inReview: Vancouver International Film Festival

Soda Kazuhiro usually works without a theme in mind when he shoots, finding his premise only later in the editing room. Hence, he almost rejected a commission from a Korean film festival to shoot a short film about peace and coexistence. Fortunately, he accepted the challenge, and what emerged was not a short but an intriguing and delicate feature. Peace was named after the brand of cigarettes smoked by 91-year-old Hashimoto Shiro, a gentleman who dresses in suit and tie even while dying of lung cancer. He receives compassionate care at home from welfare workers (the director’s in-laws), whose pay is so meager that they’re basically working as volunteers. After work, the director’s father-in-law cares for his five cats and one “thief cat” who steals the others’ food and encroaches on their territory. As the stranger cat gains acceptance among the cat community, war is averted and conflict neatly resolved. The matter of resolving human conflict is more complicated, and Kazuhiro’s enduring images leave a haunting resonance and many questions.
Read MoreinReview: Vancouver International Film Festival

President’s Report

On November 19th at Nikkei Place from 6:30-8PM, the GVJCCA will be holding its Volunteer Appreciation Night to thank its many volunteers, donors, and advertisers. Since we are so reliant on our many volunteers for all our activities including the Powell Street Festival BBQ, Golf Tournament, Human Rights and Nihongo Committee workshops, and of course our dedicated Bulltin/Geppo mailout group, we annually present this special night for them. We hope that you can attend and will enjoy seeing many friends from events throughout the year. If you are planning to attend, please let us know by either emailing gvjcca@shaw.ca or calling 604.777.5222. Hope to see you there!
Read MorePresident’s Report

Do Japanese Tend to Think There’s One Standard English?

After Japan, through her high economic growth period, joined the ranks of advanced nations and after the US and Canadian governments officially apologized and made some compensation in the late 1980s for their suffering in the past, Japanese North Americans have been able to live their lives without worrying too much about prejudice against Japanese culture for some time now. I wonder how many Japanese words still remain in their English, and whether new words have been adopted. There must be many readers who have first-hand knowledge.
Read MoreDo Japanese Tend to Think There’s One Standard English?

Japonica

The leader for the second generation would be the late Tom Shoyama, an economist who worked as deputy minister for Tommy Douglas in the CCF Saskatchewan government and helped to establish universal medicare. He went on to become a deputy minister of finance for finance ministers John Turner, Donald Macdonald and Jean Chretien and was an adviser on fiscal federalism to the late Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau.
Read MoreJaponica

Interview: Greg Masuda

Born in Edmonton and raised in a suburb called Sherwood Park, filmmaker and photographer Greg Masuda had what he calls a very ‘Canadian’ prairie upbringing. “We’d do Canadian things like play hockey and baseball, eat Canadian things like Kraft Dinner, perogies, and steaks. But occasionally some sukiyaki would find its way to the table or my Dad would say something in Japanese that none of us understood, and I’ve known how to use chopsticks since I can remember.
Read MoreInterview: Greg Masuda

President’s Message

On October 18th, the GVJCCA is encouraging community members to come forth and voice their thoughts on the Hastings Park Redevelopment Project. The Hastings Park Redevelopment Project Management team would like input from the Japanese Canadian community on providing some historical, commemorative and cultural content in the Park. The Project Management team recognizes the historical connection for many Japanese Canadians who were placed at Hastings Park temporarily before being relocated elsewhere in BC and Canada during WWII. Suggestions have already been made on possible changes to the entranceway of Momiji Gardens and the Livestock Barn, along the lines of an interpretive centre. This meeting will be held at 6:30 PM at Tonari Gumi, at 511 E Broadway.
Read MorePresident’s Message

Popular Posts

Job Posting: Desktop Publisher