March 11 marks the 1 year anniversary of the fifth largest earthquake to have ever been recorded and the effects of the event are still felt today. About 40 miles off the northeast coast of Japan, the 9.0 magnitude quake wreaked carnage to the islands of Japan, triggering a devastating tsunami with waves as high as 30 feet. The crushing waves crippled the Fukushima nuclear power plant and forced the nuclear reactors to meltdown. The Fukushima disaster caused the surrounding land, air, and water to be contaminated and forced people out of their home permanently. Efforts to contain the radiation are still ongoing.

The tsunami put over 300,000 people out of homes and 20,000 people were either killed or are considered still missing. Entire towns were covered with nothing but debris and 90 percent of the population in the area was forced to flee to safety.

But Japan is resilient. The country of Japan and its people are determined to restore Japan to its original state. The government has spent billions of dollars and the people of Japan have spent countless hours restoring their devastated lands to what it once was. Workers are currently decontaminating the homes of those who were forced to evacuate by scraping the top two inches of the soil in the area. Towns that were once reduced to just rubble are now being repopulated with buildings and infrastructure at an amazing pace. No matter how long it takes, the Japanese are committed to making their lands flourish once more.

OnlineSchools.org presents Japan One Year Later

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The Nekaa Room: Dark Matter is a new production by Sachiyo Takahashi as part of her ongoing Microscopic Live Cinema-Theatre series.

The work examines the culture of kawaii (“cuteness”), which is rooted in contemporary Japanese society but has been expanding internationally.

Through her microscopic view—using miniature figurines and props made of found objects on a table, projected with camera and effects—Takahashi explores an alternate side to the world of kawaii.
Born in Japan, Sachiyo Takahashi is an artist who explores human nature and forgotten emotion. Combining ?ne-tuned sound and fable-like abstract narratives, Takahashi leads the audience through a journey that transcends ordinary imagination. She does not narrate, but tells her story through tiny subtitles and the interaction of the figures.

Takahashi studied theatre direction under Jan Fabre, and electroacoustic music under Annette Vande Gorne in Belgium. Her works have been presented internationally, including the Advancing Performing Arts Project in the EU, the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space and the International Symposium on Electronic Art in Japan. She was a recipient of the Pola Art Foundation grant in 2003. She came to Vancouver as an opportunity to experience North American culture.

The Nekaa Room: Dark Matter premiered in October 2011 and has been reworked through a residency with Vancouver’s Boca del Lupo. It runs as part of Boca del Lupo’s Micro Performance Series (January to May).
Nekaa is the name of an imaginary girl inspired by the work of Japanese children’s book author Taruhi Furuta. She is curious, and observes daily things and explores the other world through her observation, much like a Japanese Alice in Wonderland.

This is known as the ‘era of kawaii’ Takahashi said, unlike earlier concepts of beauty, though a value placed on smallness is not new to Japanese culture; for instance, bonsai and other objects are valued for their smallness. Particularly among young people the word kawaii is overused, notes Takahashi, but she uses it to explore what is underneath.

The Nekaa Room: Dark Matter runs March 7 – 10, four shows each night, at 7pm, 7:45pm, 8:30pm, 9:15pm each night, at The Anderson Street Space: 1405 Anderson St, Granville Island. Tickets $10. More info at www.bocadellupo.com.

W2 Media Cafe (111 West Hastings) presents the World Television Premiere of Stolen Memories on March 4th at 7:30 pm. There will be a special presentation with guest speakers talking about the film’s significance and impact on the Japanese Canadian community. The filmmakers will be present, including writer/producer/director Kagan Goh and producer Imtiaz Popat who will be doing a Q & A. Kagan Goh will be presenting a new photo album to the Kamitakahara family (the owners of the lost photo album) as a symbolic gesture of a new beginning for a new generation. Food and refreshments will be served. Admission is by donation.

STOLEN MEMORIES is a detective story about filmmaker Kagan Goh’s personal quest to return a photo album that was lost by a Japanese Canadian family during the Japanese internment. Kagan, aided by Mary Seki, his 70-year old detective sidekick, embarked upon a quest to find the rightful owners, find out what happened to them and return their lost photo album to them. Documenting the search as well as redressing the wrongs of the past is a symbolic “homecoming” a coming home in terms of returning to a place of self-acceptance, belonging, wholeness and healing.

STOLEN MEMORIES reflects deeply rooted issues of prejudice which have affected the Japanese Canadian community throughout the last one hundred years, experienced not just by the family but by the Japanese Canadians who helped in the quest to return the “stolen” photo album. The extraordinary story is a microcosm within the macrocosm of the Japanese Canadian legacy.
“It’s a very effective way of touching on an important common feature of the internment— loss of much family material due to forced relocation. The personal touch seems a good idea too, as many such documentaries have been a bit distant from the victims”  Stan Fukawa, past president of the Japanese Canadian National Museum.

Hastings Park committee members had a tour and meeting at Hastings Park on February 23, 2012. We determined the Internment plaque relocation site, further reviewed signage for detention sites and toured the Livestock barn. Gerry Borden of Parks Canada and Dave Hutch, Hastings Park planner joined us.

With Gerry Borden’s support, our group concluded the Internment plaque should be moved to the top wall area before the garden. All those entering the park from Hastings and Renfrew will pass by this area. We are recommending moving the Momiji Garden plaque where it is prominently displayed on the boulder to the left of the stone wall and replacing it with the Internment plaque. The Momiji Garden plaque can be mounted on the wall’s left side and will match a garden benefactor’s plaque already situated on the right side. The Internment plaque will then be clearly featured apart from the garden, and symbolically closer to all the detention buildings – a more prominent, meaningful and significant location.

Costs for all aspects of the relocation are being calculated as part of making final consideration for the plaque relocation. We will be requesting a meeting with the PNE board, City Council and Hastings Park Steering Committee to seek their endorsement for relocating the Internment plaque. The plaque has been cleaned by the City but it is in need of total refurbishing. Parks Canada will refurbish but cannot relocate and remount the plaque. We will seek support in kind from the City and PNE but will also need to fundraise to cover costs for the relocation. We may also need to request assistance from the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association to re-landscape the plaque area in Momiji Garden once the plaque is removed.

Regarding the interpretive signage for the detention buildings, Planner Dave Hutch said the sign template is almost complete so we will be able to develop the detention story and accompanying graphics for each building to fit accordingly. We are supported by Hastings Park Redevelopment funding for signage for 1 building but must raise funds to complete signage for the 3 other detention buildings. We will seek funding support from the PNE and City but apply for grant funding as well. We would like to complete the plaque relocation and signage project within this year as it is the 70th anniversary since the Internment.

“These individuals have made a real and lasting difference with their service and dedication to our nation’s truest heroes,” said Minister Blaney. “On behalf of all Canadians, I am proud to acknowledge their extraordinary efforts in helping to provide the care and recognition our Veterans and their families deserve. Today we recognize their hard work and selfless commitment.”

Roy Kawamoto Kelowna, British Columbia
Mr. Kawamoto served in the Canadian Forces from 1951 to 1986. During the 1980s, he travelled from Ottawa to Vancouver where he created a military display at the Seaforth Armoury during Veterans’ Week. He also participated in Remembrance Day ceremonies at Stanley Park. Mr. Kawamoto was instrumental in contacting Japanese Canadians to form the Japanese Canadian War Memorial Committee. Their first task was to raise money to refurbish the cenotaph. This was successful, as well as efforts to affix a new plaque displaying the names of 52 additional First World War Veterans who died during that war. Attendance at the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies has increased from approximately 70 attendees to 300. Mr. Kawamoto has been the Co Chair and Master of Ceremonies at the Stanley Park Remembrance Day ceremony since 1982. Although he now resides in Kelowna, British Columbia, Mr. Kawamoto is well known in the Vancouver area for his volunteerism. Over the years, he has set up a display of photos and military artefacts and has memorialized 222 Japanese soldiers who served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

The Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation includes a bar, which can be worn below official decorations on a Veteran’s blazer, as well as a lapel pin for civilian wear and a certificate.
The Commendation is presented to individuals who have contributed to the care and well-being of Veterans and to the remembrance of their contributions, sacrifices and achievements. It is intended primarily for Veterans, but in some circumstances may also be awarded to non-Veterans. Nominations may be submitted at any time and are reviewed annually by an advisory committee.

Upon reflecting, as the first anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake/tsunami approaches, we find that we had during the year witnessed a stricken Japan, an incredible global humanitarian response, and a nation taking its first steps to recovery.  While mainstream media interest has waned, at least for the time being, those of us who continue to follow the events in Japan, of physical infrastructures slowly being rebuilt, and of communities recovering through neighbours assisting neighbours, we are moved and affected by the stories of difficult recovery.  The sheer devotion between fellow citizens are inspiring, uplifting, and heart warming.

The BC Japan Earthquake Relief Fund (BC-JERF) will be holding a first anniversary benefit concert on Sunday, March 11th at Nikkei Place from 3pm to 5pm.  The concert is titled In Friendship, The Sun Will Always Rise, reflecting the spirit of the Japanese, who continue to overcome the current desperate situations, and the hope and dedication of communities around the world in this process.  While the program is currently still being finalized, we expect the concert to feature outstanding performers.  Raffle draw, silent auction, and a photo exhibit are planned to supplement the fundraising effort.

BC-JERF was first organized on March 12th, 2011 when concerned citizens gathered at Tonari Gumi to take action to help those devastated by the unfolding disaster. From this meeting, a community group was created spearheading several fundraisers, including the Japan Love box donation campaign, community arts and musical events, silent art auction, raffle draw, culminating in a benefit concert at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.   All proceeds were directed to the Canadian Red Cross and Japanese Red Cross.

Through its ad hoc office generously provided by Tonari Gumi, BC-JERF was able to help relay information and support and to co-promote dozens of other fundraising efforts held throughout Metro Vancouver and in other municipalities in British Columbia.

Please visit our website (bc-jerf.ca) as we will be releasing information, such as updates on the concert performers, raffle and silent auction prizes, and more, as the concert date approaches.  If you wish to contact us to offer any support, please email bcjerf@gmail.com, or call Chair, Joji Kumagai, at 778.688.9195. We look forward to seeing you on March 11th.

“. . . I have bought the Capilano flume which runs from about a couple of miles north of the Dam down to the First Narrows together with some timber up the Capilano. I have also bought a little mill and am leasing it to some Japanese, who are going to cut timber on their own property up the Capilano and pay me $2.00 per thousand for the use of sawmill and flume . . .”
from a letter by Edward Mahon, May 4th, 1908

A project to humanize the Japanese Canadian carpenters who built the original Teahouse and a log cabin in Capilano Canyon is asking the community for help.

In 1911, Edward Mahon contracted some skilled carpenters to build these log structures with tongue and groove technology, something that Japanese boat builders and carpenters could do. The 1911 census lists six carpenters living in Capilano as: Watanabe, Yamamoto and Tahara and since the enumerator had trouble with transcribing the names, the others are listed as Mr. & Mrs. Naghi, Yananicho and Kerfuda.  This is an opportunity to recognize those carpenters as the loghouse has historical designation and the project will be going viral in March. So if anyone can help identify these carpenters or has any information about the Capilano loggers or contractors, please contact Linda Kawamoto Reid at the museum 604 777-7000 X 111.

Saturday, February 25th, 2012    3:30 PM
Tonari Gumi, 511 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC

The Greater Vancouver JCCA (GVJCCA) Board of Directors would like to invite all its members to approve the sale of its 511 East Broadway property in order to collaborate with Tonari Gumi on the purchase of a larger building located at 42 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC.

This anticipated joint project will not merge the two organizations but will positively support their respective mandates. This opportunity will provide a unique way for our two community organizations to work together to improve services by providing  much needed additional  space to meet both the current and future needs of the Japanese Canadian community. Benefits will include expanded programming for our seniors, additional services for new immigrants and added facilities for our Japanese Canadian families and youth. As well as providing social support, these services encourage the education of Japanese Canadian history, arts and culture. The Greater Vancouver JCCA also continues to provide services guided by our constitutional democratic and human rights principles.

We welcome any questions in regards to this collaborative project. Please feel free to call the GVJCCA office at 604.777.5222 or email us at gvjcca@shaw.ca. We look forward to your attendance at this special general meeting at 3:30 pm, Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 511 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC.

Help us find these people!

The planning for 2012 convocation (planned for the last week of May – date to be confirmed) is proceeding very fast. Several committees have been formed to take care of the different aspects of the event. Each committee is led by competent and enthusiastic individuals who will make this special convocation a memorable one.  The one challenge for us is in trying to find all of the students who were registered during the winter session of 1941-1942. So far Tosh and Christopher Eaton, Associate Registrar of UBC have found 80 students or their relatives; twenty of whom are still alive. Please look at this list to see if you know any of the students. If you do, please contact Tosh Kitagawa at malaka2@telus.net or by phone 604-943-3195. Your help is greatly appreciated. Note that a designated family member can accept the degree on behalf of the recipient if they are deceased or unable to attend in person.

Hirabayashi Family, Christmas 1948

My parents, Gordon and Esther Hirabayashi, were remarkable folks. My mother’s father, Floyd Schmoe, was a charismatic individual, a renaissance man who was a lifetime pacifist, author, sculptor, mountain guide and park naturalist on Mt. Rainier, marine biologist, and forest ecologist. He built houses for refugees in France for 14 months during World War I. He built houses in Hiroshima for four years after World War II and was later made an honorary citizen of the city. He built houses for three years in Korea after the Korean War. He was nominated three time for the Nobel Peace Prize. At the outbreak of World War II he was involved in helping Japanese Americans deal with the relocation orders to concentration camps. My father was a student at the University of Washington at the time and, drawn by the charisma of my grandfather, became a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). My father’s resistance to the curfew and relocation orders and his subsequent court battles all the way to the United States Supreme Court are well-documented and required reading in law history classes in the United States as one of the few cases where the U.S. Constitution failed to protect its citizens. I think, perhaps, that my mother saw a bit of her father in my father. She married him at the age of twenty—he was twenty-four—while he was out on bail awaiting his next trial date. My twin sisters, Sharon and Marion, were born while he was serving a one year prison sentence in McNeil Island Federal Penitentiary for refusing to fill out a draft questionnaire that was specific to Japanese Americans. I was born a year and a half later. After serving almost two years in prison, my father returned to his university studies, got his Ph. D. in sociology and in 1951, got his first university professorship at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon. We lived there for three and a half years, returned to Seattle for a few months, and then left for Cairo, Egypt for four years where my father taught at the American University at Cairo. In 1959, we moved to Edmonton where my father became the Chair of the Department of Sociology in 1963. My mother taught at Bonny Doon High School and later became a guidance counsellor at Alberta College. I left home at seventeen so I’m not sure what happened to my parent’s relationship. I think the pressures of being Department Head likely contributed, and perhaps, my mother just married too young. My father resigned as Department Chair in 1970 around the time of their divorce.

I remember my father as a patient, quiet, hard-working man who loved following sports. He was a pacifist, like my grandfather, so punishments for my not infrequent transgressions were met not with physical punishment, but with long, and I mean long—three to four hour—lectures. I would start off being sullen and angry and end up being totally ashamed and grateful by the end, that the lecture was over. My mother was an attractive, outgoing, social, and intellectually sharp person right up to the end of her life. Growing up, it seemed that we always had guests that my mother would invite for dinner. Sometimes they would be sailors from the U.S. Navy or circus performers that she had somehow met. My mother loved to dance so it is likely because of her that I later became a dancer. My father always expected that I would be a university professor. All three of his brothers taught at universities. He was initially disappointed in me when I quit university after one year, but later supported my next quest to become a downhill ski racer. My first wife Alix and I lived with him from 1971 to 1973 when I went back to university. She remembers his natural skill of talking to people and his genuine interest in listening to them. She also remembers his long answers to questions that covered every possible explanation to the point where you sometimes would forget the original question except that he never did and he would always tie everything up at the end.

Although my parents were divorced for over forty years and rarely crossed each other’s paths, they both chose to leave us on the same day. My mother died in hospital ten hours after my father died at his care home for Alzheimer’s patients just one block away. Although I am now almost sixty-five, I feels as though I have been orphaned. We take our parents for granted until they are gone and then we realize how rich our lives are because of their care and love for us. I will miss them for the rest of my life.

Jay Hirabayashi