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From the Diaries of the Rev. Kosaburo Shimizu

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From the Diaries of the Rev. Kosaburo Shimizu 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.
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