Archive for September, 2010

  • On July 31, the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre in New Denver, BC, was officially given National Historic Site status, a process that was several years in the making. A public...

    Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre Receives National Historic Site Status

    Posted on September 3, 2010 | No Comments
    On July 31, the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre in New Denver, BC, was officially given National Historic Site status, a process that was several years in the making. A public...

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  • “Many people set age 30 as a kind of time limit by when they want to acquire a skill and find a job,” said a can-do type from Osaka who worked as an office data processor to save money and came to Canada. Finding a “partner for life” by age 30 if possible, would be a reasonably natural objective for a woman—or a man. But such a crucial encounter, alas, cannot be planned the way acquiring English and other skills and finding a job can be. But at the very least, the pro-active drive with which these members of the once-upon-a- time “weaker sex” pursue their various possibilities deserves respect.

    More Young Females Leaving Japan For Konkatsu (Marriage Partner Seeking Activities) Abroad

    Posted on September 3, 2010 | 1 Comment
    “Many people set age 30 as a kind of time limit by when they want to acquire a skill and find a job,” said a can-do type from Osaka who worked as an office data processor to save money and came to Canada. Finding a “partner for life” by age 30 if possible, would be a reasonably natural objective for a woman—or a man. But such a crucial encounter, alas, cannot be planned the way acquiring English and other skills and finding a job can be. But at the very least, the pro-active drive with which these members of the once-upon-a- time “weaker sex” pursue their various possibilities deserves respect.

    Continue Reading...

  • According to Wikipedia, residents of Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands consume the most SPAM per capita in the United States. SPAM was introduced into these areas, as well as other islands in the Pacific such as Okinawa and the Philippines, during the US military occupation during World War Two. Since fresh meat was difficult to get to the soldiers on the front, World War II saw the largest use of SPAM. GIs started eating it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Surpluses of SPAM from the soldiers' supplies made their way into native diets. Consequently, SPAM is a unique part of the history and effects of US influence in the Pacific.

    SPAM Sushi at the Powell Street Festival

    Posted on September 3, 2010 | 2 Comments
    According to Wikipedia, residents of Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands consume the most SPAM per capita in the United States. SPAM was introduced into these areas, as well as other islands in the Pacific such as Okinawa and the Philippines, during the US military occupation during World War Two. Since fresh meat was difficult to get to the soldiers on the front, World War II saw the largest use of SPAM. GIs started eating it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Surpluses of SPAM from the soldiers' supplies made their way into native diets. Consequently, SPAM is a unique part of the history and effects of US influence in the Pacific.

    Continue Reading...

  • Last month we attended a funeral service for Mrs. Masa Kitagawa (103 years old), a remarkable lady. She used to go for a daily walk into her mid-nineties and she looked 80. She was fairly alert for her age and not very wrinkled. Amazing! She was the oldest person that I ever knew. She spent her last four years at Rosewood Manor and since it is fairly close to our home, I was able to visit with her frequently and she was always so grateful!

    Community Kitchen

    Posted on September 3, 2010 | No Comments
    Last month we attended a funeral service for Mrs. Masa Kitagawa (103 years old), a remarkable lady. She used to go for a daily walk into her mid-nineties and she looked 80. She was fairly alert for her age and not very wrinkled. Amazing! She was the oldest person that I ever knew. She spent her last four years at Rosewood Manor and since it is fairly close to our home, I was able to visit with her frequently and she was always so grateful!

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  • Japanese people who eat salmon are healthiest and live longest according to an American researcher, Dr. David Williams, who tracks the world for latest studies in health and medical matters....

    Japonica – fish: healthy eating

    Posted on September 3, 2010 | No Comments
    Japanese people who eat salmon are healthiest and live longest according to an American researcher, Dr. David Williams, who tracks the world for latest studies in health and medical matters....

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  • Hi everyone! The Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association would like to extend congratulations to the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre on its 10th Anniversary. The National Nikkei Heritage...

    President’s Message

    Posted on September 3, 2010 | No Comments
    Hi everyone! The Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association would like to extend congratulations to the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre on its 10th Anniversary. The National Nikkei Heritage...

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  • Over the spring and summer of 2010, information about the Hastings Park/PNE Master Plan has been presented at public consultation and information-sharing events within the City of Vancouver. A final...

    Hastings Park/PNE Master Plan

    Posted on September 3, 2010 | 1 Comment
    Over the spring and summer of 2010, information about the Hastings Park/PNE Master Plan has been presented at public consultation and information-sharing events within the City of Vancouver. A final...

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  • In the 2007 book, Nikkei Fishermen on the BC Coast, Their Biographies and Photographs (Harbour Publishing), over 3600 Nikkei fishermen are listed, going back to the late 1800s. How many women are on that list? Exactly one. There are admittedly, more women involved in recreational fishing, but they are still vastly outnumbered by the men. Happily, my wife Amy is one of those exceptions to the rule. She grew up in a family of recreational fishermen and can not only catch fish with the best of them, she can clean and filet them with a surgeon’s precision, all good qualities in a mate, as far as I’m concerned.

    Go Fish

    Posted on September 3, 2010 | No Comments
    In the 2007 book, Nikkei Fishermen on the BC Coast, Their Biographies and Photographs (Harbour Publishing), over 3600 Nikkei fishermen are listed, going back to the late 1800s. How many women are on that list? Exactly one. There are admittedly, more women involved in recreational fishing, but they are still vastly outnumbered by the men. Happily, my wife Amy is one of those exceptions to the rule. She grew up in a family of recreational fishermen and can not only catch fish with the best of them, she can clean and filet them with a surgeon’s precision, all good qualities in a mate, as far as I’m concerned.

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  • We figured, if they were going to be going to a preschool for a couple years before they started kindergarten, then why not get some language benefit out of it. I wouldn’t have been unhappy if they took Mandarin even. It’s not like it’s an effort for the kids. I know that I got a real economic boost in my life from having a second language. While I was going to UBC, I worked as a bellman at the Waterfront Centre Hotel. I would have never got that job if I didn’t speak the basic Japanese I did at the time—there were just too many other nice, personable guys out there. It was a great job and I’d never have got it if I didn’t have that language component.

    Justin & Lea Ault . . . eat, play, live: raising a family @ the interracial divide

    Posted on September 3, 2010 | No Comments
    We figured, if they were going to be going to a preschool for a couple years before they started kindergarten, then why not get some language benefit out of it. I wouldn’t have been unhappy if they took Mandarin even. It’s not like it’s an effort for the kids. I know that I got a real economic boost in my life from having a second language. While I was going to UBC, I worked as a bellman at the Waterfront Centre Hotel. I would have never got that job if I didn’t speak the basic Japanese I did at the time—there were just too many other nice, personable guys out there. It was a great job and I’d never have got it if I didn’t have that language component.

    Continue Reading...