Nikkei Images

Nikkei Images

National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre Newsletter ISSN#1203-9017 Autumn 2006, Vol. 11, No. 3



Portland Japanese Garden by Christine Kondo

Professor Takuma Tono,

designer of the Portland Japanese

Garden, once said, “A Japanese

garden is not only a place for the

cultivation of trees and flowering

shrubs, but one that provides secluded

leisure, rest, repose, meditation and

sentimental pleasure…The Garden

speaks to all the senses, not just the

mind alone.”

Indeed, I found a stroll through

the Portland Japanese Garden is a

journey that calms and soothes the

visitor, a journey that is experienced

by more than 130,000 visitors

annually. The 5.5-acre garden was

designed by Professor Tono, head of

the Tokyo University of Agriculture’s

Landscape Architecture Department,

beginning in 1963 and was open to The Antique Gate at the entrance to the Portland Japanese Garden. (C.

the public in 1967. Located within Kondo photo, 2006)

Washington Park in the west hills the Portland Japanese Garden Only a fifteen-minute drive from

of Portland, Oregon, the garden is a was ranked first out of 300 public downtown Portland, this garden is a

non-profit organization and is funded Japanese gardens outside of Japan calm oasis with sweeping views of

entirely by admissions, memberships and considered one of the most the city and beyond to the Cascade

and donations. authentic. Continued on page 2

Professor Tono used three

primary elements in his design:

Contents

stone, the “bones” of the landscape Portland Japanese Garden .....................................................................................1

for strength and support; water, The Japanese Garden at Dinner Bay, Mayne Island, B.C......................................3

the life-giving force; and plants, Seattle Japanese Garden ........................................................................................4

which provide a tapestry of ever- Maestro Derrick Inouye ........................................................................................5

Yoshio Johnny Madokoro .....................................................................................6

changing colour, growth and

Post-War Japanese Immigrants and their Involvement in the Community .........12

texture throughout the four seasons. Remembrances of New Denver 1942-46 ............................................................20

Wandering throughout the garden, My Dual Affiliations with Japan and Canada ......................................................25

the visitor enjoys Tono’s subtle “hide Oikawa Collection and SUIAN MARU Descendents Return to the Fraser ........27

and reveal” theme as movement Masao (Mas) Kawanami, 1923-2005 ..................................................................29

through the garden reveals Report of the AGM of the NNMHC ...................................................................30

continuously changing views. Japanese Families on Annacis, Don and Lion Islands and Queensborough .......30

In a study conducted by Roth’s 神が私を日本につかわされた ...................................32

Journal of Japanese Gardening,



1

Annoucements Mountains. Visitors begin their ferns and mosses grow in their natural

peaceful journey by passing through state in this shady area. Along the

All Events at NNMHC

the Antique Gate under a canopy of path, visitors come upon a small jizo

Japanese Farmer’s Market

Sep. 30, 2006: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. trees and walking along a forested statue--the only human form in the

pathway up to the admission gate. garden—which represents a kindly

Japan Expo

Oct. 7, 2006: 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. There are five major and protective deity. A tile-roofed

Suian Maru Panel Discussion subgardens: gazebo (azumaya) provides a place

Oct. 12, 2006: 7:00 p.m. The Tea Garden (roji) has two for rest and reflection.

Jinzaburo Oikawa Exhibition

Oct. 13, 2006: 6:00-9:00 p.m. areas, each devoted to enhancing The Sand and Stone

Suian Maru Centennial Celebration the tea ceremony. The outer garden Garden (karensansui/zen niwa)

Dinner

Oct. 14, 2006: 530 p.m. (soto-roji) contains the waiting is representative of an abstract

Children’s Halloween Party station for the tea ceremony. The garden style that is typically found

Oct. 28, 2006: 10:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. inner garden (uchi-roji) surrounds in Zen monasteries. It features stark

6th Annual Christmas Craft/Bake Sale the ceremonial tea house. The weathered stones rising out of a bed

Nov. 18, 2006:10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Kashin-tei or Flower Heart House of sand raked with ripples, to suggest

Nikkei Winter Dance

Nov. 25, 2006: 7:30 -1130 p.m.

was built in Japan using traditional the sea. A bench invites the visitor to

construction pegs and almost no sit and reflect on the structure.

Nikkei Images is published by nails. The plants around the Tea The Flat Garden (hira-niwa)

Garden are sparse and not showy is an expansive sea of raked sand

the National Nikkei Museum

because nothing should detract from representing water. Two islands of

and Heritage Centre Society

the ritual of the tea ceremony. low-growing plants are in the shape of

The Strolling Pond Garden a gourd and a sake cup, representing

Editorial Committee: (chisen-kaiyu-shiki) is the largest of happiness and enlightenment. The

Stanley Fukawa, Jim Hasegawa, the subgardens. A wisteria arbour sea-sandscape is surrounded by

Frank Kamiya, Christine Kondo was designed as a frame for the plantings of evergreens and azaleas.

Mitsuo Yesaki, Carl Yokota five-tiered pagoda lantern given A large pavilion overlooks the Flat

to Portland from its sister city, Garden to the west and visitors often

Subscription to Nikkei Images Sapporo, Japan, in 1963. The stones meditate under the eaves of the roof.

is free with your yearly at the base of the pagoda are in the The pavilion is used for society

membership to NNMHCS: shape of the island of Hokkaido, events and special displays, such as

with Sapporo designated by a red ikebana festivals. The architectural

stone. Several ornate bridges cross style of the pavilion is from the

Family $25

the creek between the upper pond Kamakura period in Japan and

Individual $20 and lower ponds. The upper pond includes a shoji (translucent paper

Senior/Student $15 features crane sculptures and the panels), fusuma (paper-covered

Senior Couple $20 lower pond is home to tortoise and movable wall panels), tatami (reed

Non-profit Association $50 crane stones, symbols of longevity. mats) and verandas. Just south of the

Corporate $100 A wooden zig-zag bridge leads pavilion is a poetry stone with the

$1 per copy for non-members through iris beds which bloom in inscription: “Here, miles from Japan

plus mailing costs late June. Here, the Heavenly Falls I stand as if warmed by the spring

provide a majestic backdrop to the sunshine of home.” ❁

NIKKEI PLACE lower pond which holds dozens of

colourful koi. Seven large rocks are The Portland Japanese Garden

6688 Southoaks Crescent,

arranged as the constellation ‘The is open all year except Thanksgiving,

Burnaby, B.C., V5E 4M7

Big Dipper’. Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Canada The Natural Garden (shukei- Special events and festivals are held

tel: (604) 777-7000 en) features smaller ponds, waterfalls throughout the year. Tel: 503-223-

fax: (604) 777-7001 and shallow streams meandering 1321. E-mail: www.japanesegarden.

jcnm@nikkeiplace.org under tiny bridges. Trees, shrubs, com

www.jcnm.ca The NNMHC does not necessarily agree with the opinions expressed

www.nikkeiimages.com by the authers of the articles included in this issue: nor does it accept

responsibility for errors or omissions



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The Japanese Garden at Dinner Bay Park,

Mayne Island, B.C. by Alan Cheek

This beautiful garden was first

conceived back in 1987 shortly

after the Mayne Island Parks and

Recreation Commission (under

the administration of the Capital

Regional District) was established.

The first volunteers made a great

start by creating the pond that can

still be seen in its basic form today.

They were fully supported by the

resident Otsuki and Nagata families

who donated the cherry trees and

other plants we still enjoy seeing

today. Major drainage problems were

encountered and various high-cost

solutions were considered. Other

park priorities and commitments

intervened and the garden was

virtually abandoned, becoming a

swamp dominated by alder trees. View of Mayne Island Japanese garden showing pond, bridge and

These trees had multiplied vegetation. (F. Kamiya photo, 2006)

and grown tall by the fall of 1999 determined an irrigation system and the drilling of a well and building

when the project was reactivated. underground electric conduits were a pump-house. Another small, zig-

One of the Commissioners, Don trenched and put in place. At this zag, meditation (yatsuhashi) bridge

Herbert, undertook to recreate and time the whole concept still appeared overlooking the pond was also added,

fully develop the garden with the very rudimentary, yet it was taking plus many plants, trees, benches and

help of volunteers. I was fortunate shape. various style lanterns.

to be Commission chairman at the To assist our planning we The garden was sufficiently

time. It wasn’t very long before retained Joseph Fry, a landscape developed by May 2002 that the

the project took on a life of its own architect from Vancouver, to produce Commission took the opportunity

with an energetic community spirit. conceptual drawings and a coloured to invite the Lieutenant-Governor

This spirit was, and still is, very plan of the site. His basic concept of B.C., the Honourable Iona

evident with the many volunteers, was followed and used as a general Campagnolla to unveil a plaque in

generous donations of plants, guide. To avoid the high development the garden in recognition of the early

money, and services donated by local cost we continued to depend on the Japanese settlers. It was wonderful

contractors. It should be noted that overwhelming generosity of the to see some of these Japanese family

the Commissioners and volunteers community and its visitors. Joseph members attend with their children

are unpaid and work many hours had a personal interest in seeing the and grandchildren from across

to create this magnificent garden. garden develop as his mother when Canada. Our thanks to the Nikkei

Funding from the Capital Regional a child was moved from the coast to Centre and Mitzi Saito for helping

District has been relatively small. Ontario in 1942; he has been actively to locate so many of them. Takeo

Once the alders had been involved with the National Nikkei Yamashiro, a sakuhachi master,

removed the pond was cleaned out Heritage and Museum Centre in enhanced this special day by drifting

and the island created, the general Burnaby. his beautiful music over the water

garden area was graded and shaped With ongoing community and wafting through the woodland

into its present form. The drainage support a bridge to the island was trees. It was a time to cherish and

problem was solved by digging built, then another one, together with remember!

streams and installing pipes. Once a waterfall funded by the Mayne Following that wonderful

the general path layout had been Island Lions Club. This necessitated occasion, the volunteers developed

Continued on page 4

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the fuchsia and camellia areas, a of the settlers who followed him conduits, and a lot more besides. And

quiet secluded rhododendron garden were relatives who arrived from the he does it all with an unassuming

with its own small pond and stream. village of Agarimichi in the Tottori modesty as he prepares at age 77 to

All of this complements the iris prefecture of western Honshu. The assist with another long fence.

beds, flowering plants and masses settlers comprised only a third of the So the garden grows. A second

of shrubs. A replica of a Japanese island’s population yet provided over torii has been made by another

charcoal kiln was built near the 50% of its economy. When they had volunteer, and the same guy has

garden entrance, there were many in to leave in early 1942 the local school created a wonderful roofed structure

the Gulf Islands supplying the fish had to close for lack of students. The with angled boards on which

canneries on the Fraser River. This departure was strongly regretted by additional plaques will be placed,

was followed by a major oriental- those remaining. together with the names of volunteers

style fence edging the adjacent sports It takes many volunteers to and major donors who have

field creating a sense of seclusion for conceive and bring to fruition a contributed during the gardens early

the garden. garden of this calibre and many must years of development. The garden is

Then in 2003 a larger plaque remain un-named. Don Herbert is no now attracting international attention

was installed by the torii gate leading longer as active yet still participates in the United States and Europe.

into the garden’s woodland approach. and takes an interest in its continued You can get a preview of its beauty

As a hakujin I felt there was a need development. The one indefatigable by logging on to www.mayneisland.

to explain the reason for a Japanese individual who had done far more com. Even better, find time to visit

garden on this small island, so the than the rest of us is Tosh Saito, a the garden, it is especially beautiful

plaque provided the background thoroughly dedicated hard worker during April and May. Discover the

story to the settlers. The first to arrive who never seems to stop working. peace and serenity that pervades this

in 1900 was Gontaro Kadonga, He built the pump-house/tool shed, magic place.

he farmed, fished and logged with the oriental fence, four of our five I am just an enthusiastic

his family - his descendants still bridges, installed the pipes and hakujin. ❁

visit the island occasionally. Most

Seattle Japanese Garden by Christine Kondo

The Seattle Japanese Garden is

a peaceful sanctuary tucked in the

University of Washington’s Park

Arboretum. The 3.5-acre garden

is designed featuring the many

characteristics of a stroll-through

formal garden from the Momoyama

Period (late 16th century) and early

Edo Period (early 17th century). The

stroll-through garden aims to create

the illusion of many landscapes that

reveal and disappear along the path.

As early as 1937 the Washington

Park Arboretum Foundation

supported the creation of a Japanese

garden as part of the park. But the

plans were set aside until many

years after World War II when racial

and political tensions eased. In 1959

the Foundation received a sizable A view of the lake at the Seattle Japanese Garden. (C. Kondo photo, (2006)

gift from an anonymous donor Working with six other designers granite boulders from the Cascade

which allowed them to hire the including Kiyoshi Inoshita, Mr. Mountains near Snoqualmie Pass.

world-famous gardener Juki Iida— Iida came from Japan to supervise Construction began in March 1960

builder of more than 1,000 Japanese the construction of the garden and and was completed in four months. It

gardens—to oversee the design. personally selected more than 500 is one of the earliest post-war public

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constructions of a Japanese Garden Two bridges span the lake: the a six-tatami mat tearoom, a one-

on the Pacific Coast. earthen bridge (dobashi) and the mat preparation room, a two-mat

Strolling through the garden, (

plank bridge (yatsuhashi). Turtle anteroom and a stone floor entry.

the visitor is taken on a journey that Island rises out from the centre of Chado—The Way of Tea—is

follows the flow and movement of the lake. In addition to the dozens demonstrated several times from

water. Streams and waterfalls that of koi, the lake also supports irises, April to October.

emerge from a hillside area feed juncus aquatic grass and lilypads. A Another gift from Japan sits

down into a lake. The lake is lined viewing arbor and moon-viewing atop a pine-covered knoll: a 200-

with lakeshore pines, willow trees, stand on the shoreline of the lake is year-old, 3.5-ton hand-carved granite

birches and deciduous shrubs. used in late summer for ceremonies lantern was a gift to the people of

Kiyoshi Inoshita, one of the that celebrate the rising moon. Seattle from the citizens of Kobe.

original designers, described the Shinto-style Japanese lanterns are In 2001-02, renovations took

design intent, “The flow of water, located throughout the garden, and place under the direction of Koichi

which originated in the high often mark divergences in the path. Kobayashi. The renovations included

mountain ranges, transforms itself The garden’s original teahouse, an installation of shoreline protection

as it continues its way through the donated by the city of Tokyo, was rockery and landscape rocks as well

landscape…At the end of the lake hand-constructed in Japan by the as a water re-circulation system for

is a stone paved boat launch, which Shimizu Company and reassembled water conservation. ❁

symbolically represents a fishing on site. Fire destroyed the teahouse The Seattle Japanese Garden

village. There, the water disappears in 1973 and it was reconstructed is open from March to the end of

from one’s sight, leaving the in 1981 with the help from the November. Tel: 206-684-4725.

expectation that it will be joining the Urasenke Foundation of Kyoto. The http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/parks/

greater ocean.” copper-shingled teahouse contains parkspaces/japanesegarden.htm



Artist/Craftsman Series No. 10

Maestro Derrick Inouye by Stan Fukawa

(1990) as Assistant Conductor, and her visit with Prince and Princess

with the Regina Symphony (1984- Takamado at their palace in Tokyo.

89) as Music Director. Since She and Derrick were invited to

Inouye is a common Japanese name, visit when the Takamado’s were in

it was only a few years ago that I Vancouver at a function where they

learned that some Inouyes I know sat next to her. She remembers the

in the Greater Vancouver area were kindness of both the Prince and the

related to him. Their comments help Princess.

to round out the picture of the man Derrick had by then come to

inside the artist. know Japan well. He was born to

Maestro Inouye debuted Kaye and Bob in 1956, the youngest

at Carnegie Hall in 1998, leading a of four children. He attended school

roster of world-class performers in a in West Vancouver. After his early

program that featured Her Imperial musical education in flute, piano

Highness Princess Takamado’s and violin, he majored in violin at

“Lulie the Iceberg.” The performance the University of British Columbia

Derrick Inouye. (K. Inouye photo, was hosted by Her Highness who (1973-75), where he showed a strong

ca. 2000) wrote the story, with music written aptitude for conducting. He went on

by Jeffrey Stock. Yo-yo Ma on to the Toho Gakuen Music School in

Readers who are regular cello, Paul Winter on saxophone, Japan and studied conducting under

listeners to the CBC may recall the and Pamela Frank on violin played Hideo Saito, Seiji Ozawa, Kazuyoshi

occasions when Derrick Inouye the starring characters of the iceberg Akiyama and Tadaaki Otaka.

was a guest on CBC Radio. This and animals. The maestro led the Both his mother and his aunt Bev

happened often during his years Orchestra of St. Mark’s. Inouye, remember being shocked at

with the symphony orchestras of The following year, his mother, how much Derrick had been changed

Vancouver (1981-85) and Toronto Kaye Inouye, remembers fondly

Continued on page 6

5

by his few years in Japan. When he left home, he knew inspired the orchestra.” [The MDR Symphony is the

little Japanese and was very outgoing in his demeanor. oldest radio symphony orchestra in Europe, dating back

When he returned, they remember noticing how much to 1924. It is 82 years old this year. The quotation comes

quieter he had become and how “Japanese” he looked. from Kaye Inouye’s scrap book.]

This was probably due to the strong influence of world- During the 2004-2005 opera season, Derrick

class teachers in a strict performing arts tradition, and to Inouye debuted at the New York Metropolitan Opera,

his Japanese haircut. conducting that company’s premiere production of

The Toho school prides itself in its ability to teach Berlioz’ Benvenuto Cellini. He also conducted at the

conductors how to communicate with the orchestra. very popular “Met in the Park” outdoor series throughout

To accomplish this, students of conducting begin by the Big Apple, gaining excellent reviews that can be

working with one pianist playing a simple piece. Later, viewed on the internet by Googling his name.

they move up to working with two pianos. Podium work His list of guest conductor appearances is massive.

comes after that. He has carried his baton to over 40 cities in countries

It was during the early 1980s that he studied at the that have symphony orchestras – travelling to Europe,

Tanglewood Institute at Boston University under Seiji the U.S.A., Canada, Japan and New Zealand, and

Ozawa and Erich Leinsdorf and then in Italy during has conducted most of the major orchestras. He has

three summers with the celebrated maestro, Franco undoubtedly amassed a lot of Frequent Flyer points in

Ferrara at the Academia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, his work.

Italy. This culminated in his being awarded First Prize in For opera lovers, the most exciting bit of news is that

Conducting at the prestigious Vittorio Gui Competition Derrick Inouye will be coming to Vancouver to conduct

in 1985. the Vancouver Opera’s production of “The Magic Flute”

His abilities were praised in the Leipziger opening in January 2007, an adaptation with Mozart’s

Morgenport newspaper arts section for Jan. 8, 1993 by music in a First Nations setting.

critic Peter Meyer as follows…“Finally a great conductor This is another fine homecoming for a

who knows how to manage the distinguished tradition of talented musician who first brought attention to

the art of conducting stood once more on the podium his musical aptitude by winning a scholarship

of the MDR Symphony at the Gewandhaus. Derrick awarded to “Ricky Inouye” by the Saint Anthony’s

Inouye understands how to communicate the spirit of the Convent School of Music in West Vancouver

music to the orchestra. His elastic, flexible conducting for the highest standing in Grade VII exams. ❁

technique, combined with musical brio, gratifyingly

Corrections!

Several major formatting errors were made in two articles printed in the 2006 Spring issue

of NIKKEI IMAGES. The columns in the Johnny Madokoro article are not in sequence. Many of

the Chinese characters in the article by Ikuye Uchida in Japanese appear as squares and the sole

accompanying photograph has nothing to do with this narrative. Consequently, to correct these

errors, the Madokoro article is reprinted on page 6 and the Uchida article on page 32 of this issue.

Apologies to the authors and to our readers for any inconvenience these errors may have caused.

Family History Series No. 5

Yoshio Johnny Madokoro (Part 1) by Dennis Madokoro

My name is Yoshio and I was born in 1913. I am I used to spend many hours fishing. That was a grand

the oldest child of Kamezo and Ine Madokoro. My time!

earliest memory is of me at four years old on a wharf on Our family was on Gambier Island living at the

Gambier Island, I was fishing for perch and they were summer home of Mr. Forrest. He was a man of means

biting like crazy. I used some string and a bent nail, bait and my father was hired to look after his summer place.

was the green horned wharf worms that grew just under My father was unusual for a Japanese because he spoke

the water on the sides of the wharf. You had to knock English. Not well, but he could get by and that is why he

them off the sides with an oar. Perch, or pochi as we became Mr. Forrest’s caretaker. It was a good life for a

called them, were plentiful. There also were shiners, or four-year-old!

shaina-pochie, those were my favourites. My father and We moved to Steveston later that year. My father



6

feet long, which made it pretty big for a fishing boat.

The engine was a seven- horsepower Vulcan. It made

a distinctive sound, sort of a “chut chut” when it was

running.

Our family continued to grow. Kuniko, my kid sister,

was born and then there were six of us for my father

to feed. He would go up the West Coast of Vancouver

Island with Uncle Denjiro and fish for salmon the whole

summer. My mother stayed in Steveston and took care

of her four children. It was a nice community, friends,

relatives, and always something for a yancha bozu

like me to get into some kind of mischief. Mother was

always after me to act like the oldest son should, but

I was having lots of fun. Perhaps, that was why when

I was six, our whole family went to visit my father’s

family in Shimosato, in Wakayama-ken, Japan.

Jichan and Bachan were tiny little people. They

wore these kimono and straw sandals. My father sure

paid attention to his father. He was unusually quiet in

Japan. In Canada, he was always very jolly and talkative.

I guess he had a lot of respect for his father and mother.

I don’t know, perhaps that was the Japanese way. My

grandparents looked at me a lot while our whole family

was in Japan. I think my grandfather was a little upset at

how yancha I was acting.

When it came time for our family to leave, was I

ever surprised! They were leaving me behind. I cried and

Madokoro family on Gambier Island. From left; Yaeko, I cried but it was done. I really did not like my parents

Ine, Michiharu and Yoshio. (Madokoro Family photo, for doing that.

ca. 16) What I remember most were the holes in my straw

knew that he could make more money fishing. By that sandals, I wore them like that the whole year that I stayed

time, there were five of us, my parents, me, Yaeko, with Jichan and Bachan. We ate poorly compared to the

Michi, and Hiroshi. There were lots and lots of Japanese food I was used to in Steveston. I think that money was

families in Steveston. Most were from the same a problem in Shimosato. I think that is why my father

prefecture in Japan, Wakayama. Quite a few were from left Japan to go to Canada. There was no way for him

Shimosato, my father’s village. We spent a lot of time to make a living in his home village of Shimosato. My

in Steveston visiting aunts and uncles. I had a lot of Japanese improved. I learned to bow a lot to the adults.

cousins! My father’s family was particularly close to my It was a lot different than my home.

Uncle Denjiro.1 He became like a second father to me I returned to Steveston one year later. My Japanese

and his sons and daughters were like my brothers and and my manners had improved. I was home! I was so

sisters. My father and Uncle would fish together, father happy to be with my family and friends. I was happy

KM

in his boat, the KM, and Uncle in his boat, the DE. In eating lots of good food; ochazuke, baked salmon,

those days, boats had only the initials of the owners to tsukemono, and no more going to bed hungry. I was

identify them. never going to complain again.

KM

There is an interesting story about the KM. My That lasted about three months and there I was back

father was struggling and could not afford to build to normal but I must admit, my manners were much better

a boat. He had a younger brother in Idaho who was and I was even nice to my younger brothers, Michi and

known as the “ potato king”. This brother whose name Hiroshi. In Steveston I went to Japanese school. I learnt

was Tomezo Hashimoto, or Hashimoto Tomezo in the to read and write and of course speak Japanese. I noticed

Japanese method of naming people, apparently made a there was a difference in the way we spoke in Canada

small fortune raising potatoes. My father asked for and than in Japan. It was more colorful here because the

KM

got enough money to build the KM. It was thirty-two fishermen were often combining Japanese and English to

Continued on page 8

7

make new words. Boat became boto the voyage. It was the first time our hull and sink her. The other boat

instead of fune, and names of fishing whole family was aboard the KM just had to follow in the wake of the

boat engines like Palmer became and the DE. lead boat at a safe distance. I had the

Pa-ma. Stuff like that. I, of course, At noon we were half way to job of steering Uncle’s boat when

noticed that for a while after Japan, the Island. It grew bigger and bigger we were following. Uncle took the

and then I didn’t notice it at all. It until the entire horizon was this dark wheel when we were the lead boat.

was just the way we spoke here. wooded shape that beckoned to us. We chugged through the dangerous

“Hello” was echoed back to us. It Active Pass. On our right was the

Move to Tofino was us calling to us. My Father and city of Victoria. We then entered

When I was nine, we moved to Uncle took turns at leading the way. Swiftsure and the Strait of Juan de

Tofino. My Father used to fish there That way, one or the other could Fuca.

all summer. Then he would come rest their eyes and take a break. If That night we anchored near

home to Steveston. The Government you were the lead boat, you had to Sooke. This was a bay just past

changed the rules that year. In order look for kelp patches that could foul the city of Victoria. The bay was

to fish at Tofino, a fisherman had to your propeller. These patches had surrounded by what were now

reside there. My Uncle Denjiro was kelps that were sometimes thirty or becoming a common sight, lots and

the first to move that year. He bought forty feet long. They could wrap lots of evergreen trees. Father said

some property near a place called around your propeller and stop your that there were many wild animals

Chesterman’s Beach in Tofino. He boat dead. The other danger was in the forests. He mentioned a big

came back for my Father’s family. “deadheads”, watersoaked logs that cat called a cougar. It could eat little

We left in 1922. I remember that lurked at or just below the surface of children, we kids were convinced

year because that was the year of a the water. A “deadhead” could put that we did not want to go ashore.

huge earthquake that destroyed half a hole right through a fishing boat’s My mother made our supper by

of Tokyo. It was in September.

Our family packed all our

belongings into one trunk, a couple

of duffel bags and some blankets.

The rest of the family was on the

KM

KM. I went with Uncle Denjiro to

give him a hand. I think I helped

steer the boat a few times, that kind

of stuff. It was exciting and sad for

me. I had heard from my Father and

my Uncle about this place, but I was

sad to leave my good friends and my

cousins in Steveston. The weather

that day was sunny and clear. The

sea was calm and we had a wind that

helped us along our way. All things

seemed to indicate a good start to

our voyage.

Georgia Strait runs between

Vancouver Island and the mainland.

You can see Vancouver Island way

in the distance from Steveston. Our

little convoy of two fishing boats

moved slowly away from the familiar

sights of the Lower Mainland. At

seven-horsepower, the KM and the

DE pushed steadily through the

open waters. The sadness of leaving

soon gave way to the excitement of Madokoro house on Storm Bay. (Madokoro Family photo, ca. 1930)



8

cooking over a sembe can that was as he knew we were anxious to get Our home was built on a

filled with wood. She had a little ashore. Breakfast was miso-shiru, property that was purchased from a

grill made from some metal rods hot soup from soya beans, and some hakujin named Mr. Grice.

that sat over the mouth of the can. gohan, rice. He was the uncle of Joe

We ate rice, some tsukemono, some We went up the inlet to some MacLeod, a man that would be

dried fish and tea. It tasted good after houses that were just behind a my friend. Our house was built on

the long day. place that we came to know as large timber logs, the main floor

On the morning of the third day, Chesterman’s beach. Uncle Denjiro had a storage space underneath. On

we had Vancouver Island to our right had built his home there along with the main floor, we had four rooms,

side or starboard. On our left side or six other families. There was a lot a combination kitchen and eating

port, there was the Pacific Ocean. As of hugging and kissing as we came area, and three bedrooms. There

far as the eye could see, there was ashore. I was happy to see my cousin was an attic where I used to study.

nothing but wide-open ocean. The Bill and I promptly slugged him on Everything was made from local

swell from the ocean made all of the shoulder. That day was a mass wood. Even our sink was made of

us quite sick except for my Father of people and eating, as we were wood.

and Uncle. They were used to the welcomed into the community. For drinking water, we had a

rolling motion. For me, it was agony My Uncle Denjiro had bought well just behind the house. It was

as I took to hanging over the side his property from a hakujin, a white about eight feet deep, and in the

to “feed” the fish. It was hell. That man named Mr. Stuckman. This winter the water would turn brown

lasted most of the third day. Around gentleman was none too popular for from the cedar trees on the property.

Bamfield, we entered Barclay Sound selling the property to Uncle, as the I caught a trout and put it into the

and the quieter waters of the inside local hakujin population did not want well to eat the insects and keep the

passage. That was the fourth day. Japanese living in their community. water clean. The brown water was

On the afternoon of the fifth This was to be an issue that would a source of concern to the adults.

day, we rounded Grice Point through continue right up to 1941, when we Some of the older adults blamed the

Duffin’s Passage. The tide was were evacuated from Tofino. brown water for the illnesses such

running in at the time and we were My Uncle Denjiro was a as strokes that claimed some of our

swept along at a fast pace. My first man of many talents. He was an community. I often think back and

impression of the village was, “how accomplished carpenter. The houses wonder if that was what took my

rinky-dinky!” I was not impressed. were all built under his supervision. father Kamezo. We didn’t have any

This was going to be where we The lumber came from up the inlet, choice, of course, because we had

were to live. Yikes! You have to a place called Calm Creek. It was to have water. Now these days they

remember that I was nine years old about one hour’s boat ride up the bring the water by pipeline from

and I was coming to a little fishing inlet. An Englishman had built a Meares.

village on the West Coast. My life sawmill, which cut the local timber I remember the crabs! They

in busy Steveston was heaven in to size. The lumber, two by fours, were so plentiful. At low tide, we

comparison. What can I do, I said to one by sixes, was all just planed to would walk out with a bucket and

myself, this is it, Tofino! size with the bark left on them. The just pick them. We would look for

The first night in Tofino, we whole batch of cut lumber was then bumps under the seaweed. Once

slept on board as we had the whole made into one big raft and when we you lifted the seaweed, there would

trip. Our shelter was a tent that Father built the houses in Storm Bay, we be all kinds of crabs. Nope, that one

and Uncle had rigged on deck. Father towed those rafts to the home sites in was too small, yes, that one was OK.

had the KM anchored just behind the Tofino. Everyone in the community It was so easy as there were so many

point, out of the wind. We were out would then help carry the lumber crabs. My mother used to make crab

of the elements but that was all. It up from the beach to the individual cooked in soya sauce, mmmmmm,

was hard to sleep that night. We kids sites. Each house would involve the that was so good. There was enough

were anxious to get on shore and whole community. The imminent crab there for a lifetime, or so we

look around. homeowner and his family were thought.

The next morning, bright and responsible for keeping the workers For me, now at age ten in the

early, all the kids were up. We made fed and their thirsts quenched. summer of 1923, it was an ideal

enough noise that our parents had place for exploring the seashore and

to get up. Father was smiling at us, Life in Tofino Continued on page 10



9

the nearby bush. My Father was busy

fishing, and I had to do my chores, but

then, there was a world to discover.

The pools of water at low tide on

Storm Bay held so much marine

life! There were “chinko” clams that

had small breathing holes. We called

them chinko because, well, that is

what they looked like with their long

funnel snouts. To catch them you had

to be quick. If you were slow they

would burrow deeper into the soft

sand. If you were quick, you had a

feast for your family. On a summer’s

day, I could catch enough for a good

feed for the whole family

Children on Tofino boardwalk. Yoshio on extreme left. (Yesaki Family

Of course, there were lots and

photo, ca. 1925)

lots of fish to catch. We would go

off the point and jig for rock cod. well clear. a hose all over us. I figured it was

You had to lay your bait right on the School was in Tofino, which was safer for us to go that way to avoid

bottom and once you felt a tug, you about one mile away. My father had the falling trees. What was a little

had to pull hard. They were ugly and made a wooden walkway through water compared to getting struck

dangerous if you grabbed the dorsal the bush to the main trail. I started by falling trees? Anyway, after

spines. Cleaning them was a chore in grade one even though I was nine that storm, which may have been a

but my father could do it in about a years old because my English was small tornado, my father called our

minute and a half. I think I learned not good. I attended a Japanese only property “Storm Bay”.

to clean a cod like that when I was school in Steveston and as I had spent There were several families

about thirteen. My mother would a year in Japan, Japanese was all I in our Storm Bay community. Our

often put in a request for a type of spoke. My arithmetic was good as house was on the waterfront, and to

fish, so often we just threw the ones that was emphasized in the Steveston the south of us also on the waterfront

back that weren’t on the menu that school, but I was a real “Japan” boy were the Moris. Mr. Mori was to

day. until we moved to Tofino. Anyway, be the byshaku-nin, or go-between

Coming from Gambier Island I started with the little hakujin kids when I married Mary Miki Kimoto

and the pochie this was like living in grade one to work on my English. later in my life.

in fishing paradise. In the bush, we By the time I was eleven or twelve, To our north on the water was

were careful not to go too far by I jumped some grades and move up the Nakagawa house. The original

ourselves. I often went with my to grade six. family went back to Japan and his

cousin Bill Ezaki to explore. One Speaking of school and the brother came with his wife to take

time, we found this cave about three mile walk there, one time, there was over the house and the fishing boat.

feet in height. There was no sign of a huge storm that reached its peak Above them on the hill, was the

any animals around, so we thought just as we were walking home from Morishitas. They would have one son

we might look inside. It was cool school. My sister Yaeko, my brother named Hiroshi just like Thomas who

and damp but we couldn’t see very Michi, and I were coming back was Hiroshi in our family. Later they

far. Bill was ahead of me and then he along the trail. All of a sudden, the would be called ue no Hiroshi, above

was by me in a flash, running as fast winds gusted and trees started to fall Hiroshi, and shita no Hiroshi, below

as he could. I didn’t wait to see what around us. Yaeko was so frightened Hiroshi, to distinguish between

he had seen, I just ran as fast as I that she stood frozen to the spot. In them. Further north on the beach,

could too. Bill had thought he heard Japanese, I think it was called koshi the next house was the Isozakis.

a growl from the back of the cave. wo nukashita. I had to shove her to They went back to Japan. I often

Needless to say, we didn’t go back get her moving. We circled around wondered why some families stayed

there again. After that, we called that to the beach even though the winds in Canada and why some went back.

cave the “growling cave” and stayed were blowing plumes of water like I think it had to do with the fact that



10

some of the families never could get honestly, but he sure gave it to the SILVERADO, built with Swan

Japan out of their system. The ones three of us. Walter Arnet wrote about power girdies that used stainless

that stayed here I think they made a this licking in his diary, and years steel wire instead of rope. When the

commitment to make a life here in later, his oldest son reminded me. other fishermen saw this, they all

Canada. Funny huh? said that the fish would never bite

I am not sure if there were two As mentioned, the men were up on such a contraption. Well, they

or three more houses north of the each morning at 3 a.m. to go fishing. did bite and soon all the boats were

Nakagawas. I remember the Izumis I would get up with my father and rigged in exactly the same way.

and then the last house to be built help him by stoking the fire for the I think I mentioned school

was for Nakagawa Shigeharu. I gangara stove. This was a big cast and my getting a licking with the

recall that the whole community iron stove that we used for cooking Erickson boys. I used to hang around

helped the Nakagawa family build and heating the house. He would with them. They had a sister too. I

their house. That was how it was cook bacon once in awhile, and used to go to their place to play and

in those days; we had to help each each time he would leave a part of have a good time. I guess we kept

other to get things done. a bacon strip for me. That was a real on having a good time right into

It was a hard life for the women. treat! I would crawl back into bed school too, and that was why we got

They were up at 3 a.m. every fishing after he left and woke with the rest the whacking from Mr. Albrecht.

day to send their men out. After that, of the kids. The Ericksons were Norwegian. In

they had all the household chores of The fishing boats in those Tofino, there were a fair number of

washing clothes, sewing, mending days were quite different than the families from Norway, England,

and of course cooking for the ones that you may have seen. They Scotland, Japan and the native

children. All the water had to hauled had a two-cylinder, 20-horsepower Indians. We all got along fairly well,

by hand from the well. The water was Palmer engine. Nowadays, the we kids at least.

boiled and they used “blue”, a cube boats are one hundred and fifty, About six months after we

to whiten laundry. The clothes were maybe more horsepower. It took arrived, a tall English minister from

washed in a galvanized washtub, my father an hour or more to get the the Anglican Church called at Storm

and all the clothes were scrubbed on KM out to where he could put down Bay. He wanted all the Japanese kids

a furrowed glass scrubbing board. his poles and troll for salmon. They to come to his Church. We did, and

I had to chop wood for the stove, used a Japanese style of fishing lures I remember we sang a lot of Jesus

which my Mother used to boil the in the early years. That all changed songs. I believe that Mr. Robertson,

wash water. I also had to keep the oil when Morishita Ometaro developed the minister, went on to become

lamps filled for the evening. There the shiny wobbler. According to the a “higher-up” in Victoria. We got

was always a lot of work for the story, he saw a native Indian throwing baptized and later I was married in

whole family. something shiny from the shore one the Anglican Church. You might ask

I remember getting up with day. This fellow was catching salmon what my parents thought about this

my Father before he went fishing. right from the shore. As Morishita- Anglican stuff. I think they wanted

He loved to talk about this and san watched with his binoculars, us to become part of the larger Tofino

that. Even now, after all these years he saw that it was a shiny piece of community. They were Buddhist,

I can still hear his voice. He was tin with a hook attached. That day and I think that if we stayed in

jolly and good company and in he went home and made his own Steveston, we would be too. When

my eyes, he was the smartest man version of a “wobbler”. It took a few my father Kamezo passed away, the

alive. He made me promise that I trial-and-error “wobblers”, but he funeral was in Steveston because my

would do my very best in school. I finally came up with one that moved mother wanted a proper funeral.

liked school anyway even though I like a fish. Did he ever catch a lot of My father fished all the days

remember Mr. Albrecht, a Finnish fish! Well, you know something like that he could. In those days that

teacher, gave us a good licking. that would get all the fishermen’s was from April until late fall,

The two Erickson boys and I were attention especially when he was sometimes October. In the winter, he

asked to stay after school one day. consistently “high boat”. Morishita- would charge things at Towler and

Mr. Albrecht came out smiling and san let only my father and a few Mitchell’s store. That was the way of

he went to the rear of the school and others in on his new lure, and the life for fishermen. I heard that many

got a medium sized branch from the rest is fishing history. He was also of the men had a hard time getting

bush. I can’t remember the reason, the first to have a fishing boat, the out of debt. It all depended on how

Continued on page 12

11

the fishing went that year. We had the remember was ofuro night. It was a lot of other dried stuff, like shiitake,

MAQUINNA, a cargo ship that came a custom among our Storm Bay or dried mushrooms were the bulk of

in about every ten days. That was a community that we had ofuro every our food. Of course, we ate lots and

big day! The newspapers would be second or third night. It would be at lots of gohan, or rice. I remember

up to ten days old of course, but a different house each time. The men that baloney was a luxury. We might

it was a great and exciting time. I would go in first. You know that in get a taste of it as a special treat but

heard from the Karatsus who lived an ofuro, you have to wash yourself not too often. Once at New Year’s,

on Stubb’s Island that their father outside of the tub. Then, after you we had chicken and that was great.

would read the serialized chapters of were washed clean, you could soak The chicken came from our chicken

Musashi, a true-life Japanese sword- in the ofuro. They were made of house. I had the chore of killing the

master, from the Japanese newspaper wood and heated by a fire in an old chicken. After its head was cut off,

ASAHI. He would even act out one recycled oil drum that was under the it ran and ran until it just dropped.

chapter each day, so that the stories wooden tub. Man, that was kimochi ii In the spring, the men would look

would last the ten days until the next yo, a real good feeling. The boy kids at the calendar for a lucky day to

visit by the MAQUINNA. That must went in after the men. I remember start the new fishing season. They

have been something special. sitting by the ofuro and listening to would put up a kado-matsu, or pine

The MAQUINNA was our the men trade stories. Man, some of tree and make offerings of mochi,

source for everything. From the them sure could tell some wild ones. or special pounded rice cakes to the

cast iron gangara stoves to the iron The ladies went last. Apparently it kami, or god of fishing for a good

spring beds, it all came by that boat. was taboo for them to go ahead of fishing season. It was a simple life

We would order up to three bags of the men. At the end of the ofuro, and we were tied to the fortunes

rice for each winter. Mr. Maruno and the water would just stink to high of the fishing grounds. I think our

Mr. Furuya from Vancouver were heaven. You know, no one got sick. community stuck together. I guess

the suppliers for all the Japanese I think we all were healthier because we had to stick together to survive.

foodstuffs. He was really happy of the ofuro nights. For me, it was wonderful place to

coming out to Tofino and writing In the winter, we kids went grow up and live. We were very

up all the orders from the Japanese to school. The men cut wood. The lucky, I think. In the depression after

families. Of course, in the winter women maintained the families the stock market crash of 1929, we

there was no money coming, so we clothing and of course the meals. We had good food to eat and we hardly

would have to owe until the start of ate a lot of salted dog salmon. I can’t noticed any effects. ❁

the fishing season. remember how it was kept. That and 1

Matsusuke Ezaki

One of the things that I

Post-War Japanese Immigrants and Their Involvement

in the Community by Tatsuo Kage

Post-war Japanese immigrants aiming to assist and promote support recollections are also incorporated

with skills required in Canada started and friendship among immigrants. in this writing.

to arrive in 1966. In 1969 the first The background of the founding of

association of new immigrants was the Association is described in the Establishment of the Immigrants’

set up with Yukihide Ogasawara as first issue of its monthly newsletter Association

the chairman and operated for about a called KAIHO (会報) on May 19th, Since the previous Association

year. Around that time bilingual Nisei 1977. This association has also had been inactive for several years,

of the Greater Vancouver Japanese published an anthology on its 25- Raishu Hirano, a leader of the earlier

Canadians Citizens’ Association year Anniversary in 2002 (グレー organization, made a proposal

(JCCA), such as Gordon Kadota ターバンクーバー移住者の会 『 to Tonari Gumi to set up a new

and Victor Ujimoto, and people 創立２５周年記念誌』、２００ association. With the help of Takeo

from churches became involved in ２年１０月). This and past issues Yamashiro, Maya Koizumi, Michiko

services such as orientation for new of the KAIHO newsletters are the Sakata and others, the first step

immigrants. main sources for the present article. toward forming a new organization

The Greater Vancouver Having served as the president was made. In addition, Yuko

Immigrants’ Association (GVIA) of the Association in 1977-1978, Shibata, Shinji Peter Kubotani and

was established in March 1977, 1983-1986 and 1990-1991, my myself joined as founding members.



12

Hirano, of the former association,

transferred $300 to this new Greater

Vancouver Japanese Immigrants’

Association (GVJIA).

At that time the naming of the

association was discussed - whether

to use the term “new immigrants”

or not. We decided to drop “new”

because there were some immigrants

who had been in Canada for a decade

including Hirano, one of the earliest

post-war immigrants, who had been

a chef with CP Airlines.

There was another incentive for

establishing the new Association:

The Japan International Cooperation

Agency, (JICA) a semi-government

agency for promotion of emigration

Urashima Taro, played by Fujio Tamura, at the Powell Street Festival, (T.

with an office in Toronto, encouraged Kage photo, ca. 1982)

immigrant groups in Canada to

produce a directory - an immigrant and designers were listed as the was produced by Kuniko Yamamoto

list with information pertinent for dominant female occupations. who borrowed a typewriter from the

the settlement of newcomers: The (JCCA BULLETIN, Oct.1971.) Sophia Bookstore. Sumio Koike, a

Agency would assist by purchasing Frequently recorded professional graphic artist, produced

bulk orders of the publication called occupations in three issues of the word-processing version. Since

BENRICHO (便利帖). the BENRICHO Directory were K

June 1989, the KAIHO has been

The directory was published in car mechanics, electronic repair published in the monthly BULLETIN

March 1978. It became an essential technicians, welders and sheet of the JCCA.

tool for immigrants and for those metal workers, dental technicians, Looking back on the history

who wanted to immigrate and to sushi chefs, barbers, carpenters and of the newsletter, advances in

settle in BC. Through this publication cabinetmakers. Other occupations technology to print in Japanese over

the existence of the GVJIA became listed were gardeners, real estate the past three decades has been quite

known in both Canada and Japan. agents and tour conductors. amazing. During the early phase,

Subsequently, revised and enlarged However, these jobs may have been we received a compliment from an

editions were published in 1980 unrelated to training or experiences official of the JICA, who said that our

and 1985. These publications can prior to immigration. We know there newsletter was the best among those

be regarded as the origin and proto- were some who had been qualified in published by immigrants. Further,

type of Nikkei Directories available Japan as either nurses or pharmacists, another article in the newsletter has

more recently. (The JICA office but most were unable to get qualified been translated and printed in a public

in Toronto was closed in the mid jobs due to the restrictive licensing relation magazine of Citizenship and

1990s, and its assistance ended.) policy of occupational associations. Immigration Canada in both English

and French. The editor’s efforts were

Skills Brought into Canada by Advance in Printing Technology quite noteworthy as he had been

Japanese Immigrants The publication of the monitoring immigrant publications

What kind of skills did K

KAIHO newsletter has been a such as ours written in Japanese.

independent immigrants bring with major, continuous activity of the

them? According to a 1970 survey Association. It started right after the Why were there Relatively Few

on immigrants to Canada conducted founding of the Association with Immigrants from Japan?

by a group in Tokyo, the largest male a manuscript written by Motohisa This was an issue, which we

occupational group was technicians, Niiro. Later, the print style of the addressed soon after the founding of

followed by car mechanics, farmers newsletter changed from a mixture our Association in 1977. In October

and machinists. Typists, hairdressers of manuscript and typescript, which of that year, a national convention

Continued on page 14

13

for Japanese Canadians was held in The crux of my report was as family members.) Among Japanese

Winnipeg. According to the report follows: The number of Japanese immigrants the male/female

made by Hirano, who attended the immigrants peaked in 1973 (1,105) ratio was higher than most other

convention, a representative of new and reached a nadir in 1976 (498). countries. In contrast, many more

immigrants in Toronto made the Japan was compared to 7 other females than males had emigrated

following statement: “We received a countries (Hong Kong, India, Korea, from the Philippines to Canada. A

report regarding the decrease in the Lebanon, Pakistan, Philippine and federal government report of that

number of Japanese immigrants, and South Vietnam) all of which had time, pointed out that in general

because there appeared to be some sent large numbers of immigrants to “men immigrate to achieve better

discrimination behind this trend, we Canada. Japanese immigrants were financial standing whereas women

should protest to the government” also compared with those from other do it for adventure”. By then, Japan

(KAIHO, No. 5, November 1977). countries who were looking for had become an economic super-

It is true that there have been employment. The statistics showed power. It was, therefore, not easy for

fewer immigrants from Japan that Japan had the highest ratio of a person with skills and experiences

compared to those from other immigrants who would join the labor in Japan to achieve a better financial

Asian countries even to this day. force, the lowest ratio in the numbers status in Canada. So it seemed that

In the 1970s, Hong Kong and India of children and a relatively low ratio there were few reasons for Japanese

sent around ten times as many of seniors. In other words, most of to emigrate. This explains why so

immigrants as Japan. Apparently, Japanese immigrants were either few Japanese have immigrated to

there were some people who singles or young couples who were Canada.

suspected that there might have been planning to get a job in Canada. They

discrimination against Japanese by tended to be nuclear families rather Why do Japanese Come to

the Canadian government, or the than extended families. Therefore, Canada?

Japanese government might have had when an economic recession hit For ten years from 1978 to 1988,

a policy of discouraging Japanese and Canada limited immigration I had been a counselor for immigrants

from emigrating. Some suspected by considering demand in the labor at “MOSAIC”, an organization

that the Japanese government had market, it had a larger direct impact providing services to immigrants

offered “some sort of advice” to the on immigrants from Japan than on and refugees in different languages.

Canadian government. However, those from other nations, such as Because of this job, I was often

it was difficult to find evidence for Korea that sponsored more family asked: “Why do Japanese emigrate

such an argument. members. (Economic conditions do from their affluent country?” As

Therefore, before taking any not affect the entry of sponsored mentioned before, it was natural to

position on this issue, the board

of directors of the Association

thought that they had to look into

the problem more closely. I thought

that Canadian immigration law did

not allow officials to discriminate

against any prospective immigrant

on the basis of nationality or race,

and that the Japanese government

encouraged their people to emigrate

with assistance provided by the

JICA. There had to be other reasons

why there were so few Japanese

immigrating to Canada. I agreed

to study immigration statistics to

determine “Why are there fewer

Japanese Immigrants?” and reported

my results at a discussion session

held in November 1977. (KAIHO,

“Kobutori Jiisan”, at Powell Street Festival. (T. Kage photo, 1978)

No.6/7, December 1977)



14

be asked this question, given that the drawn to retirement immigration, or gentle person that it was hard to

general purpose of immigration is “silver immigration”, under which believe that he had been a director of

“to enhance financial status”. seniors wanted to spend their old age a large, well-known company.

I have long thought that Japan in Canada to gain more value from The keen interest in retirement

has social customs and practices their pension income and savings immigration was the possibility of

that are so stifling and punishing of than in Japan. In total more than a few living more affluently here in Canada

its citizens that some people may hundred retirees may have arrived. with their income due to the high cost

be encouraged to escape through Ohfu-kai (桜楓会), a social group of living in Japan. For retired people

emigration to less demanding for retired immigrants, was started who like outdoor activities such as

societies. These restrictive in December 1984 in Vancouver golfing, fishing and skiing, Canada

customs include overemphasis on with support from the GVJIA. There is heaven. However, those who

success in entrance examinations, are over 70 names entered in their expect intimate social interactions or

the importance of obtaining contact list of retirement immigrants refined goods and services may often

employment with large companies, for March 1985. feel they are missing what they were

the expectation of these companies I have some responsibility accustomed to. Other people say that

that their employees should sacrifice for drawing attention in Japan to the dark winter sky makes them feel

their family life for the sake of the Canada’s “silver immigration” depressed.

company (for example, by constantly program. In the early 1980s, I was Some people went back to

working overtime), the assumption wondering how to promote more Japan a few years after they came

that the government will look after Japanese to emigrate and found a to Canada as retirement immigrants.

everyone and the purposeless life of hardly noticed provision in Canada’s Hiroko Umebayashi went back to

workers after mandatory retirement. immigration law allowing retirees of Japan after her husband passed.

These social conventions may have 55 years or older to enter this country. This couple contributed greatly

prevented capable and ambitious I contributed an article on “Promoting to the establishment of Ohfu-kai,

people from advancing themselves Retirement Immigration” to the and Tsuguo once served as director

to realize their full talents and skills magazine KAIGAI IJU (Oversea of the GVJIA. However, the

in Japan. Taking these circumstances Migration) published by the Canadian government terminated

into account, I think these restrictive JICA (February 1983 issue). The the retirement immigration system

conventions in Japanese society article was quoted in a front-page in the early 1990s, probably due

as the cause for some Japanese column of the February 25 issue to criticism that senior immigrants

immigrating to Canada. of the TOKYO SHINBUN, a daily were a burden on social services

Japanese immigrants come newspaper with a circulation of 1.5 and the public health care system in

to Canada to have their children million. It triggered other publishers Canada.

educated without prep schools or to put related articles in the NIHON

excessive homework. Also, other KEIZAI SHINBUN (March 16), the Japanese are Lucky to have a

immigrants include those with SUNDAY MAINICHI (April 3), and Country to Return to

capability and talent that fail to the SHUKAN SHINCHO (April 3). Japanese immigrants are lucky

establish themselves in Japanese Soon after, Shizuo Nakatani, of JICA because they have a country they

society, that is, do not graduate from headquarters, told me his office had can return to if they want. Refugees

one of the top-ranked universities received a few hundred calls on this from other countries usually don’t

and find employment in a leading subject. have the luxury of returning to their

company. There are also others that Shortly after these articles former homes because their lives

do not care to carouse with their appeared, I got a call at my office could be at stake if they do. Most

colleagues after office hours, and from a Japanese woman. She said, Japanese immigrants, regardless of

prefer to spend their spare time “I’m calling from the Vancouver their age, have given up living in

enjoying themselves either in the Airport. I came here by myself to Japan and are prepared to stay here

company of their families or the look at this place before applying permanently. They may feel that

natural beauties of Canada. for retirement immigration. Could “by leaving their home country, the

you pick me up?” After a while, this bridge to return was already half-

Arrival of Retirees (Silver outgoing wife, Hiroko Umebayashi, burned away”.

Immigration) immigrated here with her husband, Although the number of

In the 1980s, attention had been Tsuguo, who was such a quiet and immigrants to Canada has been

Continued on page 16

15

thoroughly monitored and recorded, to assist in conversation drills. We Language School, said she told

one should also be aware that there realized that the success of classes students “You will be able to achieve

are a number of Canadians who or workshops depended largely on better marks in the public school if

emigrate out to foreign countries. whether we could secure a competent you study Japanese seriously”. But,

There are no official statistics but instructor like Ms. Watanabe. She Dr. Masako Noda, a pediatrician,

it is estimated that Canada loses later left our association to attend expressed a different opinion and

50,000 to 60,000 people annually to a graduate school on the east coast warned, “when one learns two

other countries, particularly to the of the U.S. She was a outstanding languages at the same time, one

US and UK. The total number of member in the early development could fall between two stools”, that

postwar immigrants from Japan is of the Association and I enjoyed is, one can become dysfunctional in

estimated to be around 25,000, but working with her. I remember the either language.” (KAIHO, No. 103,

5,000 (20%) probably left Canada. time we were scolded by Kuniko Nov. 1988.)

Yamamoto, who was working with

Japanese Immigrants Desire to us on the production of BENRICHO Twenty Years of Law Workshops

Learn Directory. She told us, “You should Law workshops in Japanese co-

The GVJIA initiated quit joking since the two of you are hosted by the People’s Law School

various workshops soon after not making much progress!” started at an early stage of GVJIA’s

its establishment. In 1978, the Thanks to my involvement history, and continued until several

Association started a 10-session in planning for such educational years ago when People’s Law School

course to prepare immigrants for activities, I had a chance to talk to terminated ethnic programs such

citizenship application as part of the a college curriculum manager, an as ours. The workshops had been

program at Vancouver Community expert in the field, to learn some conducted irregularly until 1981, but

College. The workshop consisted tips. For example, I was relieved to started being offered twice a month

of two components; a lecture given find low tuition doesn’t necessarily in 1982. It later became a monthly

during the first half of the class and attract people for courses in workshop with the exception during

practised for an interview with a continuing studies. In addition, even the summer and winter months. The

citizenship judge during the second when professionals plan a course, it classes covered a wide range of

half conducted by small student occasionally gets cancelled due to Canadian laws and services. Being a

groups. We soon discovered 10 lack of registrants. After talking to facilitator during that time, I recall

lessons were too long and there him, I became more confident and interpreting and teaching a few

were no benefits to having classes stopped worrying about making topics. The negotiating partner was

as part of a college program. Later mistakes and began planning projects People’s Law School’s coordinator,

we held citizenship classes in a more that we thought were meaningful. Surjeet Sidhu. She was a quick witted

condensed format under the GVJIA. Thanks to relying on intuitive woman who had came to Canada

planning, we never experienced at an early age and graduated from

Japanese Language Classes having too few attendants. the University of British Columbia.

We asked Ms. Watanabe, a UBC While I was mumbling in English

student who had experience as a Should Children Maintain their that may not have made much sense,

teaching assistant to be an instructor Home Language? she understood my point and went

and we ran a Japanese language The GVJIA has been involved on with planning very efficiently. At

class for beginners at Strathcona in on-going Japanese language first, I disliked having to work with

Community Centre. Most students education. The Burnaby Japanese such a pushy salesperson, but I got

were either Japanese Canadians School started under the direct to like working with her because

or Chinese Canadians. Since our management of the Association. she was a pleasant and fascinating

overhead cost was insignificant Later it became an independent person. We worried not having

compared to the continuing studies school with Emiko Hiruta, a enough people for the biweekly

courses provided at colleges, we Director of the Association, who workshop, but we had no problems

were able to set tuition at half of had been teaching at the school. with an exception for a snowy

the market price. Perhaps for this Once in 1988 we held an interesting stormy night when we had less than

reason, the classes became popular panel discussion relating to Japanese 10 participants at a workshop held

and successful, so we asked Mayumi language education. Yoko Murakami, at the Hudson Manor on West 7th

Takasaki, a sansei fluent in Japanese, Principal of Gladstone Japanese Avenue. Even today, it’s a place that



16

stages of the GVJIA. In 1977, the

year of Association was organized,

we held a Christmas party at Tonari

Gumi, located on East Hastings

Street at that time. Kokuho-Rose,

a rock band consisting mostly of

Sansei, was playing music and

many members and their families

were dancing go-go. It was quite a

blast. We asked Akio Aoki, then the

manager of Sakura-so, to perform a

skit titled, “Tracing My Roots” at the

party. It was about a young Sansei

who visits Japan to find his roots. He

eventually finds a Japanese white

radish and declares, “I found my

roots!” holding the radish up high,

Intermarriage workshop with Dr. Fumitaka Noda, psychiatrist and advisor

mimicking a Kabuki pose.

(left), Dr. Michael Myers, specialist of marriage issues and Mariko Kage,

After the party one of the

moderator. (T.Kage photo, 1998)

participants Hideki Rick Akitaya

should be avoided on a snowy day for Japanese immigrants’ strong said, “It was the first time I really

because of its steep hills. desire to learn.” (KAIHO, No.74, enjoyed and relaxed so much since I

The law workshops were June, 1984). came to Canada.” It was this remark

later moved to Tonari Gumi, and that made the party unforgettable for

Roy Uyeda was asked to do the Mental Health me! Preparations were enormous as

interpreting. He accepted the work New programs related to mental it was our very first time for such an

gladly and has been a great help with health issues were launched in event, but we were happy knowing

his qualification of a professional 1985, with more than thirty relevant that all the hard work had paid off.

interpreter. In May 1984, the People’s lectures held. I was involved as an

Law School awarded a number of interviewer in creating a TV program Acting is fun

persons for their contribution to the in 1986. I interviewed Dr. Koichi As mentioned earlier, the bridge

legal education of the community. Naka, psychologist from Ryukyu linking us to Japan has been half

As for Japanese Canadians, a University, who gave a talk about burnt. It makes us feel somewhat

lawyer, Frank Hanano, who had mental health in general. The second similar to Urashima Taro who

been a workshop instructor at an session was with Dr. Fumitaka Noda visited the Kingdom Beneath the

early stage, and myself, received who discussed depression, which Sea. Can Canada be a beautiful place

awards from a provincial Chief was broadcast on the ICAS Japanese like the Palace of the Dragon King?

Justice at the Provincial Supreme Television. It was an interesting Where is Princess Otohime? The

Court Hall next to Robson Square. experience: Dr. Naka was a person drama performance, based mostly

By that time, the law workshops of prudence. The author was with on Japanese folk tales, became a

had become a regular event of the him a whole afternoon to rehearse at regular program of the Powell Street

GVJIA and an established ethnic his home. However, Dr. Noda talked Festival for several years. These

program of People’s Law School. smoothly during the shooting even included Urashima Taro starring

I mentioned the following when I without any rehearsal. The shooting Fujio Tamura, who currently

was asked to give a comment on the was an exuberant affair with produces a Japanese Radio Program

award, “We can take this award as participants from our Association and a puppet play Kobu-tori jiisan

something that has been rewarded talking about their own experiences in 1978. Kuniko Yamamoto created

to all members who have actively of depression. all the puppets and the script was

participated in the Japanese program, written overnight.

rather than to Frank Hanano and The First Christmas party The best play of all was Yuuzuru,

myself personally. You can say that Playing skits was one of the most a story of the crane wife, starring

this award is proof and recognition memorable activities during the early Akitaya and Mami Fujimura in 1980.

Continued on page 18

17

It was staged at the auditorium of the which caused tension between Japan Tonari Gumi Centre for our meetings

Japanese Language School. During and China. and workshops.

this sad play, we noticed an elderly Are Japanese immigrants in In 1991, we implemented

woman in the audience wiping away the same situation? Many do not a comprehensive program to

her tears. The original script of this seem to pay much attention to address mental health problems in

play was found in a Japanese school matters beyond their own immediate cooperation with Tonari Gumi. This

textbook written by Junji Kinoshita. interest. However, it may not be was a five-year project of mental

However, we found that script was fair to criticize this attitude as self- health consultations and a series of

not suitable so we ended up creating centered, considering their limited public lectures, which was financed

our own. experiences in Canada. They may by $20,000 of community funds from

The following year we staged not receive enough information, and the Redress Foundation. This project

a Kwaidan-ghost story Bancho therefore not too interested in events can be regarded as a milestone in the

Sarayashiki. Kyoko Koike played occurring in BC or Canada. history of our Association.

the mistress who was cruel to Okiku, If we make arrangements for In 1999, as a follow-up

a maid turned into a ghost, played immigrants to comfortably join activity, we held a well-attended

by Etsuko Yamanouchi. It wowed into community activities, it would event, “Nikkei Mental Health

the audience when Koike appeared be the first step for them to get Service Symposium: Need for and

on stage wearing a purple ombre- involved with larger issues. The Improvement of Mental Health Care

dyed formal kimono and her hair GVJIA has made efforts to working in Vancouver”. It was a joint event

coiffed by a professional Japanese with community organizations from of the GVJIA, Tonari Gumi and

hairdresser. She looked mysterious the beginning. The Association has JCCA with invited guest speakers

and stunningly beautiful. How much cooperated with other groups and from Japan and France. In the

fun we had as we became addicted assisted in the establishment and background there was on-going

to producing plays. development of several voluntary community activities supported by

Koike was a newcomer and groups. two psychiatrists, Drs. Fumitaka

had lived in Canada for less than a Noda and Michiaki Horie. Dr.

year. She later complained saying, “I Working with Other Groups Noda once mentioned that the level

was made to do it. I thought it was In 1977, the Association asked of interest in mental health issues

an obligation for new immigrants to Tonari Gumi to support our activities among Nikkei immigrants in the

act in a play.” But she didn’t really and requested Takeo Yamashiro to Vancouver area could be the highest

seem to mind as she complained. act as interim first president of the in the world.

The stage play has been a wonderful Association. The GVJIA used the The activities of Japanese

communication tool since ancient

times. We can say that we try to

speak of our own world and even

of ourselves through recounting old

stories.



Don’t Shrug Your Shoulders Like

a Turtle.

There is a Chinese expression

called kishuku (亀縮), which means,

“A turtle shrugs its shoulders”, that

is, “One who is only interested in his

own financial well-being remains

silent about other issues, as if a

turtle shrugs its shoulders”. These

comments were made in an article

in a Chinese newspaper, the MIN

PAO (明報), on the lack of interest

among local Chinese people toward Picnic of Ohfu-Kai with the Immigrants’ Association, Tsugio and Hiroko

such issues as the Senkaku Islands, Umebayashi at the front. (T. Kage photo, 1985)



18

women groups began almost at the the course of time increasing the then the president of the GVJIA, as

same time as the GVJIA. Naoko participation of husbands. Even one of the panel speakers. It was a

Ohkohchi initiated the development though the Association initiated rare and worthwhile opportunity for

of the Yayoi-Kai in Surrey and the this group activity, the members immigrants all over Canada to get

Sumire-Kai in Vancouver. In the late of the group later decided to make together.

1980s Ohkohchi served as a director it an independent organization. In 1994 NAJC held a

of the Association. We have learned Again, this is another success story symposium in Montreal called

many things from her intuitive demonstrating the way in which the “Changing Tradition of Japanese

sense, ability and energy for group GVJIA worked to create a community Canadians” which mainly dealt with

activities. group by encouraging individual immigrant issues. A few presentations

In the mid-1980s the members to take the initiative. at this conference received

Association looked after the extremely good reviews, such as

launching of Ohfu-Kai, a retired What is “Community “Parenting Story” by Yuko Shibata,

immigrants group. However, close Development”? one of the first board members, and

relations between the Association Looking back at the “Experiences in the Early Period

and this group was lost over time. Association’s past activities of of Immigration” by Kubotani, a

The same could be said about building relationship with various former president. He humorously

the establishment of the Kiyu-Kai groups and individuals, we note spoke about his own mistakes and

(企友会) in 1987, a network of that it has actually been engaging misunderstandings made in the early

immigrants interested in Canadian in community development. days as a newcomer in Canada.

business. It was launched under the “Community development” simply Both speeches are recorded in the

leadership of Shinji Peter Kubotani, means activities to help fulfill and symposium’s report.

who served as president of the GVJIA improve people’s lives by building Several years ago, the late

in the 1980s. One of the first events ties with the wider society. Our Mikihiko Kato, who had served

sponsored by this group was a lecture activities in education and group as the president of the Association

by Charlie Kadota, a Nisei elder, who development have been successful between 1994 and 2000, proposed a

had established his import business as these initiatives met a need among joint Nikkei New Year’s party and it

as the sole agent for Japanese electric members of the Japanese Canadian has become a regular annual event

rice-cookers. In 1991-1992 Yoichi community, while fully respecting of the community to this day.

Andy Tsukumo, then the president individual rights and spontaneity. .

of Kiyu-Kai, served as the Director The GVJIA has always sought to Passage of Time

of the Association. Later Katsumi operate out of genuine concern For almost three decades, the

Kubo served as the president of both for the wellbeing of community GVJIA has served the community,

organizations. members, particularly immigrants. but we should accept the passage of

A new trend appeared from time, including the form and style of

the early 1990s, when retired Involvement in Japanese Canadian community activities. The Board of

immigration was terminated and the Events the Association, therefore, decided

arrival of more Japanese women in Even though the immigrants to close its doors as of the end of

their 20s and 30s, who had married as a whole were hardly involved 2005 and to continue its work as the

a Canadian or landed immigrant. with the Redress movement of the Japanese speaking committee of the

As a result more women than men 1980s, they actively participated Greater Vancouver JCCA. After 28

arrived as immigrants in recent in the post-redress community years of existence the circle has been

years. Jointly with the JCCA events organized by the National closed. As stated at the beginning of

Human Rights Committee, GVJIA Association of Japanese Canadians this article, the JCCA extended a

conducted a series of inter-marriage (NAJC), such as “Home-coming welcoming hand and gave support to

workshops targeting these women. Japanese Canadian Conference” newcomers in the 1960s. Under this

Workshops were held with Mariko held at Hotel Vancouver in 1992. new arrangement with the JCCA, the

Kage, facilitator/interpreter of At this largest post-war gathering former members of the Association

the Committee, and Dr. Fumitaka for Japanese Canadians, a panel was will continue to provide services to

Noda, an advisor and commentator. organized to share experiences as immigrants and the community at

Each time the workshop was held immigrants with Yasuo Yamauchi, large. ❁

we noticed new members and in



19

Remembrances of New Denver 1942-1946 by Roy Yasui

The village of New Denver was which obviously became a windfall

named after Denver, Colorado since for the merchants.

New Denver had experienced a As a nine-year old boy I spent

booming silver mining period in the most of my day swimming at

1890s. Now it housed the forestry the cove, where the Tuberculosis

department, road maintenance Sanitarium was being constructed

crew, hospital for local villages, by former boat carpenters. It was

high school, and a few stores. a beautiful location with a fine

The main detention camp was sandy beach and the water inclined

located about one mile south of the gradually rather than suddenly

village. Sub-camps, Nelson and dropping into deepwater.

Harris Ranch, were located two One day I was on a one-person

miles north and south respectively. raft and paddling towards deeper

The most visible part of the camp water when Mucha Kitagawa from

along the main road was on an apple Harris Ranch jumped on the raft

orchard which belonged to a farmer and it began to sink rapidly. I began

who had a boy my age named Luigi. to swim but Mucha couldn’t so he

The tents that we lived in were jumped on my back and grabbed me

Roy Yasui. (R. Yasui Photo, date

American Civil War issues. The by the neck. I couldn’t break his grip

unknown)

houses were 28’ x 14’ which was and we sank quickly. I was on the

We arrived in New Denver in shared by two families. They were verge of losing my consciousness

early summer of 1942. Like most being built by men who had been when I felt ourselves being pulled

detainees we boarded the train in separated from their families on the upwards. Alice Aihoshi and Cheesa

Vancouver and arrived in South West Coast and sent to road camps Nishikazi saw our plight and they

Slocan the next day. It was hot on in the interior of the province. Now rescued us. They were probably in

the train but we could not open the they were being sent to different their late teens or early twenties.

windows because of the soot. My detention camps to build houses Someone applied Boy Scout

other train remembrance is that we and maintain the camps. artificial respiration to Mucha and

were on the same train as the Hayashi We were also warned that we I was astounded at the amount of

family and Mr Hayashi had been a were not to go to Silverton which water that he coughed up. Mucha

Canadian Army veteran of the First was three miles south of New got up, shook his head to get the

World War. A bus transported us the Denver. It was the town that we had water out of his ears, and then we

last fifty miles to New Denver. just passed. They did not allow any both took off. We didn’t thank

The first thing I noticed on Japanese Canadians in their town anyone. We didn’t tell our parents

arrival was the white glistening and they were trying to build a gate because they would not let us return

glacier across Slocan Lake. It was across the road but the provincial to the beach.

directly across the camp where there government prohibited it. I tried to thank Alice Aihoshi

were rows of tents and houses. The Those of us assigned to tents at the Toronto Reunion in 1995 but

glacier not only looked magnificent, ate at the ice rink which was about someone was always talking to her

it looked indestructible. We were one mile from the camp. My sister or her husband. Regrettably I did not

assigned a tent but surprisingly Mary and I would always carry a get back to her. Dr. Henry Shimizu

some families were given a house. pail of water back to our tent after informed me that Cheesa Nishikazi

The assignment of houses was each meal. Those assigned to houses had become a Catholic Sister and

a bitter source of discourse that had to shop in town where the prices retired in northern California. I

dominated that first year. Whatever were unconscionably inflated. The contacted the retirement convent but

the assignment policy the end result B.C. Security Commission (this I was informed that she was unable

was arbitrary and unfair. sounds remarkably similar to the to talk to me.

New Denver was located on term used in the Third Reich for

pristine Slocan Lake which was Nazi concentration camps) had Arigato!

twenty-two miles long and three made arrangements with the village At night we returned to the

miles wide. It was located about of New Denver that camp residents cove where a huge bonfire was lit.

400 miles northeast of Vancouver. would do all their shopping in town There was nothing else to do since

20

we were given only a few candles bonfire after that account. American Civil War army issues.

a week and it was used only for This grisly account depicts We would pile snow around the tent

emergencies. The grownups would the incompetence and insensitivity to insulate it. We were coast people

take turns telling scary stories but of the camp administrators. There and we were not used to so much

some of them were humorous, were highly experienced Issei in all snow.

historical or about famous Japanese aspects of camp management but Finding wood was the most

persons. Some people would roast they were totally ignored because important task of the day for those of

potatoes in the fire but no matter they did not speak English. They us who lived in tents. Wood was cut

how they peeled them they could had the courage to come to a foreign and delivered by the maintenance

not get rid of the black soot. country where they did not speak crew to houses but unexplainably not

I remember that Ken Saito was English yet carved out successful to tents. My older sister Mary and I

an exceptionally gifted storyteller. businesses and built a thriving would collect twigs and branches in

After his scary stories we would community. Their businesses were potato sacks and make five or six

go home in groups. It was so dark confiscated without compensation. trips. It would burn so quickly. One

that invariably we would get lost. Now they were discounted by the day out of sheer desperation I picked

We would stumble around until camp administrator and they had to up a piece of firewood that the truck

we bumped into a tent and got watch relatively inexperienced Nisei had dumped between two rows of

directions. There is nothing darker make mistakes which could have houses. I was going to borrow an

than a New Denver night. Believe been avoided. axe and chop it into smaller pieces.

me. This atmosphere of distrust A woman came out of her house and

One night someone asked a and hostility was compounded by started screaming, “Robber, robber

young guy in his early twenties the “pro-Japan” group who accused (dolobo), he’s stealing our wood.” I

how the cremation detail was going. anyone cooperating with the camp yelled at her that it wasn’t her wood

When the first camp resident died, authorities of being “Inu.” Inu

“ because she hadn’t paid for it and

Mr. Draper the town handyman who means a dog but it was an expression kept walking.

owned a truck and made deliveries for being an informer since a dog When the snows came it took

refused to bury or cremate camp barks. This pro-Japan group would much longer to collect wood and

residents. He soon changed his inform these young Nisei that their I would not go to school. Every

mind when he discovered that the cooperation would be reported to the day I would climb the steep slope

Sanitarium provided a lucrative victorious Japanese army at the end of the mountain behind the RCMP

business. of hostilities. guardhouse across the main road and

However, in the early days Notwithstanding, it was clear the snow to look for branches

the camp director picked a Nisei these relatively inexperienced and twigs. After six or seven trips I

in his mid-twenties to look after Nisei that bought a semblance of would see four or five aged people

the cremation. The leader picked organization and stability with their living in tents next to us climbing

four younger Nisei to help him. leadership in the face of widespread the mountain with their empty

“So, how’s it going?” someone discontent, insults, threats and potato sacks. They would always

asked again. The silent Nisei finally physical violence. To this day their thank me for clearing the snow for

said, “When we asked our leader courageous contributions have not them. I kept my head down and I

if he knew anything about burning been collectively recognized by didn’t reply. I was nine years old

bodies, he said that you build a huge former camp residents who owe and I knew that I should be helping

bonfire and place the body on top them so much. these elderly people living in tents

of it. There is no problem. So that’s but I never did. Subsequently, I

what we did but the body wouldn’t And the Snows Came always omitted this part about the

burn. So our leader started pouring In the midst of this turmoil elderly people when I described the

gasoline on top of the body and it the snows came in early October, difficulty of finding wood in the

began to swell. That’s when the four 1942. It would be the severest snow.

of us just walked away. I don’t know winter recorded in New Denver Everyone could see us as we

what happened and I don’t care.” history. Some of us were still living climbed that steep mountain behind

There was a stunned silence and in tents with tiny tin stoves with the RCMP guardhouse each day.

then everyone began to leave even stove pipes that went through the Where were the camp director, the

though it was early in the evening. top of the tent. It would become red RCMP, and the Japanese adults?

Some people never returned to the hot. Amazingly, these tents were Continued on page 22

21

Most of the writings on that harsh would go into town for Saturday be teachers. She used the B.C.

winter of 1942 focus on the green night movies. correspondence school curriculum

lumber shrinking as it dried and the The whole camp attended. as a model for her neophyte

freezing wind blowing through the Most people sat on the floor, some teachers that first year. In the

newly built shacks. Those houses stood along the walls and some summertime she recruited her

looked pretty warm to those living sat on the rafters. It was warm. former Normal School instructors

in tents. Everything is relative I There was light. The program to provide teacher training for

guess. consisted of songs, odori, and all the Nisei teachers in different

Our mother was a widow with skits. There were many repetitions camps who came to New Denver

five children who refused to return because performers did not know for the summer. Miss Hide Hyodo

to Japan after our father died in the specialties of each other yet. I was an extraordinary educator and

1940 even though our grandparents know that “Shina No Yoru (China we owe so much to her.

insisted that she return. She had Night) was particularly popular. It I had a remarkable teacher in

never worked in Canada but she and didn’t matter. The audience kept Grade 5 who taught me how to read.

our eldest sister, Kay, supported the clapping and hollering for encores Her name was Gloria Sato who

family by working as domestics. because they didn’t want the night came to New Denver via Slocan,

She was stalwart and resolute. to end. It was the first time in many Sandon and Cumberland. When

Her youngest three-year old months that we felt normal. It was she discovered that I couldn’t read

daughter had pneumonia so our wonderful. she kept me in school after hours

mother would start the stove very I vaguely remember that Jane and drilled me relentlessly until after

early in the morning. One morning I Uchida, Dr. Uchida’s seven year old many months I could read and write.

heard her say very softly to herself, daughter, sang and tapped danced We were in a combined Grade 4/5

“If they want to kill us they have to a song entitled, “Would You class. I remember that Eva Shimizu

picked the right place because it Mind?” Another young performer and Margaret Tanaka were in Grade

doesn’t cost them anything to freeze was Dorothy Matsushita, maybe 12 4. Margaret Tanaka’s mother was

us to death.” I will never forget the years old, who sang a poignant song a Japanese school teacher, Tanaka

desperation and forlornness in her that started with something like, Sensei. They were deported to Japan

voice. I will never forget Dr. Uchida “Believe me not if all land...” She immediately at the end of the war.

who pleaded with the camp director was in the same grade as my older Margaret is probably one of the few

to assign us a home to no avail. sister Mary. Dorothy Matsushita Nisei who accompanied their parents

Living in that freezing tent is later contacted tuberculosis and back to war-ravaged Japan in 1945 to

the most unforgettable memory that died. Perhaps she was the youngest graduate from a Japanese university

I have of New Denver. Nothing patient to die in the Sanitarium. and become a professor. Lawrence

comes close. Nothing in my Iwasaki was another student of

considerable lifetime has matched The Lamp of Learning Miss Gloria Sato who became

that feeling of hopelessness and The building and start of internationally known as, “Mr.

wretchedness that we will be cold school was a very significant Lawrence,” the renowned hairdresser.

and hungry tomorrow and tomorrow event. It finally brought a sense The Protestant and Catholic

and tomorrow, always in that order of order and stability to the camp. Churches started their own high

- cold and hungry! The B.C. government refused schools, Lakeview and Notre Dame,

to educate children who were in respectively since the provincial

Shigata-ga-nai to Ganbari camps. The camp carpenters built government refused to provide

Concert ordinary shacks without partitions secondary education for camp students.

I remember one magical night for classrooms. Miss Hide Hyodo Both groups competed intensely for

in that tumultuous first year when was the only credentialed teacher students. They tried to achieve higher

the exterior of the Sanitarium was in camp. When she graduated from scores, produce better concerts and

completed. A concert was held. Vancouver Normal School and got bazaars, and beat the other school in

It was the first entertainment for a teaching job in Steveston, the baseball and hockey. As a result the

everyone in camp. For those of us B.C. government passed a statute entire camp community benefited.

in tents we would remain in the dark forbidding Japanese Canadians to My sister, Mary, attended Notre

each night because we would save become teachers. Dame High School even though

the few candles that they gave us Miss Hyodo hired any Nisei we attended the Anglican Church. I

for emergencies. Later, a few adults that had attended high school to remember our mother telling Miss

22

Clench and Miss Hamilton, two and for leaves that could be dried pick apples. When they returned,

Anglican missionaries, that she and used for green tea. Their they invariably raved about the thick

identified with the Catholic Sisters ingenuity was limitless. They dyed milkshake at National Cafe where the

because she saw them carrying logs napa leaves black, dried it, and straw would remain upright. In 1946,

from the woods in front of the school moisten it with water to imitate nori a group of us including my sister,

and sawing them for firewood. The to make makisushi. They baked Mary, went to Kaslo to pick cherries

Protestant high school had wood Japanese pastry of every variety for three weeks. After that, Mary went

delivered to them by the maintenance using homegrown Japanese beans to pick apples in Vernon.

crew. I guess our mother was referring to make anko (bean paste). We lived close to Slocan Lake.

to the time in the tent when no one The social life of the camp The Iwasakis (house 100) were the

delivered wood to us. began to germinate. Club formed closest, then the Nakaharas (102),

The dedication and success of for odori lessons, singing, the Yasuis (104), and the Kunitomos

these Nisei and religious teachers can woodcarving, gaji (cards), haiku, (106). Swimming in Slocan Lake was

be ascertained by the academic success sewing, knitting, etc. There was an the most popular summer activity. It

of their students when they left camp active intra-camp baseball league, was a pristine glacial lake with clear

and competed with students who which provided entertainment for ice cold water. New Denver summers

had attended regular school during the summer nights. The All-Star were hot and humid. Therefore, we

the war years. The magnitude of our team would compete against other would spend a lot of time in the lake.

appreciation to our camp teachers is camps like Lemon Creek with Asahi Mr. Iwasaki went swimming after

immeasurable except to say arigato! great, Kaz Suga, Bay Farm, Slocan, work and he used to swim with his

and Kaslo on weekends. George baby daughter on his shoulders. Soon

Gaman (Self reliance) (Chingi) Yoshinaka was a pitcher she was dog paddling on her own. It

If 1942 was the worst of times and first baseman for the Asahi was no surprise to us lake kids when

due to families struggling for the bare who lived in camp. I was a great Margaret (Peggy) Iwasaki became a

necessities of survival then the ensuing fan of the Vancouver Asahi and I member of the Olympic Swim Team.

years would exhibit a remarkable knew every single player. However, Those of us who lived closest to

(Gaman) and perseverance I began to realize that there were the lake would go fishing at the mouth

(Ganbari). The first sign of self other outstanding baseball players of Carpenter Creek. The creek water

reliance was the insulating of the like Shig Kiyono, Tom Oikawa, was dirty gray since the mines were

house with tar paper. Later, camp and Shig Okumura who were operating due to the war. Fishing was

residents would split cedar logs to every bit as good or better than the prohibited by the RCMP. We would

make cedar shakes since cedar trees Asahi players on other teams. They make fishing lines out of store string

were so plentiful. The cultivation of probably lived outside of Vancouver by knotting them together and waxing

vegetable gardens for food was the or on Vancouver Island or in the it so it wouldn’t tangle. Spinner spoons

most vital activity in camp. Every Fraser Valley or up north in one of would be made from jam cans which

available plot of land was cultivated the mill towns. Playing hockey on were perfect because it was silver on

to grow vegetables of every variety the frozen ponds or lake was a new one side and brass coloured on the

from potatoes to exotic Japanese experience for us coast people. other side.

melons. The roots of the Japanese Our sister Kay married Tom The fish that we caught at the

farmer are inextinguishable as Oikawa on March 1943. It was the mouth of the creek were bottom

evidenced by the transportation of first marriage in camp and it spawned dwellers. They were called “squaw”

the seeds of exotic Japanese plants much controversy. Some believed or “chub” fish. Its firm white meat

to a totally different environment. that times were too uncertain to was tasty due to the glacial water but it

They would learn to dig deep root make serious commitments like was filled with tiny bones. Normally,

cellars under their houses to protect marriage. The husbands might be it would not be eaten but these were

vegetables from freezing. separated from their wives again not normal times. Our mothers would

Camp residents began to and be sent to road camps as at the would patiently spend hours picking

share recipes. They learned to beginning of the war. However, love out the tiny bones but not always

make everything from shoyu with conquered all. successfully. Later they would learn

homegrown soybeans to tofu, Another memorable summer to pound the flesh with a rock and

fukushinzuki, umeboshi, etc. They occurrence was when the trucks came crush the bones. They would mix

scoured the mountain side for from Vernon to transport high students it with vegetables and make tasty

warabi (baby ferns), mushrooms, to Coldstream or Howes Ranch to Continued on page 24

23

“kamaboko” (fish cakes). large Kamloop Rainbow trout but to fulfill a familial obligation. This

When the Mounties caught its flesh was never as bright red as was ironic since our father was a

us fishing they would row out to the trout in New Denver. great admirer of Canada and he had

deep water and throw our fishing There was also a dark side to told his parents that he did not want

lines overboard. When the adults this lake. One year in early spring to inherit the property in Japan.

were caught they would be sent to as the ice began to melt a patient Therefore, a few days after the

the jail in Nelson which was sixty from the Tuberculosis Sanitarium war ended in August, 1945 we were

miles away. Consequently, only the committed suicide by walking out moved to Rosebery. It was a smaller

bachelors went fishing. They wanted onto the lake where the ice had detention camp located four miles

to be caught because jail food was broken. This was done in front of north of New Denver but now it

much tastier. “What is your favorite other patients who watched her step was used as an Assembly Centre

meal in jail?” we would ask one of unhesitatingly into the icy water. for families departing to Japan.

the bachelors. “The Sunday supper Also in the early spring of Once again we lived closest to the

is the best,” he would reply, “They 1950 when the ice was breaking lake. We shared a house with Mr.

serve roast beef, mashed potatoes, up, four boys from Silverton were and Mrs. Fujiwara who had been

vegetables, and something that looks playing hockey on the lake when a railroad porter. I remember him

like a bun but its airy (Yorkshire the ice collapsed. One of the boys, because he used to go swimming

pudding). They would pour a lot I played sixteen years of age and in Slocan Lake very early in the

of gravy on it. Dessert would be under hockey with, rescued the other morning even in the wintertime.

cake or pie. No one eats anything boys but he didn’t have the strength He would walk out to the water

as good in this camp.” “What to pull himself up. As captain of the passage made by the tugboat which

else?” “On Friday they serve fish team, his mother asked me to be a had cleared the ice on the frozen

but it doesn’t taste the same with pallbearer. It was the first time that lake.

potatoes. You need rice and shoyu a Japanese Canadian was invited Once again, it was a time of

to go with the fish.” The Mounties to step foot in Silverton which had uncertainty, chaos, rumors, and total

stopped arresting bachelors after tried to build a gate across the main discontent. It was soon heightened

the first year. highway to bar Japanese. I still when the first group departed for

We would go trolling in our think of my young friend with an Japan. Almost the entire camp had

homemade rafts. We would fish infectious laugh who could really turned out to bid these families

the spots that the town fishermen play hockey. farewell as they departed on the

trolled. They would catch a salmon bus for Vancouver.

trout that was 20 inches and throw A Camp Without Joy We attended English school

it back into the lake. They would It was apparent in 1944 that followed by Japanese school like

only keep a trout that was over three the end of the war was drawing near we did in New Denver. However,

pounds. The lake was full of trout in with an Allied victory. The federal now the emphasis was on learning

deeper water because no one fished government at the instigation of the Japanese with earnest desperation.

the lake. When we got a bite on our B.C. politicians passed an Order-in Families were having second

store string fishing line it would Council in March, 1945 to remove thoughts. They were finally hearing

inevitably snap. So we would start all residents of Japanese ancestry from Japanese relatives for the first

paddling backward every time that out of British Columbia. Camp time in five years warning them

we got a bite to lesson the tension. residents over sixteen years of age to stay away from Japan. Japan

Sometimes it worked and we would were given the option of departing was totally devastated by the war

catch a large fat salmon trout. for Japan or moving to an eastward and there was a shortage of food,

That’s what we called it, a salmon province. They were required to housing, medical care, etc.

trout. (My buddy, Bobby Terakita, sign a document. Our eldest sister Kay and her

who lived in Slocan and who is Our mother had received a husband, Tom Oikawa, tramped

an avid fisherman, claims that it is telegram from our grandfather four miles through the winter snow

a Rainbow trout He also wants to during the war through the Spanish each weekend and they would

know why we didn’t order a fishing Red Cross that our grandmother plead, cajole, and beg our mother

line from the Eaton’s catalog like had died. He wanted the family to and our Aunt Irene Kohara to

he did. We didn’t have the money, return as soon as possible since our change their minds for the sake of

Bobby!) We moved to Kamloops father had been the oldest in the the children. Conditions would be

in 1950 and I caught my share of family. Therefore, she felt obligated too difficult and harsh for Canadian

24

children to adapt to war-torn Japan why he didn’t remain in Canada New Denver. While my friends

they argued. since he was over sixteen, Mr. Asano and I swam, fished, and frolicked

Finally, when they changed replied that his parents needed him in Slocan Lake, the Issei and older

their minds the authorities to accompany them to Japan. Nisei were improving our houses

informed them that they could not I always wanted to thank growing vegetables and preserving

rescind their original decision. Nobby Asano for influencing my them by canning and drying. While

Later we were informed that we science career so much but I never we skated on the frozen ponds and

could change our minds as long as found a person who knew what lakes these adults were insulating

we left the province immediately. happened to him. Lately, Dr. James our houses with cedar shakes which

Our mother refused to leave the (Shiro) Hasegawa from Montreal they made from raw cedar trees,

province since her children were who was also in New Denver and and to keep us warm they re-knitted

born in this province and many of Rosebery like us informed me mitts and socks by unraveling old

the Mounties that visited us could that his older sister who had been woolen sweaters. While we sat in

not say that. This resulted in more Nobby’s classmate told him that the schoolhouse it was dedicated

visitations from the Mounties. he had died of an appendicitis Nisei like Miss Hide Hyodo and

I remember Mr. Noboru attack shortly after he arrived in Miss Gloria Sato who insured that

Asano. He had just graduated from Japan. A tragedy. Nobby Asano the lamp of learning would not be

Notre Dame High School. He was would probably be living today if extinguished for camp children.

reputed to be its brightest graduate. our government had not practiced It is their indomitable spirit

He was also an outstanding “ethnic cleansing” as instigated by that must be recorded for history.

teacher. I never forgot his science racist B.C. politicians. They never gave into apathy

experiments that he did with cans, I also remember my sister and despair. They demonstrated

strings, sticks, mirrors, etc. He Mary, James (Shiro) Hasegawa, this extraordinary spirit and

taught us to observe, gather data, George (hits) Tsuruda, and few determination when they were first

analyze, and draw conclusions. others being picked up by Father placed in camps and then again

Many years later at university I Clement each morning to attend when they were deported out of the

would learn that this was called Notre Dame High School in New British Columbia to start again back

the scientific method and I thought, Denver. I used to wonder why they in eastern Canada or in Japan.

“Hey, Mr. Asano taught me this in were going to high school when The musings and ruminations

Rosebery and he made it a lot more they were going to Japan. of swimming, playing sports, and

interesting.” There is very little that I can going to school by children like me

The last lesson that Mr. Asano recall of that year in Roseberry. must not mislead future historians to

taught before he left for Japan, he There were no concerts, no sports conclude that detention camp wasn’t

told us never to forget that we were day, no baseball or hockey, and so bad if the children were having

Canadians since we were born in sadly, no one sang. so much fun. Remember there are

Canada. It was something to be documentary films depicting Jewish

proud of because there will be many Monition (Warning) sibling playing and laughing beside

in Japan who will try to convince I was nine years old in 1942 their mothers as they were lead to

us otherwise. When someone asked and seventeen in 1950 when I left the gas chamber. ❁



My Dual Affiliations with Japan and Canada by Miho T. Steinberg

My parents, Bunjiro and Yaeno just two weeks before we were ken and had taught at the Japanese

Tanaka, came fi-om Japan to Canada repatriated to Japan. It was August Language School on Alexander

in the 1920s and 1930s and my three 1946 and I was 12 years old. There Street in Vancouver before the

younger brothers and I were born in had been some talk of leaving me war. When we returned to post-

BC. During the war my father was behind in Canada with relatives, but war Japan, she taught Japanese in

in an Internment Camp in Angler, my father decided that we were not a junior high school. As the only

Ontario for four and a half years while to be separated as a family again. teacher of Japanese language in the

my mother, my brothers and I lived In Japan we lived in Shiga- school I had to take Japanese from

in the “ghost towns” of New Denver ken with our grandparents who had her. Needless to say, I worked very

and Tashme in the BC interior. We survived the war. My mother had hard so as not to embarrass her and

were finally reunited with my father gone to normal school in Shiga- had to endure the snickers from the

Continued on page 26

25

I also kept up with my English realized that this was the Japan that

through my correspondence with an my parents must have been talking

elderly American philanthropist, Mr. about. As my experience with

Lex Cox, who was the host family to Japanese culture grew, with the tea

the first Japanese exchange student to ceremony and flower arrangement,

America after the war. This Japanese I became grateful to my parents for

exchange student, Miss Imamura, the chance they had given me by

wrote a letter to a popular Japanese returning to Japan.

girl’s magazine telling of her When I graduated from

experiences in the US. She received university in Kyoto, in the early

thousands of letters from Japan, but 1950s, there were Nisei teachers

among them was one solitary letter from the States who were teaching

in English - mine. Mr. Cox decided English at our university. They

to take over the correspondence said that when I spoke English, I

with me and answered every letter I sounded like a precocious child, for

Miho Margaret Steinberg. (M.

wrote, almost bi-weekly. I received the thoughts of a 22-year old were

Steinberg photo, date unknown)

pictures of their Christmas parties, being expressed in the English of a

class for the first few weeks. But I and postcards from their trips across 12-year old, for I hadn’t been in an

did learn Japanese well. the US. In this way, I kept in touch English-speaking environment since

For the first three years of junior with American culture as well as I was 12 in Canada. I realized that if

high school, I lived at home. But for practicing my English. Two years I was to teach English, I must live

senior high school, I had to bicycle ago, I finally was able to locate this in an English-speaking environment

12 kilometers (approximately 7 Japanese student who is now a retired to enhance my linguistic ability.

miles) one way to school. I can English teacher and administrator Fortunately I was able to return to

remember taking an entire change of a school in Yokohama. We had Canada and live with my mother’s

of clothes with me on rainy days, a wonderful telephone reunion, brother and his wife, Mr. and Mrs.

because I got drenched to the skin. recalling those days. Toyozo Miyanishi, in Toronto in

In winter, commuting by bicycle When I first came to Japan, I 1957.

was impossible due to the snow, was thoroughly disgusted with the I was teaching Japanese

so I had rented a room in the city Japanese and the Japanese system. conversation to a group of Toronto

near the school. I was alarmed to Mother had told me that the Japanese professors, high school teachers

see that I hadn’t grown a bit since were kind, polite and forgiving but and lawyers and became involved

coming to Japan (I was just under 5 post-war poverty had taken away a in the first English as a Second

feet tall) and so I took up basketball, lot of the basic decency, niceties and Language (ESL) teacher training

and stretched and jumped for 3 politeness from their everyday life. I course. Through this course, I had

years in the hope of growing taller. felt that the picture of Japan that my the good fortune to meet Dr. Robert

Alas, I found I had stopped growing Mother had given me was not true. Lado, Director of the English

altogether, and am still to this day, Mother, herself, must have been Language Institute at the University

just under 5 feet tall. going through a strange, painful of Michigan. Dr Lado helped me get

When I first came to Japan I time during her first experience of into the University of Michigan to

missed Canada and all things English. a war-torn country. It was not until major in Linguistics and ESL. My

My uncle in Canada used to send I went to university in Kyoto and experience at Michigan has served

me the newspaper comics now and started to take tea ceremony, flower me very well for my later teaching

then, but what really saved me was arrangement and koto lessons, that career at the University of Hawaii

my frequent correspondence with a I became aware of the elegance and University of Illinois. In coming

classmate of mine from New Denver in language and movement, the to Canada, I had only intended

and Tashme, who was then working thoughtfulness in the understated to better my English, but ended

for the Americans in Hokkaido, language and kindness in unspoken up teaching English not only to

Japan. Not only was his friendship words. What I had expected 6 Japanese, but to new Canadians from

important but he also helped me years earlier, when I first came to all over the world. This was hard but

to keep up my English, and often Japan, was finally coming back into extremely rewarding and I learned

corrected my Japanese-English to everybody’s life. As I became more so much about different cultures and

the more colloquial English. acquainted with things Japanese, I languages from my students.

26

Japan at Nagoya Gakuin University

(NGU).

My primary interest in life

has always been to teach English

as a Second Language, and I have

been fortunate enough to follow

this career. In 1993 I came to BC

and negotiated with NGU and

Okanagan University College (now

the University of British Columbia

Okanagan) to set up a summer

English program for NGU students

in Vernon. That was 13 years ago,

and the program continues to be

very successful. The students study

English, live with English-speaking

host families and socialize with

Canadian college students. After 5

weeks, they are able to converse in

English. I accompany these students

to Vernon every summer, and even

though I have formally retired from

NGU three years ago, I have been

asked to continue to bring the NGU

students to Vernon.

As I reflect on my life, I

consider myself very fortunate

having benefited from living in

both Canada and Japan. Although

I have decided to remain in Japan,

Miho (top right) with fellow students of Kyoto Women’s University. (M. my frequent visits to Canada to visit

Steinberg photo, 1957) my relatives and friends keeps me in

touch with my Canadian heritage.

I began teaching ESL at the universities: Hiroshima University, Yes, I have indeed been very lucky,

University of Hawaii in 1982 and Notre Dame University, and teaching English and doing what

remained there for 20 years. During Kanazawa Technical College. It was I like best, and enjoying my life in

that time, I visited Japan twice on after my last sabbatical in 1983-85 Japan and Canada. ❁

sabbatical and taught at a number of that I decided to stay on and teach in

Oikawa Collection and SUIAN MARU Descendants Return to the

Fraser by Reiko Tagami, Assistant Archivist

This year marks the centennial perseverance, and the building of was a potential logistical challenge.

MARU

of the voyage of the SUIAN MARU, community. The Museum is extremely grateful

the deepsea fishing vessel chartered In 2005, an extensive to the descendants of Oikawa for

by Jinzaburo Oikawa to bring 83 collection of artifacts, photographs preserving the collection intact; to

immigrants, largely from Miyagi and textual records was donated the great-granddaughters for their

prefecture, to work and eventually to the Japanese Canadian National willingness to enrich Canadian

settle in Canada, on Don and Lion Museum by the great-granddaughters Nikkei heritage by sharing their own

islands (formerly Oikawa-jima and of Jinzaburo Oikawa. Oikawa’s family history; and to the group of

Sato-jima) in the Fraser River. Theirs descendants still live in Miyagi community members who researched

is a story of risk and adventure, prefecture in Japan, so the trans- the Oikawa collection and arranged

but also a story about creativity, Pacific transport of these materials for safe transport.

Continued on page 28

27

83 immigrants, interviewing

descendants and collecting family

stories and memories.

The forced removal of the

Nikkei pioneers and their families

from the islands in 1942 broke the

physical ties of the SUIAN MARU

community, never again to be re-

united. However, like so many other

Nikkei communities forced apart by

the internment, the SUIAN MARU

community persisted through a

network of friendships and family

ties that remain strong to this day.

These community connections

make it possible for the Museum

to follow the story from its origins

– challenging life in a Miyagi village

– to the current chapter, which

encompasses the rich and varied

experiences of the SUIAN MARU

descendants in Canada and Japan.

❁









Jinshiro Oikawa, Asakusa Park, Tokyo, Japan. Eisedo. Jinshiro Oikawa

Collection. Japanese Canadian National Museum.

The collection is comprised of The Oikawa collection

clothing, household objects, small will be featured in an exhibition

tools, and photographs brought to commemorating the SUIAN MARU

Japan by Oikawa and his second centennial, slated to open in mid-

wife, Yae, on their final return October at the Museum. This will

journey in 1917. Large-format coincide with a reunion of SUIAN Women’s belt by Yae Oikawa during

charts created by Oikawa track MARU descendants from across her time on Lion Island. Jinzaburo

the price of various staples, such Canada and Japan. Museum staff Oikawa Collection. Japanese

as rice, on the Japanese market. are hard at work researching the Canadian National Museum.

The family photographs provide a experiences of some of the other

beautiful and detailed visual record

of the Oikawa family and their

community, while a cornerstone of

the collection is Oikawa’s hand-

written autobiography. The depth

and breadth of the collection is

astounding, the range of items

painting a vivid picture of the

Canadian life of Jinzaburo and his Yatate (portable ink well) used by Jinzaburo Oikawa. Jinzaburo Oikawa

wife. Collection. Japanese Canadian National Museum.



28

Masao (Mas) Kawanami 1923-2005 by Roy Kawamoto

passed from Mountbatten to Prime zone. For his outstanding action, he

Minister Winston Churchill and was mentioned in dispatches and

during a private meeting at the awarded an Oak Leaf to be worn

Quebec Conference on October 20, with the Canadian Korean War

1944. Churchill emphasized the Medal. Further to the award, he was

importance of recruiting Japanese sent to Japan for rest and recreation

Canadians for employment as to recover from his ordeal. Shortly

linguists. Prime Minister Mackenzie after his arrival at Camp Hiro, some

King stated that on his return to officers heard him speaking Japanese

Ottawa, the War Cabinet would and determined that he would be an

consider the request. A meeting was asset if transferred to this unit.

convened in November to discuss One day his brother, Kiyoshi,

the request, keeping in mind that he showed up at the office and this

had issued an Executive Order on was quite a surprise as they had not

January 7, 1941: “That for the present seen each other since 1943. Kiyoshi

Canadians of Japanese origin should and 3,963 Japanese Canadians were

not be called up for military service.” deported to Japan under the authority

This was based on a recommendation of an Order in Council issued on

Masao Kawanami. (Japanese of the Special Committee On December 15, 1945. The office staff

Canadian War Memorial Orientals in British Columbia dated heard of the two brothers’ reunion

Committee Collection photo, 1992) December 1940. Mackenzie King and an impromptu celebration was

On August 18, 1923, the after vacillating over Britain’s held. During the celebration, a

first son of Asakichi and Soto request finally issued an Executive discussion was held as to whether

(Nishiyama) Kawanami was born Order in February of 1945 to start Kiyoshi could be employed as a

in Vancouver, B.C. He received his recruiting Japanese Canadians, camp worker. A suggestion was

formal education in Vancouver, and but under no circumstances would made that maybe he could be

while he was attending high school the recruitment be made public. enrolled in the Canadian Army.

the war with Japan started. His It is interesting to note that the Further inquiries with the Canadian

family was moved to Slocan, B.C. announcement was finally made in Liaison Mission in Tokyo lead to

during the mass evacuation of 1942. the House of Commons on August getting the required authorization

After a short period in the Interior 18, 1945, three days after Japan had from External Affairs. Kiyoshi was

of B.C., he was sent to Hamilton, surrendered. A total of 119 men were the first Canadian to be enrolled in

Ontario to work at Mount Hamilton enrolled in the Canadian Intelligence Tokyo issued with a regimental #

Sanatorium. Corps for service in SEAC. SX 500. This information spread

During the summer of 1944, the On June 25, 1950 North Korea quickly to other nisei living in

Federal Government was interested in attacked South Korea and the United Japan and within a very short time

determining the number of Japanese Nations immediately requested a total of 30 men were enrolled for

Canadians who would enlist in the assistance from member nations. deployment in Japan and Korea.

Canadian Army if recruiting was Canada agreed to send a brigade One interesting highlight was when

opened up. Kawanami, like a number as soon as they were mustered and Kawanami looked out the window

of other nisei, was contacted by trained. The Canadian Army Special one morning and noticed an elderly

Government and Military personnel. Force was activated and the media man dressed in a Canadian Army

About the same time, Captain blitz did the rest. It did not take uniform from the First World War.

Donald Mollison from South East Kawanami long to enlist, and he It was Mr. Ryoichi Kobayashi who

Asia Command (SEAC) was sent joined the Princess Patricia Canadian had served with the 10th Battalion

over from India to recruit Japanese Light Infantry on August 12, 1950. of the Canadian Expeditionary

Canadians. Mollison’s trip was not While serving with his unit Force (1914-1918). After a quick

fruitful, but his report to Admiral in Korea, Kawanami walked into introduction, Mr. Kobayashi stated

Mountbatten, Commander SEAC, a minefield at his own peril to that he was volunteering his four

was to have a far-reaching affect. rescue women and children who sons for service with the Canadian

Contents of the report were had wandered into this restricted Continued on page 30

29

Army. They were duly sworn in, documents found in Ottawa, and part from the research carried out for

and after their tour of duty in the Far through discussions with Mas him. ❁

East returned to Canada, the place of Kawanami and Donald Mollison. Roy Kawamoto is retired and

their birth. Mollison, who lived in Victoria, resides in Kelowna, B.C. He served

Mas, you served your country B.C. was mentioned in Roy Ito’s under Mollison’s brother-in-law,

well in two wars and for this we will book, ‘We Went to War’ and was in Jack Clancy when he commanded

be eternally grateful. As a staunch the process of writing his memoirs, the 2nd Battalion, The Royal

supporter and a member of the including a chapter on his attempt Canadian Regiment. Roy is also a

Japanese Canadian War Memorial to recruit Japanese Canadians, when member of the Japanese Canadian

Committee, you will be missed. he unexpectedly passed away. The War Memorial Committee.

This story is based on archival material used for this story was in

Report on the Annual General Meeting of the National Nikkei

Museum and Heritage Centre by Cathy Makihara

On Saturday, June 19, 2006, with Santa” and ‘Mochitsuki. The was achievable through the success

the organization held its annual president also made remarks about of the ‘Tree of Prosperity’ Campaign

general meeting of its members. The the opening of the Asahi Exhibition raising $250,000 and the generous

meeting was informative including a on October 28, and how proud he was contribution of our membership and

report from the President, providing to see the successful completion of others in the community.

financial highlights, and the the exhibition. Milestones included Many thanks to the membership,

acclamation of 22 directors to the the 10th anniversary of NIKKEI volunteers, employees, patrons and

Board. IMAGES publication and the the generosity and support of other

Fred Yada, president, reported opening of the Community Kitchen members in the Nikkei community

on the many programs and events with the tremendous assistance of and project funders for contributing

we had at the Centre and Museum. the Volunteer Auxiliary. to a successful year. The organization

Events at the Centre included: The treasurer, Albert Kokuryo found itself in much better financial

dancing, music programs, karate, provided an overview of the finances condition today than in previous

yoga, ikebana, karaoke cooking, of the organization. Overall, the years. There are still challenges

badminton and many others. Special Society raised a total of almost to face in 2006 in meeting our

events included: International $820,000 during 2005 (2004: fundraising targets, we ask for your

Children’s Day, Jankenpon, Things $504,000) of which almost $590,000 continuing support in keeping the

Japanese Sales, Children’s Halloween (2004: $308,000) was in the form of Centre and Museum open for all to

Party, Craft and Bake Sale, and donations and bequests. This success enjoy. ❁

the annual and popular ‘Breakfast

2006 National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre Board of Directors

Sam Araki Gordon Kadota Henry Shimizu

Yoko Banks David Masuhara Eric Sokugawa

Robert Banno Yuki Matsuno Avalon Tagami

Ruth Coles Craig Natsuhara Sian Tasaka

Reverend Orai Fujikawa Robert Nimi Henry Wakabayashi

Stan Fukawa Alisa Noda Fred Yada

Mitsuo Hayashi Dennis Shikaze Sam Yamamoto

Masayasu (Mike) Inoue

Japanese Families on Annacis, Don and Lion Islands and

Queensborough by Stan Fukawa

The map which accompanies Ocean to Canada). It shows many According to Mrs. Miyeko

this article was adapted by Moe of the families that lived on Don Mickey Nakagawa, whose

Yesaki from the original illustration Island (called Oikawa Jima by grandfather Unkichi Sugawara came

in Kan’ichi Onodera’s book (in the Japanese), Lion Island (Sato MARU

on the SUIAN MARU, Unkichi

Japanese) titled “Kanada e watatta Jima), Annacis Island and the moved to Annacis after having lived

Tohoku no Mura” (The Tohoku Queensborough shoreline (Naka no

( on one of the two smaller islands.

Region Village that Crossed the Shuku). He was next to and down-river from

30

Map of the Fraser River showing Japanese settlements on Annacis, Oikawa and Don Islands and Queensborough

before World War II.

Seiichiro Oikawa (whose son, George Minako), 12) Sunshine Sato, 13) tell briefly the story of the SUIAN

Oikawa, is a well-known and long- Seiji Chiba. MARU voyage, the colony led by

serving board member with both The map does not include the Jinzaburo Oikawa and Soemon

the National Nikkei Heritage Centre Sunbury shoreline which was home Sato, and list the 83 voyagers. It will

and the Seniors Housing and Health to many descendents of the SUIAN be a tribute to a colourful Japanese

Care Society). She remembers that MARU voyagers and others from chapter in Canada’s multicultural

Gennosuke Suzuki (father of the Miyagi prefecture who followed history.

late union organizer, Buck Suzuki, them. At 2 p.m. the same day, there

who led the struggle to get Japanese Onodera’s book lists 437 will be boat tours of the Fraser River

Canadian fishermen accepted back individuals from Miyagi who around the islands starting from

into the West Coast fishery) and his journeyed to Canada to make their the Quay at New Westminster at a

family lived between the Sugawaras fortunes. About 300, including a charge of $20. A second boat has to

and the Chibas at the end. few of their children, returned to be hired due to the demand. Send

Mrs. Ruth Usami (nee Sasaki) Miyagi. About one hundred fifty cheques made out to “NNMHC

remembers her neighbours in the did not return. As well, many of the SUIAN MARU 100” to SUIAN

Naka no Shuku area – from east to returnees, left children in the New MARU 100, 2962 Coventry Place,

west – as follows: 1) Shig Kamachi, World. Burnaby, BC V5A 3P8.

2) George Sasaki, 3) Tsuriji Suda On Friday, October 13, 2006, at At 6 p.m. the same day, the

(Trixie, Muts, Sussie), 4) Oikawa, 1 p.m., there will be the unveiling of exhibit on the SUIAN MARU

5) Kanegawa, 6) Heese Oikawa a plaque which the City of Richmond and the settlers will be opened at

(Tom, Kay, Kim, Naoko), 7. Yokichi is creating to mark the centenary the Japanese Canadian National

Sato (Miyo, Sets, Yoshiko, Tets), of the SUIAN MARU voyage. It Museum located at the National

8) Shinji Sato (Nobu, Akio, Ami), will be placed in East Richmond Nikkei Heritage Centre at the corner

9) Community Hall, 10) Kumagai in a park at the end Dyke Road of Kingsway and Sperling Ave. in

(Yoshiro, Mary, Helen, Ray, Taeko, which can be reached by taking Burnaby. Admission is free.

Kay, Rentaro, Shintaro, George, Graybar Road from the Westminster At 5 p.m. on Saturday,

Seiko, Raeko), 11) Haru Sasaki Highway. It will be opposite Don October 14, 2006, there will be

(Hozumi, Ritsuko, Minoru, Hiroshi, and Lion Islands and the plaque will a Celebration Dinner which has

Continued on page 32

31

attracted a large visiting group from to represent the family. Canadian organizers are scrambling to find

Miyage Prefecture, including a great Heritage Minister Bev Oda has a way to accommodate the record

granddaughter of Jinzaburo Oikawa been sent an invitation. This event numbers of ticket-buyers from

who will be bringing her daughter has been extremely popular and Ontario, the U.S. and Japan. ❁

神が私を日本につかわされた - 内田郁英

時からこれは真理だと信じ、う させられた。1ヶ月も経たぬうち

たがわなかった。そして、10歳 に大木に左足がひかれ、複雑骨

の時にイエスを救主として受 折にあいました。父の弟、内田

け入れ、12歳の時に他6名の日 一作が同じキャンプにおり、父

系2世たちと一緒にRuth Morton の危ない状態を知らせに来たの

Memorial Baptist教会で洗礼を受 で、母は赤ん坊を背負って叔母

けました。 と一緒にプリンストンに駆けつ

当時の日系移民の決まり けました。私は長女(14歳)とし

は、子供は日本学校に行って日 て8人の弟妹達の世話を余儀なく

本語を身につける事でした。私 させられました。父はもしその

はイースト･バンクーバーにあ ままプリストンの病院にいたら

った明和学園に1年生から6年生 死んでいたでしょうが、叔父の

ま で 通 い ま し た 。 1940年 に 父 熱心な交渉でバンクーバー･ジェ

は不況のため職を探しにOcean ネラル病院に移され、適切な治

Fallsに行き、家族はその秋にそ 療を受けることが出来ました。

こに移りました。しかし、そこ 母がプリストンに行って

にいる間に日本軍の真珠湾攻撃 いる間、私の元の日曜学校の先

内田郁英 (1970年) が起こり私達日本人は海岸から 生、Miss Margaret Ridgewayが

強制移住させられ、内田家は臨 訪ねて来られ、父の事を話した

私が宣教師になる要因は 時に明和学園に泊めて頂きまし ら、「祈りましょう」と言わ

家族のバックグランドに何も関 た。 れ、二人で父の為に祈り神に委

係 あ り ま せ ん で し た 。 18歳 の 父は何日も経たないうち ねました。私の心は不思議に平

時、日本からバンクーバーに移 にプリンストンのロード・キャ 安を取り戻しました。

って来た父は社会主義に引か ンプに入れられ、山仕事を強制 そ れ か ら 家 族 は Hastings

れ、その本棚には赤いマルクス Parkに移され、牛舎で3ヶ月過ご

系やレーニン系の本がたくさん してから、西クウテネのローズ

並び、髭すりの鏡にの上にはレ ベリというNew Denverから6マイ

ーニンの絵まで飾ってありまし ル北の比較的小さなキャンプに

た。私は長女として生まれ、も 移されました。そこでの生活は

し男の子であれば、当時有名な とても原始的でした。水は天秤

共産主義者であった大山郁雄に にバケツを2つかけて、小川まで

ちなんで郁雄となずけられたの 歩いて汲みに行き、毎日の洗濯

でしょうが、女の子だったので は洗濯板でごしごし擦り、湖に

郁英と名づけられました。 持っていってすすぐ。長い木を

初めてキリスト教に出会 ノコギリで切って、ストーブの

ったのは6歳のとき日本人の子 側で干して、薪にするのも毎日

供達の為の日曜学校に誘われた の仕事でした。電気もなかった

時でした。これはフランクリン のでろうそくを使ってました。

･ストリート･ミッションと呼ば 私はグレード9 (高校1年生)

れ、中国人、日本人と白人の為 に入るはずでしたが、政府はグ

の3つの日曜学校を営んでいたバ レード8までしか備えなかったの

プテスト派が行なっていたミッ で、洋裁を学びました。けれど

ションです。親は反対しなかっ も次の年に各教会がハイスクー

たので毎週通いゴスペル･ソング ルを備えてくださり、私はレイ

と聖書を学びました。若い6歳の クビュー・ハイスクールという

内田武とそよと郁恵.(1928年)



32

名のニュー・デンバーの合同教会にローズベリか

ら山道を5マイル歩いて通いました。

私のクリスチャンとのかかわりはMiss. Olive

Woodworth （元日本伝道隊の宣教師）との交友に

よって維持されました。Miss Woodworthはニュー

・デンバーから月に一回ローズベリに来て日曜学

校をもうけ、私はそれを手伝いました。内田家族

の10人の子供がこの日曜学校の3分の1をしめまし

た。

ある日私はMiss Woodworthにクリスチャン

の友達が欲しいともらしたら、彼女の答えは「ク

リスチャンの高校に行きませんか？」。私はそん

な高校があると知りませんでしたが、「行きた

い」という願いが燃え始めました。丁度その頃私 ローズベリ女性ソフト･ボール･チーム。郁恵は後

はロス・アンジェルスからの聖書通信講座を学び ろの左から2番目. (1952年)

始めていました。朝の仕事を終えて聖書を学ぶの Security Commissionから交通費、1ヶ月の生活費

です。ある日詩篇37：4が飛び出しました。「主 と道中の弁当代を頂きましたが、それ以外のお金

をおのれの喜びとせよ。主はあなたの願いをかな の余裕はまったくなかったので、もらった生活費

えてくださる。」私の願いはMiss Woodworthが教 を1ヶ月の学費にあてた後は何も残りませんでし

えてくださったクリスチャンの高校に行くことで た。

した。 私はどんな学院に行くのかまったくわかっ

一方その年の8月の夏（1945年)、原子爆弾 ておらず、ここに来ようとした事は全く浅はかな

投下によって日本との戦争が終わった。乗馬警官 考えだとさえその時は思っていました。すべての

（R.C.M.P.) は一軒一軒訪れ、16歳以上の一人一 聖書学院生と高校生は宿舎に住み、私たちの生活

人に日本に帰りたいか、カナダに留まるか質問し は朝6時から夜10時まで統制され、聖書が生活の

ました。父はあらかじめ私たちに｢日本に行って ルールでした。

もしょうがないから、カナダに留まると言いなさ 11月に学院は特別講師を外部から呼び、3日

い｣と忠告した。16歳以上は私一人でしたが、私 間の特別な講座を設けました。その講師は完全な

は一度も行った事のない日本に行きたいと思った 献身を強調された。丁度同じ頃、日本を占領して

ことはなかった。 いたマッカーサー元帥が日本に1000人の宣教師が

ローズベリが閉鎖されてからすぐに家族は 来るように募集しました。講師が完全献身のメッ

ニュー・デンバーに引越ししましたが、私の目的 セージをした後、校長のMr. Maxwell師が次のよう

地はもっと東のアルバータ州スリーヒルズにある に学生達に訴えました。「空白の小切手に著名を

Prairie高校でした。ニュー・デンバーには3日間 して、神様にその空白にどんな命令を書いてもよ

ぐらいしか私は居らず、家族にさよならを告げ ろしい。すでに著名をしてますので。と言えるで

て、バスに乗りました。私は東に移動するのでBC しょうか？もし署名したならば、会場の前方に出

なさい。」

神様が私に｢宣教師として日本に喜んで行き

ますか？｣と声を掛けておられたのですが、私は

｢カナダで仕えます｣と返事し、日本行きはかたく

なに拒んでおりました。ところが、イエス様が私

の罪のために犠牲を惜しまずに十字架に架かり、

苦しまれたイメージが急に浮かび上がり、涙を流

しながら｢神様、日本にでも行きます。｣と自ら言

い、会場の前方に出ました。この決心は私の人生

の方向を変えた大きな出来事でした。

これ以後私の人生にはっきりとした目標が

あり、残る２年間の高校生活と4年間の聖書学院

の学びは有意義であり、楽しいものでした。聖書

学院の卒業式の２ヶ月前に日本伝道ミッションと

Prairieハイスクール卒業式のスピーカーズ 郁恵

いう新しい団体に登録を申し込みました。このミ

は一番右に。1952年の写し

Continued on page 34



33

発見しました。

日本語の勉強は教室に限られず、市内の店

通りを歩くたびに店の窓ガラスに張ってあるチラ

シなどを読むようにしました。もうひとつは日本

のラジオ放送を聞くことです。最初は政治的用語

はわからないので、いちいち辞書で調べました

が、徐々にラジオ・ニュースがわかるようにな

っていきました。初めの頃はニュースを知る為

に英字新聞Japan Timesを取り、そしてアメリカの

GIラジオの英語ニュースを聞いていましたが、後

程、私は日本語の地元新聞、新潟日報とラジオは

NHKのニュースにすっかり頼りました。

1967年の大雪の時の長岡市写真―郁恵. (1967年) 5月にミッションは私に小千谷（おじや）と

いう信濃川沿いの町に、開拓伝道をして新しい信

ッションはいわゆるFaith Missionであって、特別 者が住む町に私を遣わしました。私は日本に来て

な教派とか組織に属しておりませんでした。各ミ わずか3ヶ月で新しい教会を牧会するのでした。

ッショナリーは自分で経済援助を探さなければな 他の宣教師は少なくても1年間は日本語勉強につ

りませんでした。幸いに私は学生時代や夏のバイ いやしますのに！

ブル・キャンプで奉仕してるカナダ・アメリカの 小千谷町にて私は古い日本家屋の2階に住

各地にいる友人達から10ドル、20ドル、さらに み、その窓から信濃川が見下ろせると共に、冷た

教会では1ヶ月に50ドルを献金してくださいまし い風が窓の隙間から入ってきました。天井板はゆ

た。 るく、大きなねずみが走り回っていました。料理

ここで申し遅れましたが、私より1歳半年下 は炭を燃やす焜炉を使い始めましたが、数ヶ月の

の妹である幸江はPrairie高校に来て、共にPrairie聖 うちに石油ストーブが売られるようになったの

書学院で学び、一緒に卒業しました。彼女も宣教 で、石油ストーブに変えました。日本語の勉強は

師として召され、1953年に私より1年遅れで日本 この家の1階に住んでおられた古屋婦人から続け

に来ました。 て学びました。けれどもここでの日本語の学びは

私は1952年の2月にシアトルから貨物船の 日曜日に私が語らなければならない聖書に基づく

JAVA MAILに乗り、冬の荒い太平洋を横断して横 説教のための日本語に集中しました。大体毎週

浜に到着いたしました。同僚の宣教師たちが迎え 20人くらいの人々が古屋宅に集まりました。私の

てくださいました。横浜は目的地ではないので、 説教準備は大変で何時間も掛けて英和辞書で用語

上野駅から列車に乗って裏日本に向かい、長く暗 を見つけ、それを和英辞書で正しい用語か確かめ

い清水トンネルを通過し、雪国の新潟県柏崎市に るという作業でした。小千谷教会には幸いにも戦

到着しました。最初の数ヶ月はハリスという宣教 前からのクリスチャンで新聞社に勤めておられた

師と共に柏崎市の普通の日本家屋で生活しまし 長老の逢坂さんがおられ、私が間違った日本語を

た。暖房も断熱材もなかったので、私は絶えず寒 使ったら必ず指摘してくれ大変感謝しました。

かったのを覚えています。床に布団を敷いて、そ 1952年というのはまだ戦後7年目だったの

こに寝ました。そのうちあるご婦人から私は暖か で、日本はまだ貧困と病いと戦っておりました。

い下着を買う必要があると教えていただき、彼女 栄養と暖房が欠けていたため結核患者が多く、病

は私を洋品店に連れて行って暖かい下着を買いま 院や療養所に多くの結核患者が収容されていまし

した。 た。小千谷の郊外には国立療養所があり、300人

最初は日本語の勉強が私の一番の必須の仕 以上の患者が入院されていた。他の市内にある普

事でした。そこで、標準日本語を教えてくれる若 通の病院も患者の3分の2は結核患者でした。実際

い一人の女性を雇いました。私はバンクーバー には、入院費が払えないため入院できない患者が

とオーシャン・フォールズにて8年間日本学校に 自宅で家族に看護を受けている状態の人々もかな

通い、300以上の漢字を習いました。ところが、 りいました。

Three Hills(高校と聖書学園)で過ごした6年間の 宣教師として私は日本の皆様にイエスの十

間、日本語は全く使わず、日本人と接しませんで 字架での死によるすべての人々への愛を伝えるた

したため、日本語をずいぶん忘れてしまってまし めに来ていました。イエスは罪を赦して私たちに

た。にも拘らず、日本語の聖書を読みはじめると 永遠の生命を与えて下さる喜びと希望を伝えるた

漢字が読めるのでびっくりしました。そして、漢 めだと。療養所に毎週訪れているうちに服部さん

字を書き始めた時、筆順を忘れていなった自分を に会いました。服部さんは当時35歳くらいで、す



34

ベルを高校レベルにしました。聖書を教える事は

多面的で言語的には旧約聖書のヘブライ語、新約

聖書のギリシャ語を学び、歴史的背景を学ぶため

に、旧約聖書の為には古代史を身につけ、新約聖

書の為にギリシャとローマの歴史を知る必要があ

ります。聖書学園で教えた30年間のうちに旧約

通論、モーゼの5書、預言書、教会史、共観福音

書、ローマ書、黙示録などを教えました。

柏崎聖書学院は小さな学院ですが、そこの

卒業生が新潟県、富山県や日本各地の牧師にな

り、海外の牧師(ブラジル)や宣教師になっている

のを見るととても満足です。私も学院で教える

1995年に新築された巻教会. (1995年) 他、創世記や黙示録のコースを各教会グループに

でに数年間結核をわずらっておられ、生きる望み 日曜日の午後や金曜の夜に教えに出かけました。

を失っておられました。その上に、3歳の長男も 高田教会のある女性は創世記の学びをとても喜ん

結核性脳膜炎をわずらっていました。ところが、 で、すぐに自分の友人を集めて学んだものを彼ら

服部さんはイエス・キリストを救い主として受け に教えてもいました。

入れられ、神から平和と希望が与えられたので 1966年から1970年まで私は聖書学院から柏

す。彼の息子は別の病院に入院していて、母親が 崎市に引越し、突然柏崎教会の婦人牧師が結婚す

そこで息子の面倒を見ていたのですが、服部さん るために石川県に去っていったので、その代わり

がクリスチャンになってから息子と妻と一緒に小 に牧会を頼まれました。彼女は土曜日の午後、高

さな病院の部屋に住むようになりました。彼の願 校生会を始めていたので、そのクラスを引き継ぎ

いは妻もイエスを信じる事でした。1月に彼の病 ました。私はこの年齢層が大好きで1年のうちに

気は悪化し、奥さんもストレスから病気になりま 5，6人が25～30人の出席まで増えた。先ず、英語

した。教会に来ておられた松坂としさんが助けに を教え、その後に聖書を共に学ぶスケジュールで

来られ、子供たちの世話を病気の親に代わってす したが、そのうちにある高校生は英語に興味はな

ることになりました。そのすぐ後に、奥さんもイ く、英語の学びが終わるのを待って、聖書の学び

エスを救主として受け入れ、彼女の病気が癒され だけを勉強しました。その後ついに、英語クラス

ました。けれども3月になって服部氏は急に亡く をやめて、聖書だけの学びになりました。出席者

なられ、小千谷教会の始めてのお葬式を執り行い は増え続け、これらの高校生はクリスチャンにな

ました。奥さんは神に支えられ絶え間ない笑顔が って日本のいたる所に散らばっています。

印象に残っております。長男は6歳で亡くなり、 もうひとつの特筆すべきことは、教会養設

母親も数年後小さな次男を残して亡くなられまし （Church Planting)の仕事に1976年から1985年に携

た。 わったことです。キリスト教会のない巻町(新潟市

小千谷に1年弱住んでいた所、新しく建っ の約20マイル南で人口27,000人)に導かれ、柏崎聖

た柏崎聖書学院に移るように命令されました。そ Continued on page 36

の学院の女子寮の一室に住んで聖書と歴史を教え

ました。この聖書学院は日本海沿いの丘の上に建

てられ、日本海が展望でき、すぐ裏は森でした。

とても素敵な景色に囲まれていた。柏崎聖書学院

は小さな学院で学生数が平均6人から12人で、私

は教えているうちに自分の神からの贈物は教える

事であると発見したのです。もう一つ自覚したの

は、充分に教えるためにはもっと勉強する必要が

あるという事でした。

その勉強のために4年間費やしました。ア

メリカのイリノイ州のWheaton Collegeで2年間

(1965～67年)学んで歴史学科のBAの学位を取り、

そして1970～72年にイギリスのロンドン・バイブ 内田家の宣教師

ル・カレッジで神学の学位を会得しました。更に 前列：左から内田晃と久子、池ノ上幸江と岩雄

新潟高校の国語の通信教育で現国1,2,3、古文と漢 後列：左から郁恵、真理子(田住)と愛子

文の5つのコースを修了して、自分の日本語のレ (1961年の写真 )



35

書学院の卒業生であり巻町の高校を卒業した古沢 終わりに申し上げますが、新潟県で働いて

雪江師と共に巻町の伝道をゼロから始めました。 いたThe Evangelical Alliance Missionチームの外人

古沢先生と二人で各家にトラクトを配りました 宣教師は皆退職して、新潟県の教会は日本人の牧

が、人々の態度は丁重でしたが、キリスト教を外 師に任されています。そして柏崎聖書学院も完全

国の宗教とみなし、集会になかなか人が来ません に日本人の教職によって運営され、その卒業生は

でした。 日本全国に、そしてブラジル、カリフォルニアに

古い家を掃除して集会を始め、高校生が て奉仕しています。日本人の教職者達と教会は学

4.5人、そして巻町に住んでいたクリスチャンで、 院ばかりでなく、バイブル・キャンプ、テレビ、

それまで新潟市の教会に行っていた方々が私たち ラジオ伝道等を意欲的に継続しております。

の集会に来ました。特別な伝道集会を持ち、一人 行きたくなかった日本に神が後押しして遣

の男子高校生が救われ、集会に忠実に来るように わされたことを感謝いたしております。

なりました。数年のうち15人位の会衆になり、私 なお追伸として申し上げたいのは、私の

が巻町に来て9年後の1984年に巻教会は土地と建 3人の妹たち、池之上幸江、田住真理子とAnne

物を買入し、その家を集会場に改造しました。 McVetyと一人の弟、晃も皆、同じアルバータ州の

1984年バイブル・キャンプで救われて、カ 聖書学院で学び、それぞれ宣教師になりました。

ナダの聖書学院で学んでいた佐藤浩昭氏が夏の訓 4人は日本へ、妹Anneはブラジルの日系人伝道

練を巻でしたいと祈願したので来て頂き、その翌 に。

年彼は学院を卒業して巻教会の牧師に就任いたし 尚、父はいつまでも共産主義にとどまら

ました。私は喜んで彼に教会を譲りました。彼は ず、私が日本に行った頃、1952年に自分で聖書を

柏崎聖書学院の卒業生であり、巻の近くの町出身 読んでイエスを救主として受け入れました。母は

の女性と結婚し、今は4人の男の子の父親です。 その後15年もたってクリスチャンになりました。

10年後の1995年には彼らはもっと広い土地を購入 ❁

して、大きな教会堂を建てました。

The list of new and renewing members of the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre from May 1,

2006 to July 31, 2006.

Mr. Yoshi Arima & Ms. Debora Mrs. Kanaye K. Kagetsu Mrs. Kassie Nakamura Dr. & Mrs. George & Kuni

Burke Mr. & Mrs. Roger & Joyce Ms. Seiko Nakazawa Sugiyama

Mrs. Yoko Banks Kamikura Mr. & Mrs. Takashi & Keiko Mr. Ed Suguro

Mrs. Martha Banno Mr. & Mrs. Yosh & Gail Negoro Mrs. Kay Tagami

Mr. & Mrs. Katsuji & Kunikok Kariatsumari Ms. Sakuya Nishimura Mr. & Mrs. Tom & Avalon Tagami

Chiba Miss. Dottie Karr Mr. George Obara Mr. Seigo Takagawa

LA Dinsmore Ms. Tomoko kato Ms. Michiko Obara Mr. & Mrs. Mikio & Aiko Takeda

Mr. & Mrs. John & Karol Dubitz Mr. Masaaki Kawabata Mr. & Mrs. Yoshio & Kazuko Mr. Tatsuya Takeda

Kyoko Endo Mr. Masanobu Kawahira Ogura Mrs. Tamie Takeshita

Mr. Randy Enomoto & Ms. Lynn Mr. & Mrs. Richard & Keiko Mrs. Mary Ohara Ms. Harumi Tamoto

Westwood Kazuta Ms. Naoko Ohkohchi Mr. & Mrs. Kinzie & Terry Tanaka

Mr. & Mrs. Ken Ezaki Mr. Kaye Kishibe Mr. & Mrs. Takafumi & Naomi Mr. & Mrs. Shoji & Fusako Tanami

Rev errand & Mrs. Ohrai & Minako Mr. & Mrs. John & Jean Kitagawa Ohno Ms. Sian Tasaka

Fujikawa Mr. Koichi Kitagawa Mr. & Mrs. George & Gene Oikawa Mr. & Mrs. Tom & Margaret Taylor

Mrs. Kyomi Fujisawa Mr. & Mrs. Jim & Michiko Kojima Mrs. Joyce Oikawa Mrs. Marie Teraguchi

Mrs. Kay Fujishima Mr. & Mrs. Albert Kokuryo Mrs. Marge Oike Mr. & Mrs. Nobuya & Kazue

Aurthur Gorai Ms. Christine Kondo Mr. Kenji Okuda Tsurusaki

Mr. & Mrs. Bill & Lynn Green Mr. Tom Kuwahara Mr. Herbert Ono & Ms. Tara Mrs. Irene Tsuyuki

Mr. & Mrs. Shoji & Fumi Mr. Thomas Madokoro O’Connor Ms. Ikuye Uchida

Hamagami Ms. Wilhelmina Martin Mr. & Mrs. Akira & Mikiko Oye Vancouver Japanese Gardeners

Mr. Yoshiharu Hashimoto Mr. David Masuhara & Ms. Beverly Mrs. Linda Reid Association

Mr. & Mrs. Mickey & Betty West Ms. Marilyn Robb Mrs. Yoshiko Wakabayashi

Hayashi Mr. & Mrs. Seishi & Kisako Mr. & Mrs. Yoshiyuki & Masako Mrs. Pearl Williams

Mrs. Susan Hidaka Matsuno Sakaue Tamiko Williams

Mr. & Mrs. T. Hirai Ms. Yuki Matsuno Mr. & Mrs. Tats & Kim Sakauye Miss Sheena Wilson

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Hirose Mr. & Mrs. Mitsuyoshi & Lily Mrs. Virginia Sato Mrs. Hisako Yamamoto

Mr. & Mrs. Ted & Nancy Hirota Matsushita Mary Seko Ms. Norine K.Yamamoto

Mr. & Mrs. Mikio & Midori Hori Ms. Judy Maxwell Mr. & Mrs. Tommy & Mitsuye Mr. & Mrs. Steve & Dorothy

Mr. & Mrs. Mitsuru & Jean Hori Mr. & Mrs. Hiroshi & Kay Shimizu Yamamoto

Mr. Yoshio Hyodo Minemoto Mr. Sam Shinde Kimi Yano

Mr. Seikichi Inaba Mr. Akira Mori Mr. & Mrs. Wataru & Barbara Mr. & Mrs. Mas. & Kaori Yano

Mr. & Mrs. Yusuke & Atsushi Mr. & Mrs. Masanao & Shoko Shishido Mr. Mitsuo Yesaki

Inagaki Morimura Miss Miriam Smith Terry Yoshikawa & Kazu Nishi

Mr. & Mrs. Charles & Lillian Lillian Morishita Mr. & Mrs. Roy & Tsuyako Mr. & Mrs. Kenji & Joan Yurugi

Kadota NAJC Kamloops Chapter Sokugawa

Ms. Naoko Kadota Ms. Fumie Nakagawa Mr. & Mrs. Harold & Kathy Steves







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