to start the great venture of taking leadership and working for society and people, he wondered how he would fare in the real world after eight years in a comfortable home with a warm, gentle white family. But having settled on his mission in life, Kosaburo became even more impatient to start his university studies. Dr. Osterhout, Superintendent of Methodist Oriental Missions, recommended that Kosaburo study at Aoyama Gakuin in Tokyo, but on hearing from Aoyama that as a special student he would be subject to conscription, Three classmates of the Royal City High School in New Westminster, BC. From the left: Kosaburo Shimizu, Saburo Shinobu and Shinji Fujimoto. (Shimizu Kosaburo decided that the only Family photo, 1911) alternative was to study in Canada or the United States. providential offer provided Kosaburo Kosaburo left New Westminster and On August 27, 1915, Rev. with the opportunity to live in the moved into the Powell Street Fumio Matsunaga of the Vancouver Vancouver church dormitory, earn dormitory. Five days later he attended Japanese Methodist Church offered money teaching night school, and his first class at the newly established Kosaburo the position of principal of attend the University of British university. ❁ the church’s night school. This Columbia. On September 25, A Legacy of Two Cultures by Gordon Kibble The Murchison house sitting years of fishing and community his- intertwined in Steveston since the last on the Britannia Heritage Shipyard tory and meshes two cultures. Cana- part of the 19th century. site in Steveston spans almost 113 dian and Japanese cultures have been The Murchison house, named

6 after its second owner, began its life Sisters of the Atonement, Sister of those under their influence. as two cannery houses of the Garry Antoinette and Sister Mary Stella, as The Sisters were well re- Point Cannery in 1889. It preceded well as members of the Catholic ceived in the community and by the the historic Gulf of Georgia Cannery. Women’s League and three of the mid-1930s they had sixty babies in the John Murchison, who was order’s Japanese Catholic men. Sis- nursery and over 80 in the Sunday Steveston’s first Police Chief and fed- ter Eugenia Koppes was assigned to school. Not only were many Japa- eral Customs and Immigration Of- Steveston in 1936. nese children attending Sunday school ficer, bought the houses in 1895. He The great depression of the regularly, but several were convert- moved them to his Fourth Avenue 1930s severely impacted Steveston’s ing to the Catholic faith. farm and combined them into one fishing industry and community. The Japanese women, who building. It sat here for almost a cen- Sisters, and the Friars, who arrived worked in the nearby farms, would tury until moved to the shipyard site. in 1932 distributed clothing, religious bring their babies to the sisters’ nurs- On March 19th, 1931, this articles and toys at Christmas. The ery very early in the morning, and pick house became the home of a Japa- Sisters also took part in the many them up after a day’s work in the nese Catholic mission and possibly the community events. They ran a nurs- fields. The Sisters ran the nursery first daycare in Canada. His Excel- ery and Sunday school and also con- from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at a cost of ten lency Archbishop Duke blessed the ducted English classes for the Japa- cents per day for children and fifteen mission, with Father Boniface, Father nese. They did what was termed “set- cents per day for bottle babies. Their Zephryn, Father Eusebins, Father tlement work” and provided religious English classes began with only one Nickels and Father Fogerty in attend- education for children and adults, vo- student, but soon word spread and ance. Also in attendance were cational school for converts, took cen- many people enrolled in their language Mother Monica and the Franciscan suses, and visited hospitals and homes Continued on page 8

Religious ceremony outside the Catholic Mission in Steveston. (Gordon Kibble photo, ca. 1950)

7 school. Even the Buddhist priest, was seized and retained by the gov- from the existing parish, was chosen whose house was across the street, ernment and they were relocated for the new church. The Williams began bringing people to the classes away from the coast to specially Road site was more centrally located and even suggested that, “perhaps my erected camps in such places as within the new parish boundaries. The boy come also.” Tashme, Lemon Creek and other St. Joseph the Worker Parish owned In 1933 the rectory was built communities in the Kootenays. thirteen lots in Steveston at the time on Second Avenue and a convent Greenwood, a town fast be- of the relocation. was added later. Father Benedict coming a ghost town, placed an ad in The church was the first Quigley was assigned to Steveston in a Vancouver newspaper inviting the phase in the relocation project and 1932 and oversaw the completion of Japanese to come settle there. In was started in 1966. The Most Rev- a new mission in 1935. A long-time April, Father Benedict, Sister Jerome erend Martin Johnson dedicated the resident, Mrs. Struchberry remem- Kelliher and Sister Eugenia Koppes building on April 30th, 1967. The bers the building, “There was a kin- boarded a CPR train for the 18-hour present church is linked to the origi- dergarten on the ground floor and a trip to Greenwood. Many of the Japa- nal one by its altar stone, which was church on the second floor. The quar- nese people from Steveston arrived consecrated in 1929. ters of the sisters were at the back. the following day. The Sisters and the In 1968, the Sisters’ work in On entering from Second Avenue, Japanese people would spend the the area was complete, and they re- one went right to go upstairs. The next few years of their lives at this turned either to St. Paul, their mis- upstairs had pews for about 30 peo- location. sion in Vancouver, or to Graymoor, ple at first, and as the congregation The Steveston mission didn’t the motherhouse in New York. grew prior to 1942, the partitions were close as it continued to operate un- Though the Sisters haven’t been a part moved and more pews were added.” der the direction of Father Aloysius of the community for the past 35 Father Dominic Kenny, who Craven, S.A. A year after the war years, they will always be remem- followed Father Quigley, rented a ended, the Sisters returned to bered by the Japanese for the spir- house on Pleasant Street from Mrs. Steveston, and two years later the itual hand offered during their time Burdette. mission was declared a parish and of greatest need. The Murchison In 1939 World War broke out named St. Joseph the Worker. home, and the Sisters’ mission, sur- and Canada sent her armed forces Under the guidance and di- vive as a testament to their religious to Europe. In 1941, units of the Japa- rection of Father Bernard Fole, S.A., beliefs and their community involve- nese air and naval forces attacked the parish continued to grow. By 1963 ment. ❁ American Army, Navy and Air bases it was obvious that the existing build- at Pearl Harbour. Shortly after the ing would soon become inadequate Gordon Kibble has lived in attack, The Canadian government and Father Pickelle began the search Steveston since the 1950s and is reclassified all Japanese Canadians for a new site. A location, about a mile interested in local history. as “enemy aliens.” Their property The Oriental Home and School in Victoria by Carl Yokota About a year ago, the Methodist Church. Strangely though, Presbyterian and Methodist discovery of my grandparents’ their marriage certificate indicates Churches. With the assistance of Bob marriage certificate on microfilm at both were Buddhists. Stewart, BC Conference Archivist the Vancouver Public Library was a In an attempt to learn more and Grant Bracewell, Chair of the BC welcome surprise. Up until then, I about the Oriental Home and School, Conference Committee on Archives had not known this document existed. I recently made a trip out to the and History, we were able to locate Thirty-one-year old Bunkichi Yokota United Church of Canada’s BC the Home files. These included of Steveston sponsored 23-year old Conference Archives located on the published books, daily receipt and Shige Nishi to immigrate to Canada. 3rd floor of the School of Theology at expense logs, annual and quarterly She arrived in Victoria on May 29, the University of BC. The Archives reports, old newspaper clippings and 1913, and the very next day on May holds the records and other historical photos, guest and residence records, 30, they were wed at the Oriental papers created by or related to the and building and architectural notes. Home and School in Victoria. The history of the United Church of In 1888, the Women’s wedding was conducted according to Canada BC Conference and its Missionary Society (WMS) of the the rites and ceremonies of the predecessors the Congregational, Methodist Church of Canada opened

8 day? It was definitely a mansion-like setting they had never experienced before. According to the Daily Receipt Log for May 30, 1913, there was a single recorded entry for a “Jap Wedding-$15.00”. I can only conclude that this is the amount of money my grandfather paid for having the wedding ceremonies conducted at the Home. The wedding was officiated by Reverend George E. Hartwell and witnessed by Home staff members, Maggie Smith and Mary S. Dever. From March 1 to May 30, 1913 the Daily Receipt Log had handwritten entries of no less than 20 Japanese (“Jap”) weddings having taken place at the Home, ranging in The Oriental Home and School on 732 Cormorant Street, Victoria, BC. (United cost from $2.50 to $17.50. For the Church of Canada’s BC Conference Archives photo, ca. 1916) year ending August 31, 1913, total a Chinese Rescue Home initially to old Vancouver Courthouse. The cost cash receipts for the Home were shelter immigrant Chinese girls and of constructing the Home was in $4831.48 and of that amount, Oriental women from a life of abuse, slavery excess of $15,000. The basement weddings accounted for $462.50 and and prostitution. In 1895, the Home was equipped with laundry, storage, Oriental board for $857.10. As a began to take in immigrant Japanese and furnace rooms. The main momento of their wedding women and children. The first entrance was up a flight of stone ceremonies, each couple was handed recorded entry of a Japanese steps and through a column-adorned a Bible written in Japanese. wedding held at the Rescue Home front porch. Upon entering the Unfortunately, our family has never took place on January 23, 1899 Home, there was a large entrance come across such an artifact. between a woman named Ishi and hall, with a small office to the left and For hundreds of young Hamada Yoshijiro. Eventually, due to a large reception room/parlor to the “picture brides” like Shige Nishi , the greater needs for its caring and right. There was a dining room for Home helped facilitate their legal educational offerings, the WMS in the teachers and one for the children, entry into Canada by providing a 1909 relocated to a new and much a large kitchen and pantry, a place to wed immediately upon larger building and was renamed the playroom, a schoolroom with arrival to comply with Canadian Oriental Home and School. blackboard, and a washroom. immigration laws at the time. “Picture The new Oriental Home and Upstairs on the second floor, there brides” were not legally recognized School built of prime fir lumber, solid were three bedrooms for the as being wed until the immigration brick and a stone foundation was an teachers, two large dormitories for laws were changed in 1915. The eye-appealing building. The Home the women and children, a sick room, Oriental Home and School operated was designed by the architectural a sewing room, two bathrooms, a until 1942. Due to the removal of the firm, Hooper and Watkins. Thomas linen closet, a trunk room and clothes Japanese from the West Coast and Hooper is also known for designing closets. Above the living quarters was significant reduction in the need for Victoria’s Carnegie Library and the a large attic. it’s services, the WMS decided to Royal Bank Building (now Munro I wonder how my close its doors permanently at 732 Books) and Vancouver’s Spencer grandparents felt when they first set Cormorant Street. ❁ Building and the rear addition of the foot inside the Home on their wedding th Steveston Buddhist Temple 75 Anniversary by Larry Ryan Members and guests of the together on September 27th and 28th Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in Steveston, Steveston Buddhist Temple gathered to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Continued on page 10 9 BC as well as the 40th anniversary Steveston Temple Choir. front of the temple for a group photo. of our present temple. Sunday’s ceremonies began Following the photo session, everyone The celebrations began with with a procession from the Buddhist entered the Hondo to take part in a a dinner and entertainment in the Churches of Canada headquarters to very special service. The new temple’s gymnasium Saturday the temple. This procession was Nokotsudo was officially evening. The meal was a traditional made up of the Bishop, senseis from commemorated at this time. A light dinner of roast turkey and ham. The across Canada, as well as Ota- lunch in the gymnasium followed the entertainment consisted of classical sensei from Japan. Nine children service. and modern Japanese dance, as well dressed in traditional Ochigo San We were blessed with as shiging and songs. Members of costumes and members of the temple absolutely beautiful weather the Steveston Taiko group as well as executive also marched in the throughout the weekend. Chibi Taiko performed several procession. The many months of work numbers individually and together. Procession participants, and preparation by various This occasion marked the first congregation and guests gathered in committees came to very successful performance by the newly formed conclusion. ❁ Early days in Silverdale by Kim Walker Born to Riwo and Tsurukichi In 1933 Koazi began to haul When the war broke out in Fujikawa in 1914 on their berry farm cedar shingle bolts and pulp wood to 1939, Koazi went to Vancouver to in Silverdale, Koazi was the fifth of the mill in Ruskin with the truck he sign up. It was only then, when he nine children. He went to school in bought from David Shugge (Stena wasn’t accepted into the service, that Silverdale for the first six grades, Edberg’s uncle). Koazi realized that he was Mission Central School for grade In those early days Koazi “different” from other Canadians. seven and then Silverhill School for loved to hunt, fish, play baseball in Koazi then moved to Ocean grade eight. After grade eight, Koazi Donatelli’s field in Silverdale and Falls and worked in the mills there stayed at home to work on the farm. tease his younger sisters and nieces. until 1942 and the proclamation of the

Enlisted men and officers of No. 17 Platoon “B” Company in Brantford, Ontario. Koazi Fujikawa: last row, third from right. (Vi Vachon photo, 1945)

10 Enemy Aliens Act. As a Japanese pastimes. In 1970, Koazi joined his with New Zealand spinach, Japanese Canadian, evicted from the coast, he sister Chiyo on a trip to Japan where beans and cucumbers, and other was sent to St. Thomas, Ontario to they went to Expo ’70 and visited assorted produce. Along with food, work on a farm. He then moved to sister Kimi’s family. he also dispensed his valuable seeds Fort William with his brother Tom and Koazi retired in 1979 and and gardening advice. Koazi’s beans then on to Toronto. moved back to Mission where sister were as legendary as his smoked or When the Canadian army Violet had also retired. He still canned salmon. created the Canadian Intelligence enjoyed taking trips up north to fish He always enjoyed baseball, Corps in 1945, a Japanese Canadian and hunt. He also made several trips keeping up on current events, and group of interpreters, Koazi enlisted. back east to visit his nieces Jeannine, watching education or travel shows The army sent him to Vancouver to Donnie and Addie and their families on television in between after-dinner attend the Japanese language school during the 1980s. Throughout the naps. Koazi was fond of discussing but he was not able to pick up the years, Koazi made a special effort politics and sharing garden tools with language. He wound up working in to keep in touch with friends from neighbours. Koazi was a regular at the kitchen. the war days. Stena’s Saturday evening card In November after his Starting in 1989 he worked games. On Sunday mornings he could discharge in April 1946, Koazi was as a volunteer on the “Rites of usually be found rummaging through given permission to return to Mission Passage” project with the Mission the Abbotsford flea market. City as a permanent resident. He Community Archives. “Rites of Although Koazi began to went to cooking school in Vancouver Passage” was an exhibition to slow down in the last couple of years, and took on a series of related jobs, commemorate the 50-year he continued to keep an interest in including one as the camp’s cook at anniversary of the Japanese his garden, his friends and his family. Stave Lake. This was probably one Canadian evacuation. For three years Even while in the hospital over the of the best jobs Koazi ever had. He he contributed to research on the last few weeks, Koazi enjoyed the would prepare breakfast and set out Japanese Canadian community in company of people and looked the food for the workers to make Mission. He also went to Enderby to forward to harvesting his beans. their lunches. After cleaning up he pick up lumber that nephew Rae When he learned that he had cancer, had most of the day to himself to sit Fujikawa donated to build the shoji he was very calm. He simply said, on the dock and fish until it was time screens for the display. “this is my destiny”, and made the to cook dinner. Koazi took up many other best of his remaining time with us. ❁ Koazi lived in Whitehorse retirement activities, including from 1953 to 1964 where his sister gardening. He supplied the Kim Walker is a niece of Violet lived and where sister Doris neighbourhood, friends and family Koazi Fujikawa. and brother Tom later followed. During that time, Koazi worked as a civilian carpenter renovating old army buildings that were used as barracks for the Alaska Highway workers. His work took him to Destruction Bay and north along Kluane Lake, a fisherman’s haven. Doris and Violet moved to Prince George and Koazi joined them in 1964. He worked as a carpenter and helped to build pulp mills in Prince George, Quesnel and Kitimat. He also worked as a saw-filer, during when he probably picked up his love for keeping a sharp edge. Of course, fishing and Koazi Fujikawa in front of RITES OF PASSAGE exhibit he helped mount in hunting continued to be favourite Mission City in May 1992. (Vi Vachon photo, 1992)

11 The Ikeda Family and the Canadian Men’s National Gymnastics Team by Stan Fukawa 2004 is the year of the coaching full-time. In 1988, he was Gymnastics Team in 2000 and helped Athens Olympics and two Nikkei offered the job in Abbotsford at the the team to place ninth in the World families will play a prominent role in Twisters’ Gym where he and his wife Championships and Olympic Trials at Canada’s contribution to this form part of the staff that teaches Anaheim in August 2003. That high magnificent festival of world 600 to 700 youngsters. They have placement (they were expected to athleticism. been there for fifteen years. have difficulty in making the top 12) The first is that of Mitsugu Their success has been means that Canada can enter a team Ikeda who came to Canada 30 years phenomenal. Mits is a coach for the in the Olympics in Athens this year. ago and the subject of this story. Canadian National Men’s Team and Ken’s star is rising and he has not Freshly graduated from a university first-born, Richard, age 28, is the team only the Athens Olympics but also the in Japan where he had been on the captain. Richard has been Canada’s following Olympics in 2008 on which gymnastics team, Mits accepted the top all around male gymnast for a to focus his ambitions. offer of a coaching job at a high school decade and has represented his Mits has enjoyed his career in Japan. However, he wanted to take country in the Atlanta Olympics in in Canada and especially his relations a year off to see some of the world 1996 and in World Championships, with the young people he coaches. before settling into the life of a the Commonwealth Games and Pan Canadian coaches and their charges Japanese teacher because that American Games. Last year, he can relate to each more equally. They usually meant staying at one school married a young woman gymnast call each other by their first names for his entire career. who was a member of a gymnastics and do not have to be as status Japanese can rarely take a club in Japan that has twinned with conscious as the Japanese. Mits says year or two off, in most fields, once the Twisters. His next athletic goal in Japan there is a wall of formality embarking on a career. It is seen as is to do well in the Athens Olympics that is difficult to penetrate in such an imposition on fellow workers and in 2004. He may leave competitive relations so that teachers or coaches superiors who have to cover for the gymnastics shortly afterwards and and their students cannot be friends. person who takes the break. focus on the next stage in his life. On the other hand, job security is Employees are expected to be loyal Younger brother Ken is 21 much firmer in Japan. In North to their employers and their and already the top Canadian on the America, when a sports team does colleagues and to sacrifice their own pommel horse. He became a member not do well, the management is often desires. of the Canadian Men’s National under pressure to replace the coach. When the opportunity arose to coach gymnastics for a year in Toronto where a friend found work for him, Mits took the opportunity to see another part of the world before locking himself into the committed life of a Japanese teacher. He was 23 years old. That first year in Canada was so agreeable that he decided to stay and moved to Kamloops in 1974. He married Chiyoko, a fellow former gymnast from his university, and their three children, Richard, Julie, and Ken were born in Kamloops. The family enjoyed life in the BC interior very much. Eight years of gymnastics coaching in Kamloops Ikeda family. From left: Ken, Chiyoko, Richard and Mits. (Stan Fukawa photo, were followed by six years in Halifax 2003)

12 The Ikeda’s have little time as basically the same Japanese his daughter. Sympathetic supporters to concern themselves with life after person who left his homeland thirty have created an Adopt-an-Athlete gymnastics but it has not been years ago, Mits says his Japanese fund in an attempt to ease the ignored. For the brothers, post- friends and relatives have told him financial burden on these young men. secondary education has been a that he has become Canadianized in Besides the Ikedas, there is lesser priority while they are his thinking. another Nikkei father-son combo in competing to reach the highest levels Interestingly, the coach’s elite Canadian gymnastics. Tak in their sport but they plan to complete name, Mitsugu, means “giving a gift Kikuchi is a coach at the Alta Club their degrees and perhaps follow their in tribute.” It is appropriate in that he in Halifax and his son, David is on parents in the coaching profession. has given and continues to give not the 6-man Canadian National The older Ikedas, want to be there only the gift of his coaching skills but Gymnastics Team. David, 24, has for the Canadian team and their sons also the talent and commitment of his been steadily improving his position in the next two Olympics. This will sons to the sport of gymnastics and in the gymnastics rankings. A be the culmination of their efforts and to his adopted country, Canada. The Dalhousie student, he rose to 20th in an appropriate time to retire. sons continue to give of themselves, the All Around category at the August Like other middle-aged much more than just their skills and 2003, World Championships. people, they have thought of where their time. They have had to bear the All Canadians will be they might go after retirement. A big costs of travel and lodgings when they cheering for these athletes and factor in their relocation plans will be compete, and their own upkeep while coaches who have committed where their children and especially training. Both sons also work on the themselves to proudly representing where their grand-children are going side, with Ken having to take two their country at the Athens Olympics to be. Although he thinks of himself part-time jobs to support himself and in August of this year. ❁ A Wildlife Photographer by Roy Itaru Hamaguchi and Mitsuo Yesaki the Sisters of the Atonement and missile defense system being built by started Grade One at Lord Byng Boeing, Roy and about one hundred Elementary School but did not engineers were sent by the federal complete the year due to the government to Seattle to work on the evacuation to a self-supporting Bomarc missile program for two community of Minto Mine, near years. Upon completion, he returned Bridge River in 1942. The family to Montreal to work on the Canadian stayed there for 2½ years before Navy’s Hydrofoil project, amongst moving on to Greenwood to be with other military projects. their grandparents. He attended both Realizing that the technical the Catholic and Public Schools in knowledge gained at university had Greenwood and finished his high been outdated, he returned to school education in Grand Forks. He university and obtained a Master’s enrolled at UBC and graduated in degree in Optical Engineering from 1958 with a Bachelor of Applied the Institute of Optics, University of Science in Engineering Physics, with Rochester, in New York. He returned an Aeronautics option. to Canada in 1971 and worked for a Roy Hamaguchi in front of an exhibit- His first professional job was company in Lindsay, Ontario making ion of bird photographs at the West as a summer student working on the high-speed light switches using End Community Centre in Vancouver. supersonic aircraft, the Avro Arrow, synthetic crystals. He then moved on (Roy Hamaguchi photo, 2004) in Toronto. Upon graduation, Roy to Ottawa to manage a high tech Roy was born to Fusae and was employed by Canadair in company manufacturing large format Takesaburo Hamaguchi in Steveston Montreal working on the guidance digitizers. A digitizer is a device that on March 8, 1935, the eldest of nine system for the Arrow’s armament can accurately determine co- children. Both his parents were also equipment. When the Diefenbaker ordinates of a two-dimensional object born in Steveston. He attended the government cancelled the Arrow such as photographs, maps, or Sacred Heart Kindergarten run by project in 1959 and switched to a drawings. The company was Continued on page 14

13 awarded a contract from the National for various non-profit organizations. sprinters’ faces as they lined up at Research Council (NRC) to design Roy’s interest in the starting line, just prior to the and develop a prototype photo-plotter, photography came at a fairly young starting gun. This was the premier a machine that allows the operator age. He was enthralled when a event of the evening and all 10,00 to view two slightly dissimilar friend showed him how to develop pairs of eyes were focused on the photographs to create a three- film and print enlargements. runners; there was a good possibility dimensional image. From this image, Borrowing his dad’s camera, he that a world’s record would be data can be extracted to make started taking pictures in earnest at broken. As the runners got into the topographic maps, scoliosis profile of 13 years and had success in cutting starting blocks, he could see the patients with back problems, heads off of group pictures or have perspiration dripping from their architectural drawings of heritage a telephone pole growing out of the foreheads. There was utter silence. buildings, etc. This machine can be top of heads. Gradually he became Just a fraction of a second before the thought of as a very expensive and confident enough to buy his own, a gun, he squeezed the shutter. glorified “View Master”, a popular 2¼- inch square format, single lens Pandemonium broke loose as the toy of the 1950s. Upon successful reflex camera (MASTER runners took off. Unbeknownst to completion of the contract, Roy KORELLE). However, it was nearly him, a nearby microphone had picked served as consultant to NRC and always in the repair shop so in up the shutter noise and amplified it Canadian Marconi of Montreal to frustration, he switched to a 35mm over the PA system. Now all eyes commercially manufacture the photo- EXAKTA VX, which was the top were on him. The MC warned him plotter. single lens reflex camera available in not to do it again. He felt like When the opportunity arose the 1950s. He also switched to color crawling into his camera bag. There to work for MacDonald Dettwiler film since it was less expensive than were two more false starts before the and Associates in BC, Roy moved to the roll film counterpart. He is spooked runners got off to a Vancouver in April, 1984 to design currently using NIKON cameras and legitimate start. No new records film recorders, which converts digital lenses. were set. or digitized data into photographic In the early years, Roy had The academic world taught images using a laser beam. In 1971, no particular preference in subject Roy the technical aspects of light, a he transferred to Intertech, a small matter, shooting whatever suited his fascinating field of study. But there high-tech company in Burnaby that fancy, including landscapes, close- is also the emotional side of light; how manufactured machines which ups, microscope photography, nature, we react to its many manifestations. allows customized computer chips or portraits and sports. As the years And the medium of photography is application specific integrated circuits went by, however, he became ideal for capturing both the technical (ASIC). Several machines were sold increasingly interested in tele- and esthetic or artistic behavior of worldwide, but unfortunately, stiff photography. His fascination with light. To gain further insight into its competition from behemoths from the magnified images with apparent artistic representation, Roy would visit US and Japan forced the company compression and shallow depth of many of the galleries and study the to close its doors in 1997. Roy retired field meant a new way of expressing collections of paintings and then to devote more time to his first his feelings. But this required a sculptures. To gain first hand love of photography and to volunteer telephoto lens. One day, in the 1960s, experience, he enrolled in a four-year he found just a lens he was looking evening program at the L’ Ecole des for, a 400mm f/4.5, a very fast lens Beaux Arts in Montreal to dabble in for that period. (This lens appeared oils, charcoal, ink, watercolour, and in the Alfred Hitchcock movie “Rear pastels. Window” starring James Stewart.) Roy also had the opportunity With it, he was able to generate to take several photography decent images of wildlife and sporting workshops with Ernst Haas, who was events. considered by his peers as a master Roy can recall one of several color photographer. In addition, he embarrassing moments as a sports took workshops from Jay Maisel and Scarlet tanager that inspired Roy to photographer. During the Winter several National Geographic focus on bird photography. (Roy Indoor Games held in Ottawa, he photographers. These workshops Hamaguchi photo, 1983) wanted to take a close-up of the were targeted for experienced 14 amateurs, so generally did not delve weeks (28 days). The beauty of the into the technical aspects of park was spectacular and inspiring, photography but focused primarily on so he decided to prolong the trip by composition, impact, emotional drastically rationing his food. After response to colour, and abstraction. 33 days of total isolation, he Aside from workshops, Roy has had encountered a group of backpackers no formal training in photography and at the half-way point of the trail. is mainly self-taught through trial and Needless to say, the second half of error and by reading books on the trip took considerably less time photography and art. He has an since his load diminished as food and extensive collection in his library. fuel were consumed. After this trip, Although Roy had no Roy created an audio-visual slide particular speciality, his interest Bald eagle captured at Brackendale, show that was shown at a camera narrowed to nature and sports after BC. (Roy Hamaguchi photo, 2000) club. CBC televised a modified the acquisition of the telephoto lens. version of this slide show. He would take daily excursions and he signed up for a tour and bought Roy’s interest in the North occasionally weekend camping the necessary gear for backpacking. has not waned and he has made two expeditions to isolated locations to One by one, the trip’s participants further trips to Ellesmere Island to document the changing countryside. cancelled out, until he was the only backpack and photograph the flora It was on a daily outing that Roy one left, prompting the organizer to and fauna. With twenty-four hours of snapped a photograph of a scarlet cancel the trip. After all the daylight, one can photograph tanager. The bird is relatively preparation, he decided to go on his continuously, which he did for three common in the Ottawa area but is own. The trip to the National Park in days until his body clock said stop. infrequently seen and photographed Baffin Island did not go smoothly. The For these trips, he was with an because it feeds principally on insects ice in the fjord was breaking up so organized group so food was not a found in the treetops. The spring of one could not go in from the nearest problem. One close encounter 1980 was especially cold so the village by boat or by snowmobile. occurred while photographing some insects were nearer the ground After waiting a week with no change walruses resting on an ice floe. The where temperatures were warmer. in the ice condition, he decided to engine was shut off so the zodiac Roy came across the tanager feeding walk into the park, a trip which could drift with the tide. The craft in the boughs of the trees. Its vibrant normally takes 2 hours by craft took drifted slowly towards the mammals. colour amazed Roy and sparked his 3 days. After enjoying the isolation Roy realized they were in trouble passion for bird photography. and the many photographic subjects, Another weather anomaly was the he returned to Ottawa as his holiday setting for another of his unique time was over. Having seen just a photographs. A radio weather small portion of the park, he decided warning for drivers to keep off the to return again, but with no time Sea to Sky Highway due to a severe restrictions so he can spend more blizzard prompted Roy to rush to time photographing. Brackendale. No one was there to On the second trip to spook the bald eagles feeding on Auyuittuq National Park, Roy decided chum salmon carcasses and he to cross the park with a double pack, captured a bald eagle with up-turned as having a food cache dropped by head, screeching into the whiteout airplane was too costly. This meant blizzard. that he must carry the first pack Roy has had a fascination forward and then return for the with the high Arctic since reading second pack. The second pack was about the exploits of Sir John Franklin necessary since his food, cooking and his disastrous expedition, and has gear, fuel, tent and sleeping gear, been intrigued by the accounts of its extra clothing and camera equipment Mount Asgard in Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island. (Roy serenity, solitude, and quiet beauty. would not fit into one backpack. He allowed sufficient food for four Hamaguchi photo, 1981) To experience the North first hand, Continued on page 16 15 when he couldn’t focus on the Besides pursuing his shown at various venues across walruses-they were too close! The photographic hobby, Roy does Canada after the conference. Roy’s alpha male jumped into the water and volunteer work for the Tetra Society images have also appeared in tried to upturn the zodiac. Failing this, of North America (TETRA) and the numerous magazines including he gouged two large slits in the Japanese Canadian National Canadian Geographic, Equinox, pontoon, forcing a quick engine start Museum (JCNM). TETRA matches Nature Canada, Time-Life ,and and heading for land before the craft a team of engineers, technicians and Beautiful British Columbia. He is sank. designers with disabled people who also a frequent contributor to a Since moving to British face obstacles to independence in local publication, Marsh Notes Columbia, Roy has essentially limited self-care, work and leisure. In 2001, which highlights the waterfowl and his photographic excursions to day Roy won the Gizmo Award for other avian visitors to the Reifel trips. Exceptions were a trip to developing a safe laser pointer for a Bird Sanctuary. His photographs Ellesmere Island, two trips he made child with cerebral palsy that allowed have appeared in various books, to south central Nebraska to him to point at objects on his desk calendars, billboards, and a photograph the northbound migration and blackboard. He is currently postage stamp. This was a 45 cent of the sand hill cranes and a safari to working on about seven projects to stamp issued in1996 by Canada the Serengeti. His regular destinations assist handicapped persons. Roy has Post with his photograph of the includes Brackendale, north of been a director of the JCNM since North Shore peaks “The Lions” in Squamish for the winter aggregation 1998 and has been its unofficial outline. of feeding bald eagles and the Reifel photographer of the museum since its Bird Sanctuary on Westham Island inception. ❁ near Ladner for migrating flocks of waterfowl, especially the lesser snow Roy now has over 80,000 geese. There is an abundance of colour slides in his photographic subjects to photograph right here in collection. He has shown his BC so it is not necessary to travel photographs in several afar. He feels strongly that to capture exhibitions. An exhibition of a few the essence of the subject you must of his bird photographs was held study its behaviour over a period of in January 2004 at the West End time. Otherwise one ends up with a Community Centre. There is a record shot, that is, just a record of permanent exhibition of his bald an animate object. Roy ended up with eagle photographs at the countless record shots of wildlife Brackendale Art Gallery. Some of after a two-week safari to the his bird photographs were featured Serengeti. Roy is adamant, “I needed in the International Ornithological two years to properly document the Conference held in Ottawa in 1986. Canada Post stamp featuring Roy’s wildlife of the Serengeti.” This photographic exhibition was photograph.

Life After 42 by Mike Saito On November 22, 2003 I Suzuki. I am amazed, thinking about in question. In February 1942, a entered the 42nd year of my life. what he accomplished, and how he “Protected Zone” was established. Ordinarily, one would think that the persevered through difficult times. I No person of Japanese descent was 42nd year is not that significant. I am am grateful. Every thing that his allowed to reside within a 100-mile happily married and have two healthy, generation accomplished has made wide coastal strip in British Columbia. active children, aged 6 and 8. I have all of our lives richer. On March 4th, 1942 the British a good job and materialistically I have In Sadao Suzuki’s 42nd year, Columbia Security Commission was everything that I could wish for. For Japan attacked Pearl Harbour. The established to supervise and direct the all this, I am thankful. United States declared war on Japan evacuation. Internment camps were Who am I thankful to? and Canada was also drawn into the thrown together in interior locations Reflecting, I cannot help but think of war. The loyalty of all Canadians of such as New Denver, Slocan, my maternal grandfather, Sadao Japanese descent was immediately Tashme and Greenwood, to name a

16 returned from the evacuation they could come back and claim everything. Sadly, when they did return years later, they were not able to retrieve anything. Items had been dug up. When the family asked the occupants of their former home, they denied any knowledge of the items and refused to cooperate. My mother recalls looking into the house from the door and recognizing some of their old possessions displayed on shelves. She does not like talking about the internment years. I guess it is cluttered with unhappy memories. From what she has told me, it sounds like the promises of the Mr. and Mrs Sadao Suzuki. (Mike Saito photo, 1983) Sugar Beet program were nothing more than unrealistic policies. They few. It was clear that the Security vehicles from Japanese Canadians. moved to about six different towns Commission initially intended to break The Commission did not even give during this period. Living conditions up the family units, sending the able- them the opportunity to sell their and treatment from the farmers and bodied men to work in isolated road vehicles. When families were locals varied. Some were kind and camps, while the women, children evacuated, their property, homes and others were not. My Grandparents and aged were sent to the internment all contents left behind were taken persevered. They even had two camps. Being forced apart was a over by the Commission. Again, more children during these years. In terrible prospect for the families. owners were not permitted to sell or 1942, the family moved back to BC th On March 28 , 1942 the rent their own land. The Security purchasing farmland in Surrey. Sugar Beet Program was announced. Commission assumed control of all Incredibly, at the age of 52, my Evacuees could go to work on sugar property of the evacuees for Grandfather started over again. He beet farms in Alberta or Manitoba. safekeeping. Ignoring the obligations Family units would not be broken up. of safekeeping, the Commission sold Continued on page 18 They were promised fair wages, free everything without the owner’s housing, public school education for consent, more often than not at rock the children, and welfare and medical bottom prices. services. Families were even In order to keep his young promised the use of cottages and family together, my Grandfather small plots of land. Incredibly, the chose to work on the sugar beet sugar beet farms and the cold prairie farms. Families gong to internment winter was likely the lesser of two camps were allowed to take 150 evils! pounds of baggage per adult and 75 In his 42nd year, my pounds per child under 12 years old. Grandfather owned his own berry Total possessions allowed per family farm in Pitt Meadows. Not unlike were not to exceed 1000 pounds. myself, he had his property, young Likely, similar restrictions were family (children around the same age placed on families in the Sugar Beet as mine), and comforts of home. Like Program. I know that my myself, he probably cherished, and Grandparents had left a lot behind. took pride in what surrounded him. My mother told me that they had left Tragically, in his 42nd year he was a lot of possessions in the buildings faced with the prospect of losing all. and on the land. Fine china had been Sadao Shimizu with salmon caught at In March 1942, the Security crated and buried in the fields. They Mayne Island. (Mike Saito photo, Commission confiscated all motor hoped that when they eventually ca.1975) 17 later bought a second plot of land in it was fate, beyond man’s control, live as we do now. I believe that there Port Kells and also farmed that land. there should be no bitterness, forget should be no bitterness or shame in Eventually he sold one farm and it”. So, don’t talk about it and bring the history of the Japanese retired comfortably. My fondest up bad memories. I do not think that Canadians. There should only be memories are of perch fishing with it should be forgotten. It should not pride. My Grandfather’s story is not him either on the White Rock pier or be swept under the carpet. The unique and it should not be the only at Crescent Beach in the late 1960s. essence of the story is not about one that we tell. The stories of the Like most Japanese, he loved fishing. discrimination, or about the shameful internment years should be passed on. In 1988, Sadao Suzuki passed away. treatment that the Japanese They should not be forgotten. He was 88 years old. Canadians endured during this time. They say that life begins after Today, sitting here at 42 It is about the strength, pride and 40. For my Grandfather, he started years old, I find it incomprehensible perseverance of the Japanese all over after 42. For myself at 42, what my Grandfather went through Canadians. It is about the amazing everything has been put back into in his 42nd year. It is truly amazing gains the Issei and Nisei made after perspective. ❁ how he persevered. I mentioned the internment years. It is about how earlier that my mother does not like they sacrificed their own lives, Mike Saito is an employee to talk about it. The ones who lived comforts and dreams during and after with the Insurance Corporation of it, the Issei and Nisei, say the internment to enable their British Columbia. “shikataga-nai; it can’t be helped, children, and their grandchildren to Japanese Canadian Internment Camp in Eatonville? by Jerry Hind I am researching an old students to work on the farms as part some were master carpenters. Dad building in southwestern Ontario at of the War Effort. The farmers always said that there were only two Eatonville. During W.W. II the hotel would pick them up every morning or three that could not or would not was owned by a Mr. Howard Pyne and return them in the evening. They speak English. They built a Japanese and according to his son was an were paid daily or weekly. By signing Bath in the Garage. It was 6 feet long, internment camp for Japanese up, you did not have to write final 3 feet wide, about 4 feet deep, and Canadians, I have copied the section exams and got out of school in April/ was built over a brick metal firebox. from the story of the hotel on the war May if your marks during the year In the afternoon, while the men were years: were not too bad. at work, Dad would fill it with water “I believe in 1941, Dad got In 1942, Dad had a and start the fire under it. When the a contract from the Ontario disagreement with the Province men came in, they would all shower Government for a Farm Service about a Farm Service Camp and and clean themselves thoroughly. Camp at the Hotel. Basically, they instead arranged with the Federal Then they would take turns sitting in rented the entire property for the Government to rent the place out as the bath for some time. Afterwards summer months – April – October. an internment camp for 55 Japanese they would cavort outside on the They supplied all of the bunk beds, men from British Columbia. (Women grounds or in the snow in G-Strings bedding, towels, food, etc., Dad was and children were sent to a camp in and then shower again. Needless to the Custodian, Mother was the Camp Dresden, Ontario). Again he was say, when the cavorting took place, cook, and they appointed a Camp hired as Custodian and mother was mother would retire to her bedroom Director. Dad filled in the garage the Camp cook with the assistance with the shades drawn. They were overhang and installed showers and of Hari, one of the internees. An older not kept under lock and key. Dad used added plumbing. An eight hole RCMP Officer was the Guard and to drive a few at a time into outhouse was also added at the back Director. The men were paid to work Ridgetown to shop and go to the of the property. There were bunk at Rondeau Park clearing timber and show. When Hari came he would beds in the bedrooms (main building brush. Many of them were well come to our house and play chess and garage) and in the peripheral educated – one had been a secretary with me. I still have a leather belt that areas of the main building. The dance to the Premier of BC, another was he gave me for Christmas. In the hall was the dining room. The Farm an artist who painted a mountain summer they formed a baseball team Service Camps were for high school scene in mother’s autograph book, and played several local teams at the

18 old New Scotland schoolyard.” period 1 April through 30 May when they doubt the number was 55 I have become interested in the first men arrived at Dresden. I Japanese there, they all recall the this period and have been trying to am in the process of making a camp being there. find more details about the hotel and synopsis of the articles. I would appreciate any the Japanese Canadians who were I see that there were camps assistance you might be able to there. A search of the newspapers in Essex, Dover Centre, Chatham, provide regarding the camp at in Chatham starting in April of 1942 Valetta, and Glencoe. I have yet to Eatonville and the camps in general. have turned up many disturbing find when the men were at I think this is a story that should not articles on the movement of the men Eatonville. I have been in touch with slip into the local history. ❁ from British Columbia to Mr. Yon Shimizu author of the book northwestern Ontario and the “The Exiles” and he tells me there If anyone has information discussions on whether the men was no camp at Eatonville? I have about this camp, please contact should come to Kent county. I have interviewed a number of people in the NIKKEI IMAGES and we will attached the headlines from the area of Eatonville who were forward to Mr. Hinds. CHATHAM DAILY NEWS for the teenagers during the war and though Things Japanese Sale The National Nikkei ware, pottery), etc. Along with the much-needed commercial style Heritage and Museum Society donated and crafted items, there will community kitchen at the NNM&H Auxiliary is hosting a “Things be commercially displayed items as Centre. Japanese Sale” event on May 15, well. Japanese food will also be Businesses and crafts people 2004, at the National Nikkei Heritage featured. may also inquire as to the availability and Museum Centre. This fund raising This is an opportunity for all of space and provide a description of event will feature items in various folks to gather up things for which their products. For further categories. Different from a they no longer have a need and information, please contact Frank traditional craft sale, everything donate them to this important fund Kamiya 604-929-4476, Carla displayed is meant to be authentically raising event. Special items may also Maruyama 604-694-0252, Rosemarie Japanese — kimono, tabemono, be consigned for sale. Items must be Takeuchi 604-732-6714, Yoshi furniture, plants (e.g. “Japanese” and be in good Hashimoto 604-850-7105. ❁ bonsai), handicrafts (e.g. lacquer condition. Proceeds will go towards

From The Museum - A REPORT FROM THE MANAGER/CURATOR. SPRING 2004. Happy New Year. As we enter 2004 I am tempted to look back upon my first exciting year at JCNM. However, there is little time to reflect, with so much going on and so much yet to be done! Some of the work we have done since the last Nikkei Images includes: • The JCNM Speaker’s Series. On January 20 the Museum hosted “Researching Your Family History”. This was a very well attended event that heard from a panel of speakers which included Paul Kariya, JCNM Archivist Timothy Savage and Tenney-Sean Homma, granddaughter of Tomekichi Homma. Each panellist spoke of their experiences in researching their family’s past and knowledge gained in the process. The panel and moderator Andrea Geiger-Adams fielded many excellent questions throughout the spirited session. Future presentations in the Series include: -“Stories of Faith; Views on the Religious Affiliations of Japanese Canadians”. This will feature May Komiyama, Gordon Kibble and Mits Sakai discussing Japanese Canadian involvement in the United, Catholic and Buddhist Churches, respectively. Feb 19, 2004. -“Japanese Picture Brides” with Dr. Midge Ayukawa. March 16, 2004. -“Baseball and Judo: the Role of Sports in Bridging Cultures”, lectures by Anne Dore and Alan Sakai. Aprill 22, 2004. -“Adventures in Wildlife Photography”, a slide show of photographs taken in the Canadian High Arctic by Roy Hamaguchi. May 18, 2004. Continued on page 20 19 -University of Vicotia History Professor Patricia Roy will speak on June 22. The specific topic will be announced in the near future. All presentations are at 7pm in the National Nikkei Heritage Centre. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Speakers Series organizing Committee or have suggestions for future topics please contact me at (604) 777-7000 or at [email protected]. • School Programs. Demand is building among teachers for “Journeys” and “Taiken” programs. “Journeys” is the portable kit of photos, lesson materials and replica artifacts available in two versions -for Secondary and Elementary grade levels. Both kits are currently in use in schools in the Lower Mainland and are booked through March. More volunteers are urgently needed to help us satisfy a growing demand for “Taiken”, the new school tour program conducted at the NNHC. It features Japanese craft-making, a tour of the current museum exhibit, a presentation by Internment Camp survivors, and if so desired a Japanese lunch. The program is highly flexible in order to cater to teachers’ varying needs. We need your help to make it happen. If you enjoy working with young people and history, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Elizabeth Nunoda at (604) 777-7000, ext 102. • Community Events. The Museum has taken part in several recent events including Chinese New Year celebrations at Sun Yat Sen Gardens, and the Richmond Heritage Fair at Richmond Centre Shopping Centre (the largest such event in the Lower Mainland). It has also maintained an exhibit at Firehall Theatre during its production of Mitch Miyaga’s drama “The Plum Tree” about one Japanese Canadian’s struggles in post-W.W. II Canada. • Web site. Planning is underway for an extensive upgrade of the Museum web site, www.jcnm.ca. Web site designer Kevin Fukawa has graciously volunteered his services for this project and will guide us through the process of making the site something we can all be proud of. • Kogawa House. The Museum has been active in efforts to save the childhood home of Joy Kogawa, whose novel Obasan, an account of a nikkei child’s experiences during the interment period has become an icon of Canadian literature. The house, at 1450 West 64th in Vancouver has recently been sold to a private owner but the Kogawa Homestead Committee, an ad hoc group of people from across Canada is continuing its efforts to save it. The committee is in the process of incorporating as a non-profit charitable organization, which will allow it to raise the more the $500,000 that will likely be required to eventually purchase the property. In the meantime the Vancouver Heritage Conservation Foundation has agreed to accept donations on behalf of the committee and to issue tax receipts to donors. For more information visit the Kogawa Homestead Committee’s web site at www.kogawa.homestead.com. Many other exciting projects are under way at the Museum. If you would like to know more, please feel free to contact me at (604) 777-7000 or at [email protected]. ❁

New and renewing National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre Members from November 13, 2003 to February 5, 2004.

Mrs. Kikue Akitaya Mr. & Mrs. Jiro Kamiya Mrs. Marge Oike Ms. Makiko Asano Mrs. Yoshi Katagiri Mr. & Mrs. Hitoshi & Setsuko Okabe Ms. Sara D. Buechner Mr. & Mrs. Peter & Marie Katsuno Mr. & Mrs. Noboru & Elizabeth Sakiyama Ms. Debora Burke & Mr. Yoshi Arima Ms. Suzue Kimoto Mr. Fred Sasaki Mr. & Mrs. William & Amy Chang Mrs. Kim Kobrle Ms. Yuko Shibata Mr. David Fujiwara Mr. Kunihiko Araki & Ms. Hatsue Kobuke Mrs. Emiko Amy Shikaze Mr. & Mrs. William & Doris Girard Mrs. Chiyoko Kubo Mrs. Michiyo Shimamichi Mr. Kiyo Goto Mr. & Mrs. Ron & Marion MacQueen Mr. & Mrs. Ralph & Chiyomi K. Shimizu Mrs. Susan H. Gratton Ms. Joan Miki Mr. & Mrs. Ted & Shiz Shimizu Ms. Aiko M. Hamakawa Mr. & Mrs. Elmer & Sofia Morishita Mr. & Mrs. Howard & Jane Shimokura Ms. Taeko D. Hamakawa Mrs. Fusa Murata Drs. Kazumi J. & Yurika K. Shintani Dr. & Mrs. James & Helen Hasegawa Mrs. Frances K. Nakagawa Mr. & Mrs. Frank & Mary Takayesu Ms. Mayumi Hatano Mrs. Kassie Nakamura & Shirley Nakamura Dr. & Mrs. Jim H. Tanaka Mr. & Mrs. Miki & Miyako Hirai Mr. & Mrs. Dick & Anne Nakamura Mr. & Mrs. Sidney & Marie Teraguchi Mr. & Mrs. Roy & Kathryn Honda Mr. Edward Nakamura Dr. Gerald Thomson Ms. Marie Hori Mrs. Peggy Nakano Ms. Marjorie N. Umezuki Ms. Beverley Inouye Mr. & Mrs. Brian & Hitomi Nasu Mr. & Mrs. William & Gloria Y. Umezuki Mr. & Mrs. S. H. Inouye Mr. & Mrs. Yukio & Roberta Nasu Mrs. Akiko Wakabayashi Mrs. Mieko Iwaki Ms. Janet Nitta Mr. & Mrs. Daniel & Chiyoko Washimoto Mr. & Mrs. Kunihiko & Sumiko Iwashita Mr. George R. Obara Dr. Michael C. Wilson & Ms. Ineke Dijks Mr. & Mrs. Michael & Frances Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Masao & Kazuko Odaka Miss Sheena Wilson Ms. Tomiko Jowett Mr. Yutaka Ed Ogawa Ms. Shirley Witherow Mr. & Mrs. Gordon & Kyoko Kadota Ms. Lorene Oikawa Mr. & Mrs. David & Beverley Yamaura Mr. & Mrs. Frank & Naomi Kamiya Mrs. Sadako Oikawa

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