Shoji Nishihata: Profile of a JCNM Volunteer
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Nikkei Images A Publication of the National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre ISSN#1203-9017 Winter 2009, Vol. 14, No. 3 1 On the Cover Nikkei Images is published by the National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre Society Koichiro Sanmiya at the Hollow Tree 1920 by Laura Hough (Photograh in JCNM collection 1994.41.028, Sanmiya Family fonds) Koichiro Sanmiya (1881-1931) had a strong interest in photography Editorial Committee: and even built a darkroom in his basement. He is posed (second from Beth Carter; Stanley Fukawa, right) in front of the infamous hollow tree in Stanley Park, a photo opportunity that is still popular today with tourists and locals alike. He Grace Hama, Frank Kamiya, taught his children Mamoru and Tatsuo how to develop photographs Kaye Kishibe, Christine Kondo, and his wife Morio saved them in a family photograph album. Linda Reid, Edzard Teubert, From the time that Koichiro Sanmiya arrived in Vancouver in 1907 Mitsuo Yesaki, Carl Yokota from Sendai, Japan, he maintained a strong involvement with the Japanese Canadian community. Sanmiya was one of a group of leaders Subscription to Nikkei Images in the community who helped raise money to erect a War Memorial in is free with your yearly Stanley Park, in commemoration of the Japanese Canadian soldiers membership to NNMHCS: who fought in World War I. The group successfully raised the required $15,000 and the memorial was unveiled in the park on April 9, 1920. Family $25 Entrepreneurial in spirit, Sanmiya was involved with many businesses throughout his lifetime, including the Strand Restaurant, Individual $20 K. Sanmiya Co., and the Canada Daily Newspaper. He was given Senior/Student $15 the only distillers license in British Columbia when he opened the Senior Couple $20 Vancouver Malt & Sake Company, (which was later sold to Capilano Non-profit Association $50 Beers and then to Canadian Breweries). He was a sponsor of the Corporate $100 Asahi baseball team, sat on the Board of Trustees for the Japanese $1 per copy for non-members Language School and was a member of Japanese Canadian society. Sanmiya also helped start the Nipponjin Kai (the Canadian Japanese NIKKEI PLACE Association, now known as the Japanese Canadian Association). 6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby, B.C., V5E 4M7 (Laura Hough was a Young Canada Works summer student at Japanese Canadian Museum.) Canada tel: (604) 777-7000 fax: (604) 777-7001 [email protected] Contents www.jcnm.ca www.nikkeiimages.com Discovering the Collections ...........................................................3 Twice Was Nice: A Royal Japanese Experience ...........................3 Disclaimer: Every effort is made to Classic WW II Recipe for Stretching Soy Sauce in Canada .........8 ensure the accuracy of the information Japanese Canadian Fishermen’s Assn Contributions ...................9 contained within Nikkei Images. How- ever, due to the possibility of human or The Japanese Weapon in the Strawberry King Competition .......12 mechanical error, Nikkei Images does A Christmas Tale ..........................................................................13 not guarantee the correctness, adequa- Shoji Nishihata: Profile of a JCNM Volunteer ...............................15 cy or completeness of any information and is not responsible for any errors or “I Felt We Had Come a Long Way” ..............................................17 omissions or the results obtained from The Legacy of Nakamura Florist ..................................................19 the use of such information. Opinions Hidden Treasures of the JCNM ....................................................23 expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily Two Views ....................................................................................24 reflect those of the editors or of the NNM&HC. 2 Discovering the Collections by Beth Carter, Director-Curator It has been such a pleasure to about early fishing communities on through the years. Thank you to the discover the wonderful collections Vancouver Island, strawberry farms many community members who have of the Japanese Canadian National in the Fraser Valley and the many donated their precious collections Museum. Since I started at the museum internment camps in the interior. and memories so that they can be in July we have been organizing the The early days of Powell Street accessible to all Canadians. collections and preparing for our new are represented through tools and NIKKEI IMAGES helps us storage system, generously funded equipment used by many businesses share those stories. Since 1996, through the Museums Assistance in the area. And of course, we a dedicated group of volunteers Program of Canadian Heritage. It is have important memorabilia and has gathered information and oral a slow process - but each day I feel documentation on the famed Asahi histories related to the Japanese that I have an insight into a few more baseball team, who played such a Canadian experience for inclusion items. significant role in early Vancouver. in this publication. It is a wonderful Each photograph, journal, map The museum is also honoured to be complement to the exhibits we or artifact has its own story to tell. the caretaker of papers, letters and produce. In the near future, we will The collections of the Japanese other holdings related to the long be updating the design and format, Canadian National Museum truly struggle for redress. There are so but the content will continue to represent the wealth of history for the many artifacts and archival materials provide insights into the heart of the issei and nissei in Canada. Through that reflect the amazing resilience of community. ❁ our collections, I am learning the Japanese Canadian community Twice was Nice: A Royal Japanese Experience by Carl Yokota What was I thinking? It was 10:51 a.m., Friday, July 10, 2009 and in just over an hour we would be shuttled to the Richmond Olympic Oval to hopefully get a good glimpse of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan. The Olympic Oval is the site of the 2010 Winter Olym- pics speed skating venue and was one of the key stops for the Japanese royal couple as part of their 12-day, cross-Canada trip to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Japan-Canada diplomatic relations and help foster and strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the two coun- tries and their people. The visit also Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko acknowledging crowd at the marked 56 years since the then 19- Richmond Olympic Oval. (C. Yokota photo, 2009) year old Crown Prince Akihito first visited Canada on his way to England this past April. Their trip began on Before I left home, however, I quickly for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth July 3 when they arrived in Ottawa checked the BC Ferries schedule and II. This was Empress Michiko’s first for the start of their Eastern Canadian arranged for my overnight hotel ac- trip to Canada, and as well the year portion of their trip. With stops in Ot- commodations in Victoria. I believe I 2009 celebrates the 20th anniversary tawa and Toronto, their Canadian tour was getting caught up in the Japanese of Emperor Akihito’s accession to the would continue on to Victoria and royal excitement! throne and the couple’s 50th wedding Vancouver before they return home The formal City of Richmond anniversary which was celebrated to Japan stopping en route in Hawaii. invitations had arrived a week prior Continued on page 4 3 and both my Mom and I felt very towards the Oval entrance. Although Akihito and Empress Michiko had fortunate to have received them the front, roped-off area seats offered just arrived from Toronto on board and looked forward to seeing the prime viewing, most people chose to their Japan Airlines Boeing 747 gov- Japanese royal couple live and in sit up in the bleachers which offered ernment aircraft. Actually, two iden- person. What a once-in-a lifetime a higher vantage point as well as a tical aircraft were flown into YVR, thrill it would be for even in Japan slight breeze. With still over 2 1/2 each with their distinctive Japanese the average citizen there, rarely if at hours before Emperor Akihito and red sun symbol or Hinomaru on their all, ever get the chance to personally Empress Michiko would arrive and tails. The Imperial Japanese couple see them. With their ages 75 and 74 the temperature hovering in the mid- had just spent the first seven days of years respectively, questions over the 20 degrees C, it was assured to be a their 12-day visit in the Ottawa and Emperor’s possible health concerns, long, hot wait. Fortunately, volunteers Toronto area. Met by local, provincial, and limited trips overseas, it would passed out glasses of water and some federal and host First Nations lead- appear this might be the one and only large golf umbrellas for those individ- ers, Emperor Akihito and Empress time we’ll ever get to see them. Let’s uals feeling a bit parched and needing Michiko were warmly greeted by the truly hope not! cover from the sun. While we waited, many onlookers with loud applause, Upon arrival at the Steveston several kimono-clad young women friendly cheers and the waving of the Community Centre parking lot, we from the Tatsumi Japanese Dance little flags. Emperor Akihito, shorter were delighted to see so many famil- group distributed souvenir little flags in stature than I imagined, appeared iar faces from the Steveston Japanese of British Columbia, Canada and Ja- in a grey double-breasted suit while community already there. People had pan to the crowd. Nearing the arrival Empress Michiko looked very fash- arrived early to take advantage of the of the very special Japanese visitors, ionable in her striped white dress free shuttle service provided by the the Steveston Tera Taiko drummers with aubergine-colored accents, black City of Richmond on a first come, first performed for the audience followed jacket, a small chain-handled black ride basis.