When I saw an article in the newspaper—Naoko Takahashi wins women’s marathon after drinking an extract distilled from giant killer hornets at the Sydney Olympics—long after Naoko had won at Sydney, I was struck by the imagery that it conjured up, unforgettable, and I immediately thought of the raspy, buzzing sound of bagpipes as a representative, or stand-in for hornets and taiko for pounding of feet on pavement.

Two Great Traditions. One Great Story.
This May, Vancouver audiences will be treated to a unique double bill as City Opera Vancouver presents the immortal story Sumidagawa, from the 15th Century, together with its 20th Century twin, Curlew River, a Canadian first.
“We are building great bridges,” said City Opera artistic director Dr Charles Barber. “We are bridging five centuries and two cultures in one narrative. We tell the story of a woman driven mad by the loss of her child. It is agonizing and beautiful.”
Sumidagawa will be told by the Toronto …

When Yayoi Hirano arrived in Vancouver in 1992 on a performance tour she was billeted with Roy Kiyooka, an Order of Canada recipient with a long and storied career as an artist and teacher. She spent two weeks living in his Strathcona duplex and was introduced to many of his friends and acquaintances including Kokoro Dance’s Jay Hirabayashi. Remembers Hirano, “The organizer of the festival said, ‘You are so lucky to stay with him. He is a one of the greatest Japanese Canadian artists in Vancouver.’ But for me, coming …

I hope you are ready to welcome our many visitors for this once-in-a-lifetime event. I was here in Vancouver for Expo 67 (86?) and although I was working much of the time, I did enjoy many of the activities and events when I had a chance. Although there are many issues associated with the Olympics here in Vancouver, I mainly support the many amateur athletes and their support staff who will have dedicated many long hours in order to represent their countries in their chosen sport (or sports!). It is amazing how much money and time is required in order for the athletes to be able to reach this level but also sad for the many who either just missed or are not ready to achieve success.

If the younger generations—the yonsei and the gosei—are the future of the Nikkei community, the seniors are the foundation up which the community is built. The Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association’s annual Keirokai, held at the beginning of each year, is one way of paying tribute to our seniors. On Saturday, January 9, almost 200 seniors over the age of 70, along with a large contingent of volunteers, gathered in the Special Events Hall at the Nikkei Centre for a deluxe bento lunch and a variety of entertainment. Entertainers …

So we are finally about to see the 2010 Winter Olympic Games go into action at venues around Vancouver and Whistler. For Canada, it’s the second winter games she’s hosted since Calgary ’88, while Japan has already hosted two winter games, Sapporo ’72 and Nagano ’98. In the usual scenario when the Olympics are held in Japan, the officials, spectators, local citizenry and the media come together in a spirit of “let’s show Japan’s best face to the folks from around the world,” the competition between athletes turns out to …

In October, 2008, I travelled to Japan with my son Derek. It was on our last night in Tokyo, at my older sister Atsuko’s home, that the subject of Takaharu’s death came up. I wondered aloud if the military training that Takaharu underwent in the Japanese Army could have changed him. I could tell that Atsuko was very disappointed that such a thought could ever enter my mind. She was dismayed when she learned that our parents had not told us about the circumstances of Takaharu’s death. She said to me “I don’t understand how our parents could be ashamed of Takaharu. He lived an exemplary, honorable life and I am proud to be his relative.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Here we are—2010 is here, with our Winter Olympics right around the corner. Living in Richmond for over 53 years, we are proud to have the beautiful Speed Skating Oval. Excitement is mounting!
January 1st is a important day in Japan. My mother said they celebrated for the first three days. While she was living, she insisted on cleaning the house from top to bottom from a week before and started making yokan and anything else she could start preparing ahead of time.She made konnyyaku too with lye. …