THE ASAHI BASEBALL TEAM REMEMBERED YV Introduction The Asahi Internment Focus Asahi in Japanese means “morning In September 1939 the Second World The Asahi Baseball Club, a group of sun.” Five young Japanese men, four War erupted. Canada declared war on Japanese Canadian Issei and one Nisei, formed the first Germany. The Asahi continued to play baseball players Asahi baseball team in Vancouver, baseball and, for five consecutive years, who were interned B.C., in 1914. The Nisei loved the game defeated their competitors and won the during the Second because it was such a big part of North prized Northwest Pacific Champion- World War, is remembered today American culture and it was affordable ship. When Japan entered the war in for victories on the for working-class families. Some 1941 there was no warning that the baseball diamond parents had even played the game in Canadian government would soon in the face of Japan. Young players formed teams announce that all Japanese Canadians discrimination and under the Asahi organization. The were “enemy aliens” in their own racist attitudes. This youngest team was called the Clovers, country. Yet early in 1942, just after the News in Review report examines the next team was the Beavers, and the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in the treatment of oldest and most advanced team was December 1941, 22 000 Japanese Japanese Canadians known as the Athletics. The Asahi Club Canadians were relocated to internment leading up to 1939, drew their players mostly from Little and labour camps. The Asahi Baseball their internment Tokyo in Vancouver, and played at Club was disbanded and never played during the Second World War, and the Athletic Park and Powell Grounds. In together again. actions of the general the Asahi were not power- The Canadian government announced Canadian govern- houses or heavy hitters, but they were that Japanese Canadians posed a threat ment concerning heroes to the Japanese Canadian com- to the country’s national security be- this community in munity. They dominated senior baseball cause Canada was at war with Japan. the years since the in the 1930s and 1940s by playing what Although there was no actual proof of war. became known as “brainball” because these allegations at the time, Japanese they relied on bunts, stolen bases, speed Canadians were given 24 to 48 hours YV Sections and precision fielding. The champion- notice of relocation. They gathered as marked with this ship-winning Asahi Baseball Club was many of their most beloved possessions symbol indicate popular with both Japanese Canadians as they could carry with them and said content suitable for and non-Japanese Canadians. During a goodbye to family members and younger viewers. time when Japanese Canadians were friends. frequently targets of racism—not being The Japanese Canadians lost every- allowed to vote, to teach, nor to work in thing. Their homes, businesses, and the civil service or other professions— property were sold, and they received the barriers of race came down when little or no money for what they had the ball was in play. These players owned. Their savings were taken, often taught their fans baseball strategy as used to pay for their travel to the intern- well as the true meaning of fair play ment camps, as well as paying for the and sportsmanship. The Asahi remain a day-to-day running of the camps. Their symbol of pride not only for Canada’s Canadian citizenship was revoked and Japanese Canadian community but also families were separated. The camps fans of baseball everywhere. were crowded, ill-equipped, dirty, and CBC News in Review • September 2004 • Page 43 secured by barbed-wire fences and Once the war was over Japanese Definitions guards. The Japanese Canadians often Canadians were pressured to move to Issei, Nisei, Sansei, lived in tents and huts without heat or Japan, a place many had never seen Yonsei: Japanese language terms water. before, or move to unfamiliar provinces used to describe Little by little, once some of the east of the Rockies. Most stayed in first-, second-, former Asahis overcame the shock of Canada and patiently rebuilt their lives third-, and fourth- being interned, bats and balls appeared and communities. Finally, in 1988, the generation settle- in the camps. Teams were formed and Canadian government made a public ment in Canada. internees gathered around at game time apology for its mistreatment of Japa- Nikkei means ethnically Japanese. to watch their favourite players. These nese Canadians during the Second Nikkei Kanadajin games served as a distraction from the World War. In June 2003 the Asahi means Canadians depressing reality of the camps and as a Baseball Club was inducted into the of Japanese ethnic- source of pride for the internees. It was Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and ity. This term is one way of fighting back. Museum. important because it separates ethnic- ity from citizenship To Consider and self-identifica- 1. Why might “barriers of race come down” during a baseball game? tion. Further Research An excellent audio- visual summary of the Japanese Canadian experi- 2. What sports do you play where race or ethnicity is not an issue? ence can be found by visiting the CBC Digital Archives at www.cbc.ca/archives and going to the topic “Relocation to Redress: The 3. What is your opinion about the Japanese Internment in 1942? Internment of the Japanese Canadi- ans.” 4. What lessons might be learned from the story of the Asahi Baseball Club? CBC News in Review • September 2004 • Page 44 THE ASAHI BASEBALL TEAM REMEMBERED YV Video Review 1. Who were the Asahi? Answer the ques- tions on this and the following page 2. Why were the Asahi considered “heroes”? during the video. The discussion questions should be attempted after the video has been reviewed. 3. When did Japanese immigration to Canada begin? 4. List some of the hardships that Japanese Canadians, including the Asahi, had to face when they immigrated to Canada. 5. Where did the Asahi play baseball? 6. What made the Asahi so successful? Provide examples. 7. Explain the “David versus Goliath” reference mentioned in this video. 8. What was the cause of anti-Japanese sentiment in 1941? 9. What decision did Prime Minister King make that changed the lives of all Japanese Canadians? 10. Do you support his decision? Explain? CBC News in Review • September 2004 • Page 45 11. Make a list of what the Japanese Canadians lost during the Second World War. 12. Describe the conditions faced by the Japanese Canadians during intern- ment. 13. What type of work and leisure pursuits were the Japanese Canadians limited to during internment? 14. How were the internment camps funded? 15. What options did the Japanese Canadians have once they were released from the internment camps? Post-viewing Discussion 1. If you had to defend the actions of the Canadian government in 1941, what would you say? 2. As a Japanese Canadian what choice would you have made, in terms of where you would settle, after you were released from the internment camps? Use specific reasons to support your answer. CBC News in Review • September 2004 • Page 46 THE ASAHI BASEBALL TEAM REMEMBERED YV Timeline of Japanese Canadian History From the time the Japanese first started 1900 Honma Tomekichi, a naturalized Definitions to consider Canada their new home, Canadian citizen, applies to be included Issei, Nisei, Sansei, they experienced opposition. Until the on the voters’ list. After refusal by the Yonsei: Japanese language terms eve of the Second World War they Collector of Voters, a British Columbia used to describe managed to develop deep roots in judge declares ultra vires (without legal first-, second-, various communities and a deep love authority) a clause barring Asians from third-, and fourth- for Canada despite many challenges, voting, but this decision is later over- generation settle- including racism and riots. The Second turned by the Privy Council of Britain ment in Canada. World War gave those who feared or in 1902. Nikkei means ethnically Japanese. did not like the Japanese Canadians an 1903 Amid increasing public agitation Nikkei Kanadajin excuse to continue to treat them as against Asian immigrants, the British means Canadians enemies who did not belong. Columbia government makes a first of Japanese ethnic- ity. This term is attempt to impose the Natal Act, requir- important because Timeline ing immigrants to pass a written En- it separates ethnic- 1877 The first recognized Issei takes glish examination. ity from citizenship up permanent residence in Canada. He 1904 Japanese Canadian farmers begin and self-identifica- ran a gift shop, food store, and hotel in to settle in the Fraser Valley of B.C. tion. Victoria, British Columbia. 1905 The first Buddhist temple in 1883 The first Japanese immigrant is Canada opens in Vancouver. employed at the Hastings Sawmill in Vancouver, later the largest employer 1906 The first Japanese-language of Japanese immigrants in Canada. school is established in Vancouver. 1887 Steveston, British Columbia, 1906-1908 Emigration from Japan becomes the second-largest Japanese increases as a result of unemployment Canadian settlement before the Second following the Russo-Japanese War and World War. a widespread crop failure in Japan. More than 9 000 Japanese immigrants 1889 The first Nisei is born. enter Canada. Most immigrants settle in 1890s Issei establish stores, boarding British Columbia, but some settle in houses, and other businesses along the Southern Alberta, Toronto, and Montreal. streets of Vancouver, especially on 1907 (September 9) An anti-Asian Powell Street. This neighbourhood group gathers in Vancouver and inflicts becomes the major settlement of Japa- severe damage on Japanese immigrant nese Canadians until the Second World quarters.