Thanks to Veteran’s Affairs Canada, we are able to live stream the Remembrance Day service this year, and hope to reach more than the usual 500 people that attend in person. It’s a rare opportunity for those across Canada, the USA, Japan and perhaps other Nikkei communities globally to view our precious ceremony.
Since the Centenary Commemoration of our iconic cenotaph on April 9, 2020 was cancelled due to the pandemic, we are grateful that we can combine both events this November 11th. We have pre-recorded an interview by Susan Yatabe, in tribute of her grandfather Saburo Shinobu who’s head you can see standing above the crowd in the Stewart Thompson photo colorized by John Endo Greenaway on the poster page. Saburo Shinobu gave a speech at the dedication 100 years ago.
We also have the Kubota family poised and ready to do media interviews, and Kathy Enros will lay tribute to her grandfather Corporal Sainosuke Kubota who kept the Honour Rolls and Legion Flag in safekeeping after the Internment. In honour of this bit of history, the Vancouver Japanese Language School is displaying the Honour Rolls and hosting a live streaming event limited to 50 people in the Historic Hall.
We also have David Mitsui coming out from Edmonton to lay tribute to probably the most venerated hero of the First World War, Sergeant Masumi Mitsui MM (Military Medal). He, along with Kathy, will speak live from the cenotaph. There are 19 wreath layers this year, and we will have a dedicated taiko performance by John Endo Greenaway and his talented daughter Emiko Newman.
Please tune in at 10:30 sharp on Remembrance Day here: youtu.be/yjo6lWQi2_E
View a video created to honour the cenotaph’s centenary here youtube.com/watch?v=j1VOjeKvHz4&t=7s
For more information, contact Linda Kawamoto Reid, Chair JCWMC | lreid@nikkeiplace.org
