NIKKEI IMAGES

Japanese Canadian National Museum Newsletter ISSN#1203-9017 Summer 2002, Vol. 7, No. 2

A History of the Steveston Judo Club by Jim Kojima

Steveston Judo Club officials and tournament contestants. (Kuramoto family photo, 1938)

Prior to the Second World nese Language School to start the judo in Canada and head of the
War, judo in Steveston was included judo club. Steve Sasaki, the father of Continued on page 2
within the structure of the Steveston Contents
Seinen-kai (Youth Club). The Offic-
A History of the Steveston Judo Club 1
ers of the 1927 Club were President
Pilgrimage to Manzo Nagano’s Grave Site 4
Takeshi Yamamoto and Vice-Presi-
Richmond Tall Ships 2002 6
dent Seichiro Mizuguchi. Tom Doi
New Denver Revisited 7
was the Athletic Group Director of
Nikkei Week 8
the Seinen-kai and also the leader of
University of Victoria Conference 8
the Judo Division.
Toyoaki Takata, 1920-2002 8
A room 30 feet by 40 feet
Angler P.O.W. Camp 101 10
was rented from the Steveston Japa-

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 Announcements Vancouver Taiiku Dojo, was re- truck under a special permit granted
Kampai: Wine Tasting quested to give instructional assis- by the police to attend the various
NNHC tance to this new club. Since proper tournaments in the Lower Mainland.
7:30-9:30 PM, May 24, 2002
tatami (judo mats) were unavailable, They would leave early in the morn-
Salmon Festival the floor was strewn with straw and ing whenever the tournament was in
Steveston
July 1, 2002
then covered with canvas to give the Mission or Haney and arrive back in
judokas (judo students) a safe and Steveston around one o’clock the
Powell Street Festival hard surface to practice on. Since next morning. To participate in a
Aug. 3-4, 2002
there was no central heating, judokas tournament at Chemainus on
University of Victoria Conference had to go to the club one hour prior Vancouver Island, the judo club
Changing Japanese Identities in to practice to fire up the wood stove would rent a seine boat (large fish-
Multicultural Canada
Aug. 22-24, 2002 to heat up the room. On some nights, ing boat).
when it was very cold, the canvas The normal tournament
Unveiling of Japanese Canadian
Fishermen’s Statue in Steveston
would be glittering with frost. These schedule for the day would be a Ko-
Sep. 20, 2002 were the days when volunteers had Haku Shiai (competitors lined up by
to find wood, cut it up and haul it to Grade), Dojo Shiai (team competi-
Nikkei 125 Celebration Dinner
NNHC the Steveston Japanese Language tion), Yudansha Shiai (black belt
Sep. 14, 2002 School. After a hard night’s practice competition) and a Mudansha Shiai
the students and instructors always (under black belt competition). The
Nikkei Week Celebrations
NNHC looked forward to a hot Japanese- judo competition rules established by
Sep. 14-22, 2002 style bath. This large, deep bath for the Kodokan Judo Institute were used
four people was built by Seishi for judging at the tournaments.
Nikkei Images is published by
Mukai and Soichi Uyeyama and was Tom Doi served as Chief In-
the Japanese Canadian
National Museum
heated by wood. The instructors only structor from 1927 to 1940 and H.
received tea and gas money as remu- Nishi served in the same capacity
neration for volunteering their time from 1940 until the club was dis-
Editorial Board: and, in some instances, money. banded in December 1940. The Ca-
Stanley Fukawa, Grace Hama, Tom Doi was appointed as nadian Government considered mar-
Frank Kamiya, Mitsuo Yesaki, Chief Instructor of the judo club. The tial arts a sport dangerous to national
Carl Yokota Head Instructor was Steve Sasaki of interests.
the Vancouver Taiiku Dojo. Other In British Columbia there
instructors were M. Takahashi, Y. were nine judo clubs before the war.
Subscription to Nikkei Images
Mukai, J. Edamura, S. Kamino, H. These were Vancouver, Vancouver
is free with your yearly
subscription to JCNM:
Kondo and Kanezo Tokai. Kitsilano, Vancouver Fairview,
Family $25 The dojo (club) operated Steveston, Haney, Mission,
Individual $20 from November through to April, the R.C.M.P., Chemainus and
Senior/Student $15 off-season for the instructors who Woodfibre.
Senior Couple $20 were all fishermen. The Steveston In 1932 Dr. Jigoro Kano, the
Non-profit Association $50 Kendo Club used the facilities on al- founder of judo, visited Vancouver
Corporate $100 ternate nights. However, bamboo after visiting the United States, which
$1 per copy for non-members slivers splintered from the kendo was an honour and a privilege to all
fencing swords caused injuries to the judokas. Dr. Kano recommended that
judokas, so the kendo club moved to the Vancouver Taiiku Dojo be re-
JAPANESE CANADIAN
NATIONAL MUSEUM
another location, allowing the judo named the Vancouver Kidokan and
6688 Southoaks Crescent, club to operate on a daily basis. The all the other clubs in British Colum-
Burnaby, B.C., V5E 4M7 club at that time had a membership bia be considered a sub-division of
Canada of 60 senior and 30 junior judokas. the Vancouver Kidokan. For ex-
tel: (604) 777-8000 A tournament was held in ample, Steveston Kidokan Shibu
fax: (604) 777-7001 Steveston every spring with admis- would be a branch of the Vancouver
[email protected] sion by donation. The monies raised Kidokan. In 1936 Dr. Jigoro Kano
www.jcnm.ca were used to operate the club for the again visited Vancouver on his way
next year. The club would travel by to the Olympics being held in Ger-
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many. He convened a meeting at the during the trying days of evacuation. $200 each) and other equipment.
Nippon Club of Vancouver and out- The members from the club ended up The judo club kept moving
lined the principles of judo and a all across Canada and some never to larger facilities to accommodate
code of ethics for all judokas to fol- returned to the West Coast. the growing membership. The club
low. In short, he stressed that judo In 1949 the Japanese fisher- moved to the former pool hall at 3500
involve not just physical develop- men were allowed to return to the Moncton Street in 1954, to the Red
ment but more importantly the devel- West Coast and they started coming Cross Hall on 3rd Avenue and
opment of the spirit or soul. Teach- back to fish. In early 1952, Yonekazu Chatham Street in 1955 and to the
ing the spirit of judo is very impor- Sakai, a former judo member, met Steveston Buddhist Church on
tant in getting this sport accepted by with Tom Doi and discussed form- Chatham Street in 1956. This con-
the general public. Dr. Kano empha- ing a judo club. Tom Doi called a stant moving was a deterrent to the
sized the primary objective of judo meeting of all pre-war black belts, growth of the club and so the
was to put forth one’s best effort and which include Soichi Uyeyama, Steveston Judo Club Ko-En-Kai
not in winning or losing. He devel- Seichi Hamanishi, Kanezo Tokai, (Booster Club) was formed to raise
oped the practice of judo into a sys- Takeo Kawasaki, Kunji Kuramoto funds and secure a permanent build-
tem for training the mind and the and Yonekazu Sakai. This group of ing for the club. The Ko-En-Kai ap-
body. He emphasized two principles: black belts was instrumental in orga- proached Mr. Ken Fraser, Manager
MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY AND nizing the present Steveston Judo of B. C. Packers Ltd., who agreed to
MUTUAL BENEFIT AND WEL- Club. The group did not have funds donate the land owned by B. C. Pack-
FARE. to buy tatami and to rent a facility. ers Ltd for the building site.
Dr. Kano enunciated his They requested a loan from the pre- About this time there was a
code of judo on a brush statement war Steveston Japanese Fishermen’s drive to build a Steveston Commu-
written in 1938, which is on display Benevolent Society. Tom Doi and nity Centre. The judo club was ap-
at the Steveston Judo Club. He also Takeo Kawasaki met with Genji proached to consider joining the
wrote brush statements for the Otsu, in charge of the pre-war community group instead of build-
Vancouver and Vancouver Kitsilano Steveston Japanese Fishermen’s Be- ing a facility exclusively for the Japa-
Judo Clubs. Mr. Tom Doi kept the nevolent Society funds, for a non- nese, as was the case before the war.
Steveston artifact during the war and interest bearing loan. Otsu granted a After much discussion, the judo club
returned it when the judo club was loan to the group to start the club. In agreed to join the Steveston Commu-
started again in 1953. 1955 the Steveston Judo Club paid nity Centre building fund and trans-
In 1938, Dr. Kano, although back the loan from the Steveston ferred the Steveston Japanese
not feeling well, visited Vancouver Japanese Fishermen’s Benevolent Fishermen’s Benevolent Society
on his way home to Japan from an Society. money ($15,000) into the Centre
International Olympic Committee In the fall of 1953, the group building fund with the following con-
meeting in Cairo, Egypt. At this rented the back room of the Steva ditions. The Steveston Judo and
meeting, the IOC agreed to hold the Theatre and covered the floor with Kendo Clubs, when the latter was
1940 Olympic games in Japan, but it used tatami. The instructors were formed, would have training facili-
was cancelled because of the war. Tom Doi, Yonekazu Sakai, Kanezo ties and the Centre would be com-
Unfortunately, on his way home from Tokai, Soichi Uyeyama, Seichiro pleted within two years. The
these games, Dr. Kano passed away Hamanishi, Takeo Kawasaki and Steveston Community Centre was
aboard the HIKAWA MARU. The Kunji Kuramoto. The club started completed in 1957 and the Steveston
Steveston Judo Club sent their con- with a membership of 80 judokas (se- Judo Club moved into the Centre and
dolences to the Kodokan Judo Insti- nior and junior). the Steveston Kendo Club was even-
tute, the headquarters of judo. Japan At the beginning of the Club, tually organized.
did not get the Olympic games until the instructors volunteered their time The Steveston Judo Club
1964 when judo was included for the and money to ensure a successful kept growing and many of their ath-
first time. club. Club dues and monies raised at letes became Canadian champions
The Canadian War Measures tournaments were used by the club and also won many medals on the
Act disbanded the Steveston Judo to send athletes to tournaments to international scene. Prior to 1971,
Club in 1940. The Steveston Judo gain experience, to bring in instruc- discussions occurred of Richmond’s
Club members were very active in tors from elsewhere, to buy judo mats possible projects for the British Co-
assisting the Japanese community (one judo mat 6 feet by 3 feet costs Continued on page 4
3
lumbia Centennial celebrations. The companies, the Vancouver Japanese Steveston Judo Club officially in-
Steveston Judo and Kendo Clubs dis- Businessmen’s Association and the vited Sumiyuki Kotani, 10th degree
cussed with the Community Centre Consul-General of Japan. When the black belt.
Directors a proposal for a Martial building was completed, the Since the Official Opening
Arts Centre (first one of its type out- Steveston Community Centre Soci- of the Martial Arts Centre, high-rank-
side of Japan), which was subse- ety had raised $45,000 and the ing international instructors, many of
quently submitted to the Richmond Steveston Judo and Kendo Clubs whom were Olympic and World
Centennial Society. The Martial Arts $40,000. The Clubs borrowed champions, have visited and coached
Centre became one of three Centen- $10,000 from a bank and paid this our members. These instructors have
nial projects in Richmond. Arnaulf back within two years. The Opening conducted national and provincial
H. Petzel, a German architect, de- Ceremonies for the Martial Arts Cen- seminars and training camps, which
signed the building. Petzel lived in tre took place on March 18th, 1972. have benefited Steveston Judo Club
Japan for 35 years and was pro- Officials in attendance included the members and the community-at-
foundly influenced by Japanese con- Consul-General of Japan, Richmond large.
cepts of form and space. Mayor Henry Anderson, M.P. Tom In 1973 the Steveston Karate
The Steveston Community Goode, M.L.A. Ernie Lecours, Brit- Club was formed as part of the twin-
Centre Society Fund Raising Com- ish Columbia Centennial Committee ing with Wakayama City in Japan.
mittee was committed to raise Chairman Laurie Wallace and Presi- Mayor Shozo Ujita, a 9th degree black
$95,000 for the Martial Arts Centre. dent of the Steveston Community belt in karate, sent a letter to Mayor
The Judo and Kendo Clubs held Society Ted Lorenz. Along with the Henry Anderson to include karate in
many fund raising events, solicited dignitaries, the Steveston Judo and the Martial Arts Centre. The
individuals and approached many Kendo Clubs invited many high- Steveston Judo and Kendo Clubs
organizations, local fishing and net ranking instructors from Japan. The cooperated by allowing the Karate
Club to use their facilities on selected
nights. The first exchange between
the twin cities was a karate instruc-
tor, Mr. Takeshi Uchiage, who is still
the Head Instructor of the Steveston
Karate Club.
The Steveston Judo Club
took 22 members to Japan for the first
time in 1985. The members went to
Tokyo and stayed at the Kodokan, the
headquarters of judo. The team went
to Wakayama City for 3 days, and
then went on to Osaka and thereafter
to Tokai and Kokusai Budo Univer-
sities. This was a dream come true
for club members, affording them an
opportunity to visit the birthplace of
judo and to see some of the great and
Stevston Judo Club officials and members. (Kuramoto family photo, 1954) present judokas in action. a

Pilgrimage to Manzo Nagano’s Grave Site by Stan Fukawa

Masako (my wife) and I took as the first Japanese immigrant to know that we were coming and I did
the Bullet Train from Shin Osaka to Canada during the 125th year since so. Since I had earlier pictured us
Hakata and transferred to the Express his arrival, by making a pilgrimage quietly slipping in and out of the
to Nagasaki. We were on a trek to to his grave. seaside community to pay our
the last resting place of a Canadian When I told the Rev. Paul respects as visiting tourists, I was not
hero and a kind of ancestor to all Nagano that we were planning to visit prepared for the warm and generous
Japanese Canadians. We thought it his grandfather’s grave, he advised welcome and the formal recognition
most fitting to honour Manzo Nagano us to let the Mayor of Kuchinotsu that we received. Of course, as I was
4
 welcomed by some Town Council- Shimabara Rebellion began in the
ors and more staff. These included town of Kuchinotsu and the villag-
Mr. Kazuaki Nagano, Manzo‘s great ers were among the 37,000 Christian
nephew, who is the town‘s Chief Fi- men, women and children slaugh-
nancial Officer; as well as Mr. tered after the Shogun sent 120,000
Shiraishi, the Emeritus Director of troops to stem the revolt. To repopu-
the Town‘s Museum. Although the late the Shimabara peninsula, the
town’s population is under 7000, 70 authorities required feudal lords in
people are employed by the town and the rest of Kyushu and from Shikoku
the town office seemed to be bustling. to send settlers.
Mayor Mihara hosted a welcome lun- When the age of steam ships
cheon featuring some wonderful sea- arrived, Kuchinotsu became impor-
food, both raw and cooked. It was tant as the port through which the
easy to accept his claim that they had coal from the Miike mine was
the best fish in Japan. The raw lob- shipped to Shanghai and other for-
ster was wonderfully fresh and sweet. eign ports. The Mitsui Co. then
After luncheon, a party of dredged the waters closer to the
about 20 people including 2 priests, Miike mine so they could load coal
accompanied us to Manzo‘s grave without sending it through
which is in a Zen-sect, Soto-subsect Kuchinotsu, whereupon many people
graveyard of the Gyokuhoji Temple. lost their jobs. This forced many men
There are several markers in Japa- from the village to become seafarers,
nese directing the way, “To The beginning a tradition that made
Manzo Nagano’s gravestone in Grave of Manzo Nagano, First Japa- Kuchinotsu the highest per capita
Kuchinotsu. (Stan Fukawa photo,
nese Immigrant To Canada.” source of seamen in the nation, with
2002)
Manzo‘s grave overlooks the sea and more than one sailor per two fami-
going as the President of the Japanese is in a group with the graves of his lies. The young Manzo Nagano left
Canadian National Museum who brothers. One of Manzo’s great home as part of this outward move-
was taking pictures for the Museum’s nieces was among the people present ment as a stoker on the British
collection, I was probably given a for the service. steamer ARGUS, bound for Shang-
warmer welcome than someone After the offerings of flow- hai three years before he jumped ship
going as an individual traveler. ers and incense and the chanting of a in New Westminster, B.C. Canadi-
On the morning of the visit, sutra, the session ended with a brief ans will be drawn to the Manzo ex-
in April, 2002, the Mayor of interview by three newspaper report- hibit by the large Canadian flag on
Kuchinotsu arrived in Nagasaki with ers and the community video people. the wall above the showcase which
other staff to pick us up at our hotel. A picture and article appeared in each includes photos, articles and a genea-
They escorted us to the Prefectural of the Asahi Shimbun, the Nagasaki logical chart showing his wives (he
Government complex where we were Shimbun, and the Nishi Nihon had 3), children and grandchildren.
welcomed by the Governor of Shimbun on the following day. Mount Manzo Nagano, named by the
Nagasaki Prefecture. Governor We moved on to the Town Canadian government in his honour,
Kaneko had fond memories of Museum, an impressive cluster of is shown, as is its scaling by Tak
Canada as he had spent three months five buildings - two of which had Ogasawara, Randy Enomoto, et. al.
here in his youth, including a period been customs houses for the port. (see the NAJC website).
of home stay. He introduced us to a Kuchinotsu has had a turbulent past On the darker side,
Quebecoise who serves as Interna- and an importance not usually seen Kuchinotsu was the port through
tional Relations Coordinator in his in such small towns. It was a major which young women who were of-
International Affairs Division and port of entry for the Portuguese mis- ten tricked into some kind of servi-
was into her third year on his staff. sionaries in the 16th century and at tude were sent off to foreign destina-
From Nagasaki, we drove past the one point all of the villagers were tions to become prostitutes. The
potato fields and some beautiful baptized in a single ceremony. When Museum has a room devoted to these
coastline. the Shogunate turned against Euro- so-called “Kara-yuki-san”— women
At Kuchinotsu, we were peans and Christianity, the Christian Continued on page 6
5
bound for tragic lives abroad who turous young man from his home vil- Nagasaki is also a wonder-
were an important export that sent in lage who came to Canada 125 years ful tourist town and is worth two days
money to an impoverished homeland ago. on its own. Outside Nagasaki there
that had few other sources of foreign If you are traveling in that are also Huis ten Bosch—the 17th
funds. part of Japan, you would be advised century Dutch village theme park, the
You can get to Kuchinotsu to drop by at Unzen, Japan’s first pottery towns of Arita and Karatsu,
by bus from Nagasaki JR station with National Park and a sister-park, I was and the recreated 2000 year-old
one change of buses at Obama. The told, to our Banff National Park. It Yayoi culture community of
trip takes two hours but the scenery has many boiling and steaming Yoshinogari. All of these have inter-
is so beautiful and interesting that the springs and a gory footnote is that national connections which you can
time passes quickly. The mayor says these were used by the Shogun’s read about and marvel in before you
he will welcome visitors who let him forces to torture Christians into re- leave on your travels. The Kyushu
know in advance that they want to canting their Christian faith. If you Ceramic Museum in Arita is worth
visit Manzo‘s grave and will add had not changed buses at Obama but the trip to that town all by itself. If
English signage. He is seriously con- stayed on, that first bus would have you’ve not ventured to this part of
sidering a visit with members of his arrived at Unzen. You might choose, Japan before, you must go.
Town Council to the Nikkei Week as we did, to spend several hours at
Kick-off Dinner on Sept. 14 and other Kuchinotsu, and then spend a night (For the address of the Kuchinotsu
events (co-sponsored by the JCNM) at Unzen to enjoy the hot spring Town Hall, contact me at
to help us pay tribute to that adven- baths—a favourite Japanese pastime. [email protected].) a
Richmond Tall Ships 2002 by Harold Steves
nizing a luncheon or dinner.
From August 8th to 12th an-
other 25 to 30 tall ships will berth in
Steveston Harbour for a major mari-
time festival featuring fun and afford-
able activities for the entire family.
Plans include a spectacular Parade of
Sails, tours of the Tall Ships, an art
and cultural festival, festive food and
drink, with children’s, family and
other marine activities. Among the
visiting ships will be the EUROPA
from Holland and the R. TUCKER
THOMPSON from Australia. They

Photo scanned from National Institute for Sea Training brochure

Steveston’s Historic Can- deep-water moorage.

nery Row will host a flotilla of ma- During her visit to Steveston
jestic tall ships from around the world the crewmembers and trainees of the
this summer during Richmond Tall NIPPON MARU will be hosted at
Ships 2002. the Steveston Martial Arts Centre and
First to arrive will be the Japanese Cultural Centre. Events like
magnificent four-masted Japanese dinner, softball game, tours, judo and
training vessel, NIPPON MARU, ty- kendo, etc are being considered. Any-
ing up July 11th to 17th at the Number one able to take cadets on a tour or
3 Road Pier, just east of Steveston help in any way should contact
Harbour. This pier is being recon- Kelvin Higo, who is helping organize
structed by the City of Richmond events on behalf of Richmond Tall
especially for the NIPPON MARU, Ships and Jim Tanaka of the Photo scanned from LADY
which is 361 ft long and requires Wakayama Kenjin Kai, who is orga- WASHINGTON tour schedule.
6
will be sailing to Steveston from a to several significant maritime heri- wharf. They raced around The Horn
similar Tall Ship event in Yokohama, tage sites: the Gulf of Georgia Can- (the southern tip of South America)
Japan. A third ship, the LADY nery National Historic Site, the Brit- to be the first to reach the distant
WASHINGTON from Grays annia Heritage Shipyard, the European market. Now the Tall Ships
Harbour, Washington, is a replica of Murikami house and boat works, and have returned to race down the coast
the first American ship to visit Japan. Garry Point Park. There will be fes- from Steveston once again. So many
In 1750 she anchored at Wakayama tival events at each location. spectacular ships under sail will be a
and today has close ties with One hundred years ago the sight to remember.
Wakayama and flies the flag of their world’s biggest and fastest clipper For further information call
Rotary Club. ships came to Steveston’s bustling Harold Steves at 604-277-7759 or
Today the Port of Steveston Cannery Row to load salmon from visit the official Tall Ships website:
remains Western Canada’s largest more than a dozen canneries, and www.richmondtallships.ca a
commercial fishing port and is home lumber from the Number 1 Road

New Denver Revisited Commemorating the 60th Anniversary

of the Forced Relocation of Japanese Canadians July 26 - 29, 2002
In 1942, Japanese Canadians morning by bus and travel to New four share room, or if you drive on
were forced out of the B.C. coast and Denver. On the way, stop at the your own, cost will be less. If you
relocated outside of the 100-mile Halcyon Hot Springs. wish a single room, cost is
radius of the B.C. coast. Many were Accommodation in New Denver and considerably higher.
sent to relocation camps, internment Nakusp. Accommodation and eating
camps, and New Denver was one of Day 2 - Saturday, July 27 - Leave in facilities are very limited in New
them. New Denver is the only camp morning by bus on an Internment Denver. Hotels in New Denver,
that still has internment houses, and Camp tour (Roseberry, Sandon, Nakusp and Silverton have been
also has the Nikkei Internment Kaslo, Silverton). In evening, attend “block booked” by the Kamloops
Memorial Centre. the Reunion Banquet in the school NAJC, and the Kamloops NAJC will
The year 2002 marks 60 gymnasium in New Denver. be assigning the rooms, and catering
years since the forced removal of Day 3 - Sunday, July 28 - Pancake most of the meals. If necessary,
Japanese Canadians from the coast Breakfast, Lunch and Bento supper rooms will also be booked in Nelson,
of British Columbia. To in the Park. Visit Nikkei Internment with bus transportation to and from
commemorate the 60 years since this Memorial Centre. Buddhist Obon New Denver.
forced removal, the Kamloops & Service in afternoon. Obon Odori in If interested in attending,
Area Chapter of the National the early evening. phone or fax to (250) 376-9629 or e-
Association of Japanese Canadians, Day 4 - Monday, July 29 - mail to [email protected] or
in cooperation with the New Denver Bus back to Kamloops or Kelowna. write to Kamloops & Area NAJC,
Kyowakai and the town of New Visit Bay Farm, Popoff, Lemon 160 Vernon Avenue, Kamloops, BC
Denver are organizing a Reunion in Creek, Slocan and Greenwood on the V2B 1L6 and we will send you
New Denver and an Internment way home. further information and registration
Camp Tour. At the same time, the Tour package includes: bus forms. Even if you plan to be there
Okanagan Buddhist Churches will transportation to New Denver from on your own, and stay in campers or
be holding an Obon Service, and an Kamloops (or Kelowna) and back, with friends, please register with the
Obon Odori (Festival dancing). We hotel accommodation on the 26, 27, Kamloops NAJC if you wish to take
cordially invite all Japanese 28 on a two-sharing basis, all meals in any part of the festivities. Register
Canadians from across Canada to this on the 27th and 28th, including the early as space is very limited.
Reunion/Obon to renew banquet and entertainment (Uzume Deadline is June 20, 2002.
acquaintances and make new friends. Taiko and Karaoke), and entrance
The Kamloops & Area into the Nikkei Internment Memorial And, for those traveling from the
NAJC is organizing this Reunion Centre. Cost is still to be determined, East, you may also wish to take in
Tour and the tentative itinerary is as but will probably be in the $300 the Vancouver Island Obon Tour
follows. range. If enough interest, a bus will which takes place on the following
Day 1 - Friday, July 26 - Leave also leave from Vancouver with cost weekend, August 3-4. Make this the
Kamloops (or Kelowna) in the early in the $350 - $375 range. If three or year that you “travel B.C.” a
7
 Nikkei Week 125
Planning for the Nikkei possibly on Sept. 19, which can still since our first immigrant and 60 years
Week festivities this September are change in many ways, depending on since internment. Lectures,
going ahead with the development of the kind of response that the Nikkei workshops and films will round out
a program that should excite mem- Week Committee is able to obtain the program. Keep your eye on
bers of the Japanese Canadian com- from a sample survey of Internees. notices in the more frequently
munity. There will be a celebration A taiko evening is under appearing Japanese Canadian news
banquet on the first night, Sept. 14, consideration. publications. Contact Stan Fukawa
followed almost a week later by the Matsuri type events such as (604-421-0490) or Frank Kamiya
unveiling of the Fishermen’s statue food-booths and folk dancing will (604-929-4476) if you have any
in Steveston on Sept. 20. occur on the week-end of the 20th to questions or suggestions, as they are
There are plans for an 22 nd. The Museum will have an on the Nikkei Week Committee. a
Internment Reunion O-bento event exhibition on the themes of 125 years
University of Victoria Conference
August 22-24, 2002 are the immigration to oral histories, entrepreneurs, youth and aging.
dates for the conference, “Changing women’s issues, identities both Featured speakers include Roy Miki
Japanese Identities in Multicultural internally and externally-imposed, and Terry Watada. For the latest
Canada.” Coming in the 125th year media and politics, cultural retention, program updates, registration
since Manzo Nagano arrived in New multiculturalism, economics, materials and recommended hotels,
Westminster, the program covers a Japanese as a heritage language, check the website: http://
broad range of topics from religion, art, language policy, early web.uvic.ca/~capijfk a

Toyoaki Takata, 1920-2002 Eulogy by Stum Shimizu

Toyoaki Takata, eldest son of with the B.C. Electric Co. that owned employed.
Kensuke and Mitsuyo Takata, was the property. Toyo was kept busy with
born on January 14, 1920, in the With the encouragement of other responsibilities, including the
district known as Esquimalt, directly the Company, a Japanese garden was requisite half hour daily homework
west of Victoria, Vancouver Island. developed complete with eight on the Japanese language, this under
He grew up in a home not teahouses of various sizes, a pavilion the tutelage of his mother. He was
unlike many of the cottages seen in housing a confectionery store and also responsible for maintaining a
Ontario’s vacation country. As Toyo several private reception rooms for good supply of wood to be used
recalled it, the house and private meetings, functions or dining, during the season in the wood
surroundings located in a woodland etc. There were ponds with water burning stoves in the tea house
forest of towering hemlock, cedar, lilies, connecting bridges and stone kitchen as well as a supply for
spruce and fir was a storybook lanterns located in appropriate Japanese-style baths, several of
environment. He often reminisced places. It became one of Victoria’s which were attached to the family’s
about his good fortune to have grown spring and summer attractions, both dwelling and stoked from the outside
up during his teenage years in this for the local gentility as well as the firebox located beneath the steel-
“near paradise”. Remembrance of the tourists. sheeted bottom of the “Nihon buros”.
feeling for this place and Toyo worked from time to Toyo received his primary
environment stayed with him for the time at the various activities schooling at the Lampson Public
rest of his life. associated with the business but his School and secondary education at
Prior to the Takata family main job was as a cashier at the the Esquimalt High School. Because
locating in their home in this confectionery counter. He would be Esquimalt was a small community,
woodland known as Gorge Park, Mr. occupied on weekdays after school many of his Grade 1 classmates
and Mrs. Takata and Toyo went to and on weekends from the time it graduated with him to become his
Japan in 1925 and Toyo went to opened on May 24 until closing, the high school classmates. Toyo spent
school where he received his early day after Labour Day. The Japanese 80 percent of his life and working
primary education in the Japanese Tea Garden at Gorge Park was the career in Toronto, but he never lost
language. They returned to Canada place to have brunch or afternoon tea contact with the men and women of
in 1927 and eventually his father and and during the busiest times, many his growing-up years. He made at
uncle negotiated a lease arrangement Victoria Issei and Nisei were least two to three visits to B.C. each
8
year to visit and reminisce with these Japanese Canadian families from Settling into the daily routine
old friends. His heart and soul lower Vancouver Island, and Toyo of life in Toronto, Toyo immersed
remained in British Columbia ironically made his second trip off the himself in the activities and cultural
throughout his life. Island to internment in Hastings Park. affairs of the Japanese Canadian
Toyo graduated in the spring Toyo soon found employment in the community. For a period of four years
of 1938 from Esquimalt High School B. C. Security Commission office (1948-1952) he assumed the
and acutely aware of the gathering and while his two younger brothers editorship of the English Section of
problems and possibilities of war in later went to Slocan to help prepare The New Canadian. He also served
Europe, enrolled in the Sprotts-Shaw places for displaced families, Mother as President of the Japanese
School of Commerce to learn the and Father Takata with two daughters Canadian Cultural Centre. He
clerical and administrative aspects of and a younger son moved to Sandon. married Martha Hori, a well-known
office work, particularly typing. He Toyo remained in Hastings Park musician and performing artist.
expressed it this way – “When I’m almost to its closing date before Toyo’s most important and
drafted or conscripted, the last thing joining the two brothers in Slocan. lasting contribution resulted from his
I want to do is to carry a rifle and For several months he taught English innate curiosity about the Issei
kill someone with it.” at Glenmere High School, an immigrant from Japan. His research
To celebrate graduation, his Anglican-sponsored school for the uncovered the fascinating adventures
classmates decided to travel to displaced Japanese Canadian of Manzo Nagano and the discovery
Vancouver’s Hastings Park to take in children. Shortly before moving to that this person was the first Japanese
the Pacific National Exhibition. This Toronto, the family was reunited in immigrant to set foot on Canadian
was during the busiest time at the Tea Sandon. soil in 1877. As a result of his
Gardens and his uncle was not overly In August, 1944, his sister publication and publicity of this
sympathetic to Toyo leaving the Toshie who had relocated to Toronto discovery and at his urging, Japanese
pavilion store unattended. Toyo was at an earlier date found Canadian communities across
able to find a replacement which met accommodations for the family in Canada celebrated a Centennial Year
with his uncle’s approval. It Mimico. Toyo’s first job in Ontario in 1977. His research also culminated
happened to be my oldest brother, was on night shift at the Goodyear in the publication of Nikkei Legacy
Kunio. So Toyo made his first visit Tire and Rubber Co. in which he chronicled many of the
to Hastings Park with his friends In May, 1945, the family interesting adventures and trials of
accompanied by younger brother, purchased a house on Sumach Street our earliest pioneers.
George, who somehow managed to in Toronto’s Riverdale Park area. 2002 marks the 125 th
be included. Toyo and George had a Toyo after trying several other jobs anniversary of the beginning of the
great time, the first trip that either had eventually established a Japanese Canadian community in
taken off the Island. lithographing business, which he Canada and it is fitting that we
In April, 1942, the Takata operated out of the basement of the celebrate Toyo’s life today, a life so
family, now consisting of four family home. dedicated and so well lived. a
brothers and two sisters joined other
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9
 2002A.D.-60th AnniversaryofInternment
Tom I. Tagami’s internment article will be continued in the fall issue.

Angler P.O.W. Camp 101 by Carl Yokota

their country, would endure through
one of the bleakest times of their
lives. On May 25, 1946, nine months
after Japan’s military surrender and
the end of World War II, our father,
P.O.W. # 187, and his remaining
fellow internees, were finally
released from Angler. Wearing the
clothes they had first arrived with and
carrying their belongings in suitcases
and parcels, the men marched out the
main, barb-wired gates of Angler
P.O.W. Camp 101 and were
marshalled onto a westbound train
headed for Vancouver.
Through an agreement
between the Dominion of Canada and
General Douglas MacArthur, the
NHK camara-man, Junichi Tanaka, Ken Hibi and Johnny Umakoshi looking for Supreme Allied Commander, a total
the former Angler P.O.W Camp 101site. (Ken Hibi photo, 1988) of almost 4000 Japanese Canadians,
the majority having been born in
With the bombing of Pearl Seebe and Petawawa would
Canada, were to be “voluntarily
Harbor on December 7, 1941, the eventually be transferred to Angler
repatriated” to Japan. Beginning on
anti-Japanese feeling in Canada only P.O.W. Camp 101.
May 31, 1946 there were a total of
escalated. In March of 1942, the On May 28, 1942, twenty-
five deportation voyages to Japan.
British Columbia Security six year old Shigeo Yokota arrived
On June 16, 1946, our father was
Commission was established which at the Vancouver Immigration
among over 1100 people who were
resulted in the systematic round-up, Building. For the next few weeks, he
loaded on board the second of these
detention, and forced evacuation of would be placed in armed detention
repatriation ships, the U.S. troop
21,000 law-abiding Japanese with other Japanese Canadian men.
carrier, SS General MC Meigs. The
Canadians to interior road camps, The military and security authorities
SS General MC Meigs was earlier
farm labour camps, relocation sites, in charge were quickly moving on
dispatched from San Francisco
and prisoner of war internment their goal of forceably removing all
especially for this military
camps. For those men who defiantly Japanese Canadians, especially men
assignment. On June 28, the ship
opposed the actions taken against aged eighteen years and older, from
arrived at the Japanese port of Uraga,
them and the split up of their families, within the 100 mile westcoast
which is located south of Yokohama.
and who posed a military security security zone. On June 16, he along
For many of the captive passengers
threat in the eyes of the authorities, with 189 other detained men were put
it was their first trip to Japan which
their fate resulted in banishment to on a military-guarded train bound for
further added to an already uncertain
prisoner of war camps such as Angler P.O.W. Camp 101. Four days
future. Our father would not return
Kananaskis-Seebe P.O.W. Camp 130 later on June 19, the train reached its
back to Canada until 1951, but only
in Alberta, Petawawa P.O.W. Camp destination in the wilds of Northern
after he applied for re-admission and
33 and Angler P.O.W. Camp 101,both Ontario. Over the next four long
it was verified by the Office Of The
in Ontario. The Japanese Canadians years these prisoners of war, through
Commissioner, Department of
initially imprisoned at Kananaskis- no fault of their own or disloyalty to
Citizenship And Immigration in
10
Ottawa that he was a bona fide Angler Creek highway marker on the Surrounded by hills, Angler
Canadian citizen. northern shores of Lake Superior. P.O.W. Camp 101 was a large
Our late father kept very The town of Marathon, Ontario is a compound built on flat ground
little written information on his few miles east of the marker. Access comprised of five main inmate huts.
internment years and rarely spoke to this site is along a rocky road off Four of the huts were living quarters,
about his four years in Angler. Only the Highway where one has to hike each with their own washroom,
the dates and some short notes were in by foot about a mile south until laundry area and showers. The fifth
kept, written on a plain piece of you reach the CPR mainline railway building housed the camp kitchen/
writing paper for his records. To find tracks. The remains of the infamous mess hall and a library/school/shop
out more about this infamous P.O.W. prisoner of war camp is now covered area. There was also a detention
camp, I reviewed key book sources up with trees and heavy brush with facility, a recreation hall, an
such as Robert K. Okazaki’s “The very few clues to its past. But as Mr. infirmary, and a canteen/supply hut.
Nisei Mass Evacuation Group and Hibi, two other former Angler Each of the inmate wood-framed huts
P.O.W. Camp ‘101’ “, Roy Ito’s internees, Junichi Tanaka and Johnny was in the shape of the letter “H”.
“Stories of My People”, Yon Umakoshi, and a Japanese The four living quarter huts held
Shimizu’s “The Exiles”, and was also documentary film crew from NHK approximately 180 men per building.
delighted to learn some insight from Wakayama City discovered in the fall In front of the buildings was a large
84 year-old Mr. Ken Hibi of Thunder of 1988, a small number of items field for the men to assemble,
Bay, Ontario who himself was also found were undeniable. Articles such exercise, and spend their free time.
interned in Angler Camp 101. Mr. as rusty buckets, kettles, pots, a large The camp guards and commandant
Hibi was born in Steveston as our kitchen stove, a broken toilet, and had their buildings on the outside of
father, and was kind and generous remains of a concrete water tower the barbed-wire facility. But the most
enough to respond to an inquiry I had foundation were found. It took the notable reminders about internment
made earlier to the Lakehead men four hours from the time they camp life were the six armed, guard
Japanese Cultural Association pulled off the Trans Canada Highway towers surrounding and overlooking
offices in Thunder Bay. to locate this long forgotten part of the compound, the three distinct
You will not find the former the Northern Ontario wilderness. For barriers of barbed-wire fencing, and
Angler P.O.W. camp on any road the visiting former Angler internees the notorious inmate uniforms made
maps. From Thunder Bay, Ontario and their Japanese guests it was a of denim material with their sewn,
it is about 235 kilometers east on the successful all-day long journey, large red circles on the shirt backs
Trans Canada Highway near the complete with a bento lunch. and red stripes down the pant sides.
The large red circles were actually
meant to be easy targets for their
armed captors. In the winter, the
inmates suffered through the severe
Northern Ontario temperatures and
snow storms at times dropping to 60
below zero. According to Mr. Hibi,
temperatures were so cold that if an
inmate were to venture outside his
hut and closed his eyes, the eyelids
would be quickly frozen shut, and his
exhaled breath would be instantly
crystallized.
To maintain their spirits, the
internees participated in martial arts
such as judo and kendo, played in a
small camp band, wrote haiku and
studied English and Japanese. Mr.
Hibi held an interest in kendo so
Ken Hibi with artifacts found at Angler P.O.W. Camp 101 site. (Ken Hibi photo,
assisted the chief kendo instructor.
1988)
Continued on page 12
11
In the summer, the men would play duty, morning work detail, lunch, men died while interned, and five
baseball in the open field, and in afternoon work detail, supper, other men passed away shortly after
winter the inmates would be allowed, another headcount, and lights out at their release. Forcibly separated from
surprisingly as I learned, to ice skate 10:30 p.m., with no one allowed their families, these deaths can only
on the flooded ball field. Although outside until the next morning. Work be seen as nothing less than tragic.
the men received their daily food details would consist of cutting down Sixty years have now passed
allotments, during the winter months trees or unloading coal from boxcars. since honest, law-abiding Japanese
when the supply train would get Strict camp rules meant that any Canadians were first rounded up by
bogged down in the snow, food inmates found outside their assigned the authorities, stripped of their
would be rationed with only potatoes huts after curfew would be fired upon personal belongings and properties,
and bread available to eat. Mr. Hibi by the armed guards. Just like in the separated from their families, and
recalls eating eggs and toast often as military, the camp prisoners had to banished to destinations unknown
well. On occasion, the inmates would ensure their beds were made up and inhospitable to them such as
receive from the Japanese Red Cross neatly, the toilets, showers and Angler P.O.W. Camp 101. The once
special care packages containing laundry areas washed out daily, the sprawling, armed compound which
such items as rice, shoyu, and curry hut floors cleaned, the hut stoves housed a total of 769 internees is now
powder to help supplement their properly maintained, and even the covered in dense bush and rarely
rationed food supplies. camp infirmary had to be kept visited. It appears the Northern
Daily routine was very spotless. Ontario wilderness has quietly
regimented, military style. This Sadly, not all the Angler reclaimed a significant reminder to
meant having to get up to reveille at P.O.W.’s made it through safely. Two one of the darkest times in Canadian
6:00 a.m., followed by breakfast, men died enroute to the Camp, five history. a
daily rollcall and headcount, garbage

Members are a vital part of the Museum, and we welcome your interest and support. New and renewing members from the period
January 16, 2002 – May 3, 2002.
Yoshi & Yoshimaru Abe, Winnipeg, MB Ms. Kimiko Kajiwara, Burnaby, BC Nitta, Richmond, BC
Dr. Midge Ayukawa, Victoria, BC Mrs. Lily Y. Kamachi, New Westminster, BC Hitoshi & Setsuko Okabe, Surrey, BC
Christian & Elaine Cowley & Yamamoto, Maple Ridge, Mrs. Sumiko Kamachi, New Westminster, BC Ray & Michiko Ota, Surrey, BC
BC Mr. & Mrs. Jiro Kamiya, Vancouver, BC Mr. Siewa Oyama, Burnaby, BC
Mrs. Anne Doré, Abbotsford, BC Mr. & Mrs. Frank & Naomi Kamiya & family, N. Ms. Yuko Shibata, Vancouver, BC
Bruce & Vivian Ettinger & Katie Ettinger, San Francisco, Vancouver, BC Mrs. Kiyoshi Shimizu, Victoria, BC
CA, USA Yosh & Gail Kariatsumari, Abbotsford, BC Ted & Shiz Shimizu, Nepean, ON
Robert & Doreen Friesen, Fort St James, BC Peter and Marie Katsuno, West Vancouver, BC Mr. Yoshio Shimizu, Wallaceburg, ON
Stanley & Masako Fukawa & Family, Burnaby, BC George R. & June Y Kawaguchi, Burnaby, BC Howard and Jane Shimokura, Austin, TX, USA
Ken & Susan Gratton, White Rock, BC Mr. Norifumi Kawahara, Osaka Pref. Japan Kazumi & Yurika Shintani, Vancouver, BC
Tod & Fumiko Greenaway, Nelson, BC Thomas & Kumiko Kobayashi, North Vancouver, BC Wataru & Barbara Shishido, Vancouver, BC
Ms. S Charlotte Gyoba, New Westminster, BC Mr. & Mrs. Karl Konishi, Vancouver, BC Ms. Momoye Sugiman, Toronto, ON
Ms. Jennifer Hashimoto, Toronto, ON Larry & Sandra Maekawa, Richmond, BC Ms. Hitomi Suzuta, Regina, SK
Allan & Minnie Hattori & Family, Delta, BC Ms. Sharon Masu, Vancouver, BC Mr. Koji Takahashi, Burnaby, BC
Mitsuo & Emmie Hayashi, Vancouver, BC Don & Connie Mayede, Vancouver, BC Mr. Bud Tanaka, Vancouver, BC
Gerald & Ayako Higashi, Kaslo, BC Ms. Joan Miki, Surrey, BC Isabel & Akira Tanaka, Vancouver, BC
Mr. & Mrs. Haruo Ikeda, Winnipeg, MB Mrs. Ritz Misumi, Hope, BC Minoru and Miyoshi Tanaka, Burnaby, BC
Ms. Susan Ikeda, North Vancouver, BC Ms. Florence Mitani, Winnipeg, MB Willy & Evelyn Tobler, Victoria, BC
Ed & Anne Ikeda & Family, Richmond, BC Elmer & Sofia Morishita, Vancouver, BC Mrs. Akiko Wakabayashi, Vancouver, BC
Ms. Beverley Inouye, Burnaby, BC, Masuo & Shigeko Nagasaka, Burnaby, BC Sam & June Yamamoto, Delta, BC
Gordon & Kyoko Kadota, Vancouver, BC Mrs. Frances Nakagawa, Ucluelet, BC Mr. Mitsuo Yesaki, Vancouver, BC
Mr. Tatsuo Kage, Vancouver, BC Mrs. Kassie Nakamura and Shirley Nakamura, London, Mr. Carl T. Yokota, Richmond, BC.
Tadashi & Kanaye Kagetsu, Lewiston, NY,USA ON
Special thanks to those who have donated generously from the period of January 16, 2002 – May 3, 2002
Dr. Midge Ayukawa, Victoria, BC Mrs. Sumi Kamachi, New Westminster, BC Yoshio & Norma Shimizu, Wallaceburg, ON
Mrs. Anne Dore, Abbotsford, BC Yosh & Gail Kariatsumari, Abbotsford, BC Ted & Shiz, Shimizu, Nepean, ON
Bruce & Vivian Ettinger, San Francisco, USA George & June Kawaguchi, Burnaby, BC Howard & Jane Shimokura, Austin, TX, USA
Ken & Susan Gratton, White Rock, BC Takeno & Saichiro, Maekawa, Richmond, BC Dr. & Mrs. K. J. Shintani, Vancouver, BC
Ms. Jennifer L. Hashimoto, Toronto, ON Don & Connie Mayede, Vancouver, BC Mr. & Mrs. Wataru & Barbara Shishido, Vancouver, BC
Mitsuo & Emmie Hayashi, Vancouver, BC Ms. Joan Miki, Surrey, BC Mr. Bud Tanaka, Vancouver, BC
Gerald & Ayako Higashi, Kaslo, BC Mr. & Mrs. Elmer Morishita, Vancouver, BC Minoru & Miyoshi Tanaka, Burnaby, BC
Harry & Lily Ikeda, Winnipeg, MB Mr. & Mrs. E. Nakamura, Vancouver, BC Ms. Irene Tsuyuki, White Rock, BC
Ms. Beverley Inouye, Burnaby, BC Masuo & Shigeko Nagasaka, Burnaby, BC Mr. Carl Yokota, Richmond, BC
Ms. Shirley, Isojima, Mississauga, ON Mr. Timothy Savage, Vancouver, BC Mr. Mitsuo Yesaki, Vancouver, BC
Gordon & Kyoko Kadota, Vancouver, BC Ms. Yuko Shibata, Vancouver, BC
Donation in memory of Mr. F. Oishi: Ms. Mieko Amano, Burnaby, BC
Donation in memory of John Nihei: Ms. Yoko Kusano, Ottawa, ON
Donation in memory of Toyo Takata: Dr. Midge Ayukawa, Victoria, BC, Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth & Margaret Wright, Victoria, BC
Gift Membership purchased: Mrs. Chiyo Yasui, Burnaby, BC, Mrs. Marie Katsuno, West Vancouver, BC.

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