Bulletin/Geppo December 2022

John Endo Greenaway john@bigwavedesign.net

Kaori Kasai Kazuho Yamamoto editor.geppo@gmail.com

Anne Jew annejew@telus.net

Distribution Manager

Michael Tora Speier Administrative Assistant Mitsuyo Okamoto

JCCA Board Of Directors

Cary Sakiyama President Peter Wallace Vice President Wendy Matsubuchi Secretary Ted Takahashi Treasurer Ron Nishimura Director April Shimizu Director May Hamanishi Director Akira Imai Director Rika Ando Director Judy Hanazawa Director Liz Nunoda Director

MEMBERSHIP

249 – 6688 Southoaks Crescent Burnaby, BC, V5E 4M7 604.777.5222 gvjcca@gmail.com Managing Editor: john@bigwavedesign.net Website: gvjcca.org

Japanese Canadian Legacies: Seniors Health & Wellness 2

NAJC Board Message & Update 8 GVJCCA Holiday Membership Drive 11

Landscapes of Injustice 12 Japanese Canadian Heritage Cooking 13

Love in a Dangerous Time 13 Powell Street Festival Update 16

Toronto NAJC Update 18 First Friday Forum 19

Tatsuo Kage Celebration of Life 21 Vancouver Japanese Language School 21 JCCA Donations / Editorial 22 GVJCCA President’s Message 23

GVJCCA Volunteer Appreciation Party 23 Community Calendar 26 Community Kitchen 28 Milestones 30 One Nikkei Voice 31

Tonari Gumi Corner 32 Our Edible Roots 33 Remembrance Day 2022 37

Nikkei Place Update 37 Geppo 40

Background: Tashme in winter NNM 2012-45-1-12.

Forground photo by Susanne Tabata.

JCCA Office: gvjcca@gmail.com

English Editor: editor@bigwavedesign.net

Japanese Editor: editor.geppo@gmail.com

GVJCCA @bulletin_geppo

Shinobu Homma playing fue at Japanese Canadian War Memorial, November 11, 2022.

PILLAR: SENIORS HEALTH & WELLNESS

What We Know About the Next Survivors Health & Wellness Fund

The Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness Fund is currently being set up for health supports for individual survivors. $28 Million is for individual survivors. A $2 Million fund is set aside for intergenerational wellness and there is more consultation to do within the community to build out the framework for the program. The program will open in early spring 2023. More information will be available in the new year.

Board of the Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness Fund Society

The Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness Fund Society Board is regionally representative, and is running the implementation of the Fund. This includes community members who work with seniors: President Cathy Makihara (Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society

by John Endo Greenaway

– Burnaby, BC), Ruth Coles (President Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society –Burnaby, BC), Kelvin Higo (Steveston Seniors – Richmond, BC), David Iwaasa (Tonari Gumi, Vancouver, BC), Susan Matsumoto (Calgary Japanese Community Association – Calgary, Alberta), Marlene Mori (Seniors Horizons Club of the Japanese Cultural Association of Manitoba – Winnipeg, Manitoba), Ann Ashley (Co-Chair Momiji Health Care Society – Toronto, Ontario), ShelleyAnn Yamashita (Momiji Health Care Society – Toronto, Ontario). Karen Nishi and Fred Yada serve as members from the JCLS Board. Susanne Tabata is an ex-officio member of the Board and reports to the BC Government quarterly through the JCLS Project Office.

We acknowledge our elders past and present whom we honour with these legacy initiatives

Susan Matsumoto

Donald Watanabe

Ann Ashley

Ruth Coles

Marlene Mori

photo: Susanne Tabata

Kelvin Higo

Shelley-Ann Yamashita

Cathy Makihara

David Iwaasa

ANNOUNCEMENT: Donald Watanabe appointed Project Director of the JCSHWF

The Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness Fund is pleased to announce the appointment of Donald Watanabe as the Project Director. Reporting to the Board of Directors of the JCSHWFS, Donald will provide senior leadership for the second phase of the Seniors’ Health & Wellness Fund. He will lead a team responsible for the development of the infrastructure and processes to identify the approximately 6,000 individuals who were dispossessed, forcibly dispersed and/or excluded from the 100-mile restricted zone, and again forced to uproot during the 1940s. Once identified, the Project Director and team will implement an effective and efficient application process as well as timely distribute health support funding to qualified individuals. Donald is a yonsei on his father’s side and sansei on his mother’s side and was an outreach volunteer for the JCSHWF in 2021, assisting Quebec-based survivors with their applications. His grandfathers and maternal uncle were directly affected by the events of the 1940s.

Meet the Board Representing Various Regions in Canada

Ann Ashley Momiji Health Care Society | Toronto

What background do you bring to this project?

I have been involved with seniors for the past twenty-one years, since I first joined the Momiji Health Care Society Board of Directors in 2001. My mother was also a resident of Momiji at the time.

I was Vice Chair then Chair of the Board from 2001 to 2007 and am currently Co-chair again. Over the years, I have chaired three fundraising galas for Momiji to raise funds for seniors and have participated in all other events and programs with the seniors. I worked side by side with the seniors and got to know them and their stories. I have such respect for them and how they survived and succeeded after arriving in Ontario from BC after the war.

I am further involved with the seniors in Japanese Canadian Community here in Ontario, specifically, Toronto as I also sit of the Board of Directors of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC). I have participated in all fundraising galas and other events and festivals that specifically benefit seniors, this includes the latest outreach program for survivors that is a result of the JCCC application for grants from the JCSHWF.

Again I have worked side by side with seniors on various committees at the JCCC, be it in the kitchen or sitting in a meeting, and had the privilege of getting to know them.

I helped broker a partnership with a long term care home when I was Chair, for twenty five beds specifically for Japanese Canadian survivors, in one wing. I am currently working to get another twenty-five beds for Japanese Canadian survivors here in Ontario. I sit on the Nikkei Voice newspaper board, and we know most of our subscribers are seniors.

Though my involvement with the JC community I have made many connections with other Japanese Canadian organizations. As I have said before, it is always a pleasure and a privilege to serve our seniors.

What brought you to this project?

I came to this project from the recommendation from Shelley-Ann Yamashita, a director on the Momiji Board.

Marlene Mori | JCAM Horizons Club | Winnipeg

What is your background?

I have been the President of the Japanese Cultural Association of Manitoba (JCAM) Horizon Club since November 2015. The Horizon Club is a seniors club that all JCAM members 55 and over are invited to join. Our club meets weekly for eight months of the year for lunch prepared by member cooking teams. From time to time we have other activities including games, bingo and/or speakers. For the past 15 years

I have volunteered with the Canada Revenue Agency Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, which prepares income taxes free of charge for people with modest incomes. This includes many seniors. I have held tax clinics at senior's residences. In addition to completing their taxes, we advise clients on federal and provincial social benefits programs they are entitled to receive.

What brought you to this project?

I became part of this project due to my role as JCAM Horizon Club President. This is the seniors club in Winnipeg that provides services and activities for seniors in Manitoba. I was very active with the Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness fund and we did a well-received program delivering lunches to homebound seniors.

Susan Matsumoto Calgary Japanese Cultural Association

Calgary

What is your background?

I have been driven to volunteer since my high school years (a long time ago!) and that has not changed in the years that followed. I’ve participated on many Boards, and have also been a founding member of 2 non-profit Societies. I’ve also been very involved in dispersing funds to deserving organizations and individuals, both as an Alberta government employee (providing funding to organizations serving individuals with disabilities) and volunteering with the Japanese Community on a national and local level. My experience includes participation on the NAJC Endowment Fund, NAJC Community Development Fund, and CJCA Calgary Nikkei Cultural Fund. These involvements have deepened my knowledge of the issues of concern to our community and expanded my personal connections with our community across the country.

What brought you to this project?

Growing up, my mother would often share tidbits of her life, growing up in the fishing village of Steveston, and life during the war in the internment camps. It was not all dismal, as mom chose to remember the best of things –a strong sense of community. It wasn’t until I was older, that I was struck by the hardship and injustice of those years. I had the privilege to participate on the Selection Committee for the initial BC government grant of $2 million and saw the myriad programs, events and services that would be provided to our survivors. What a great step in the reconciliation process! With this project comes the opportunity to help even more people and I have the honour of being invited to help in the process. I have long believed that my ikigai – my life’s passion – is to help others and I’m delighted to have this opportunity to do so.

Shelley-Ann Yamashita Momiji Health Care Society | Toronto

What is your background?

As a health and wellness practitioner, I have worked with the senior population for more than 30 years in a variety of areas of health and wellness, and I have been passionate about challenging the negative stereotypical views of seniors, and emphasizing the value our elders bring to society. My many years of service as a Momiji Health Care Society Board Member and co-chair of it’s Fundraising Committee, as well as my experience in Corporate Communications has given me an avenue to not only honour Japanese seniors, but also to highlight the importance of inter-generational relationships and to bring the community together in celebration of the Japanese culture and its elders.

What brought you to this project?

As a third generation Japanese Canadian – and a younger member of a large extended family – I had the privilege of being around and interacting with many elders. I am grateful for these experiences that encouraged not only my interests in seniors and aging, but also my years living in Japan to explore my Japanese heritage. This led to joining as a board member of Momiji Health Care Society in the late 90s. As a returning and current board member, I had the great opportunity to be a part of the JCSHWF Adhoc Committee, and I am honoured now to serve as a board member for the Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness Fund Society.

Ruth Coles President Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society | Burnaby

What is your background?

Having been brought up with Christian values and parents who dedicated their lives in service to others, especially during the relocation of Japanese Canadians in 1942, serving others has been a large part of my life. My father was instrumental in helping many Japanese families relocate to Grand Forks in response to the many letters and telegrams he received from families pleading for assistance. I believe that my choice of social work as a profession is in response to seeing the community’s needs at large. Forty years ago, a request from some Japanese Canadian women came to a few of us in health care, to respond to the plight of Japanese Canadian seniors' need for a "culturally sensitive" care facility and programs. Since that time, I have been involved in working on programs and projects to meet this need. Thus, my involvement with Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society; Robert Nimi Nikkei Home, New Sakura-so and Outreach Programs.

What brought you to this Project?

The continued need of the Japanese Canadian survivors identified in the first $2 million project led me to this second phase of the BC government's grant for Health and Wellness. Our survivors are aging and in many cases, their need for assistance is increasing. Often these needs are not met through the current health care system. If we can meet these needs promptly, it will ease their life and help them have more fulfilling lives. That is my hope for all our survivors.

Kelvin Higo Steveston Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre | Steveston

What is your background?

In my career as Chief Public Health Inspector for the City of Richmond/Vancouver Coast Health, part of my duties related to regulating community care facilities including personal care to extended care facilities. I always tried to protect and promote the health of the underserved and vulnerable persons in our community.

Since retiring in 2016 I have continued my volunteer work focusing on advocacy and support for our senior population. At the Steveston Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, I have advocated for programming serving our Japanese Canadian seniors including Iki Iki and Genki programs; monthly Nikkei Seniors luncheons, wellness clinics and seminars protecting the health and welfare of these seniors. In 2019, I chaired the committee that promoted the design and construction of the Steveston Nikkei Memorial which honours those pioneers that came before us and laid the foundation for the success of the generations that followed.

What brought you to this project?

Joining the Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness Fund Society is an extension of my volunteer and advocacy work. In addition to this work, I also promote the preservation of the history, culture and traditions of our Nikkei community. We sponsor the annual Steveston Salmon Festival Japanese Cultural Show and host walking tours and educational activities featuring the history of the contribution of the Nikkei community.

David Iwaasa Japanese Community Volunteers Association (Tonari Gumi) Vancouver

What is your background?

I am a third generation (sansei) Japanese Canadian, whose mother was forcibly removed from her home in Langley, B.C. in 1942. My wife’s family was also forcibly removed from Vancouver and Mayne Island. Currently, I am the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Japanese Community Volunteers Association (Tonari Gumi) and have served on the

staff and as a volunteer for more than twelve years. Tonari Gumi is one of the largest organizations within the community dedicated to providing programs and services to meet the needs of seniors. While serving as the Chair in 2018, Tonari Gumi was awarded a Canada Volunteer Award for innovative programs to assist seniors. I have also served as a volunteer leader in various other organizations and initiatives within the community and within my church.

Professionally, I was employed as an economist by the Department of Finance from 1975 – 1996, and as the Senior General Manager of the Canadian Wheat Board office in Tokyo, Japan from 1996 – 2006. In 1994, I was awarded 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation Medal for service as a member of the NAFTA negotiating team. My professional career has been focused on representing Canadian interests internationally and promoting the economic welfare of Canada. I am proud to have served Canada and feel that Canada should recognize the wrongs that it has committed in the past and compensate those that have suffered from these policies as equitably as possible.

What brought you to this project?

I am keenly interested in doing what I can to improve the lives of seniors within our community. In addition, as a descendant of survivors of the forced removal and internment of Japanese Canadians in 1942, I am committed to ensuring that their sacrifices are recognized and that they can live the last years of their lives in dignity.

Cathy

Makihara | President

Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness Fund Society

What is your background?

I began my work in the Japanese Canadian community as a Field Worker for the Japanese Canadian Redress Settlement office in Vancouver in 1988. From then to 2021, it has been my good fortune to spend my entire work life and volunteer years with the community. I have worked on many initiatives, and working with seniors has had a significant role. The best part of my experience has been working alongside volunteers. Together, all of us were and continue to be drawn to service to the community and its continuity into the future. My skills are broad, as community work requires, boots on the ground – it could be cleaning or leading a strategic plan, it could be training staff or speaking to concerned individuals, and it requires a compassionate side as well as a side which is resilient and persistent. It does seem to me that the work of the Japanese Canadian Survivors Health and Wellness Society is a part of this continuum of my life, and I do this now as a volunteer.

What brought you to the project?

This project is part of the work I have done in the community, specifically as the next phase of the BC Redress initiative to provide health and wellness grants to survivors. I volunteered on the initial $2 million fund in 2021-2022; now this $30 million phase is the continuation of the work we started. This is part of the public service aspect of my life, I enjoy it very much and feel fortunate that I can be part of another important, transformative initiative in the Japanese Canadian community.

jclegacies.com

Japanese Canadian Legacies Society carries on work of BC Redress

As we move forward to begin implementation of the various programs under the four funded pillars of education, heritage, community & culture, and seniors health & wellness, here are points of clarification between the NAJC and the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society.

The Legacy of BC Redress

The NAJC took the political risk to advocate for BC Redress. The Japanese Canadian Legacies Society (JCLS) is set up to take all the responsibility to manage the funds, ensuring accountability to the BC Government and the community is met over the duration of all projects.

The JCLS was set up to provide oversight to the implementation of legacy initiatives created as part of a set of proposals under the umbrella of the NAJC BC Redress Project led by Susanne Tabata, who developed viable initiatives which honour Japanese Canadian legacies in BC (November 2019 – June 2022). The NAJC team supporting this work included honorary co-chairs Art Miki and Maryka Omatsu, then NAJC President Lorene Oikawa, and BC Redress Project Advisor Paul Kariya. In addition, support came from the National Executive Board and the National Council of the NAJC, representing 19 organizations across the country. A list of gratitude is published on the jclegacies.com site, citing specific individuals and the roles they played, including former BC

MLA Naomi Yamamoto who led the 2012 BC Government apology with support from Tosh Suzuki and community; former NAJC President Lorene Oikawa who was politically aligned to the project and a key supporter of the process; and Justice Maryka Omatsu, who led the 2019 Community Consultations for the NAJC with Art Miki and team, collecting key data, and inspiring many reports which would follow.

Two carry-overs from BC Redress to the JCLS are BC Redress Project Director Susanne Tabata and the BC Redress Project Advisor Paul Kariya.

Japanese Canadian Legacies Society Board and Staff

The file of legacy initiatives moved with Susanne Tabata to the JCLS with NAJC approval. The Society is providing governance to the implementation of programs. All agreements (September and October) have been signed between the BC Government and the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society. The JCLS board is an oversight board, and its office reports to the BC Government quarterly. The new oversight board includes professionals in accounting, law, and government relations: President Paul Kariya, Treasurer Larry Okada, Secretary Brian Tsuji, Fred Yada, Karen Nishi, and Les Kojima. The board is required to have one seat held for a representative from the NAJC, occupied by Les Kojima, the current NAJC president. The Board seat was held by former NAJC board member & BC Redress Project Director Susanne Tabata, who has been appointed CEO of the JCLS. She will continue to work with groups and organizations to further develop and implement the initiatives, which are all part of the original $100Million framework approved in March, 2022. Kyla Fitzgerald has been hired as the Operations Manager for the JCLS Project Office, as a support to Tabata, bringing strong backend operational skills to meet the high output reporting requirements.

JCLS President Paul Kariya and CEO Susanne Tabata are engaging with BC Premier David Eby and his government who have put the Japanese Canadian legacies file into its mandate letter, as both parties mutually work to fulfill the overall historical wrongs package, which includes both the monument and a ‘housing with community space’ component. For more information, contact info@jclegacies.com.

Left to right: JCLS CEO Susanne Tabata, Premier David Eby, JCLS President Paul Kariya

Call out for Outreach Workers!

The Japanese Canadian Survivors Heath & Wellness Fund Society (JCHSWFS) is looking for motivated outreach workers across Canada to be part of an exciting team dedicated to finding and assisting survivors with their funding application for health supports.

Apply Now

• Be part of a dynamic team of outreach workers who will provide front line assistance to survivors during each applicant’s process.

• The JCHSWFS is seeking ten individuals from across Canada who have strong connections to, and knowledge of, their local Japanese Canadian community.

• Successful applications will be contracted for up to a 2 – 3 year term.

• Successful applicants will receive all necessary hardware (e.g., laptop, cellphone), and all related travel and meeting expenses will be covered by the project.

Applicant Criteria

• Available for up to 40 hours a week; after-hours, weekends as necessary.

• Comfortable with intake interviews, compassionate listening, and computer literacy are essential.

• Previous outreach work experience as well as fluency in Japanese are assets, but not mandatory.

• Having a vehicle would be an asset for in-person contacts, as necessary.

• Successful completion of a criminal record check for work with a vulnerable population.

• Submit a current CV and a brief cover letter describing why you should be part of the outreach team.

Application Deadline

The application window will remain open but successful applicants will be contacted for an interview by the end of Jan 2023 with employment to start before March 2023.

Submit Your Application to HR@jcwellness.org

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JAPANESE CANADIANS NAJC.CA

80TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNMENT

by Lorene Oikawa, Past President NAJC

Throughout 2022, the National Association of Japanese Canadians shared some of the facts and stories from 1942. We wrap up the 80th anniversary series, but our storytelling and work will continue. Keep up to date by checking out our website najc.ca and signing up for e-news http://najc.ca/subscribe/

We wish you all a wonderful holiday season and all the best for a safe, healthy, happy 2023.

BOARD MESSAGE

EXILE AND RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE AT END OF 1942

The story of the injustice against Japanese Canadians in 1942 is Canadian history. 80 years ago, it was the start of the forcible uprooting, dispossession, incarceration, and exile of 22,000 Japanese Canadians from the west coast of British Columbia. Most of the Japanese Canadians were born in Canada and multigenerational families.

By the end of 1942, about 12,029 Japanese Canadians are in the interior BC internment/incarceration camps, 945 men are in enforced labour camps, 3,991 are sent to the Prairies to work as labor on sugar beet farms, 1,161 are in what government called self-supporting sites, 1,359 are given special work permits, 699 are imprisoned in prisoner of war camps in Ontario, 42 are exiled to Japan, 111 are held in Vancouver, about 2,000 are registered and living outside of the “protected area” and restricted in their possessions and their activities, and 105 are in the hospital section of Hastings Park and will stay there until 1943.

The internment/incarceration would not be lifted until 1949, four years after the end of the Second World War.

The action against Japanese Canadians (babies to seniors) was a racist act not for national security. Senior representatives of both the Canadian military and the RCMP said that Japanese Canadians did not pose any threat to the security of the country. None of the 22,000 was ever charged with any espionage.

The racism is not limited to 1942. Racism was prevalent against Indigenous peoples and racialized settlers since first contact. It hasn’t stopped.

Remember the stories so that the injustice is never repeated with any other group of people.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JAPANESE CANADIANS NAJC.CA UPDATE

2022 was certainly an eventful year for NAJC. After years of persistent talks with the Government of British Columbia and with the Anglican Church of Canada, we started to see results from the two most ambitious projects undertaken by NAJC in recent decades: BC Redress and the Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians (HFJC).

Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians

As a reminder, the HFJC project was undertaken to provide healing support to the survivors and survivor families of clergy sexual abuse by Mr. Gordon Nakayama. In January, NAJC began “walking together” with the Anglican Church to interview candidates and ultimately to hire Peter Wallace as the Project Manager. By March, a work plan for the five-year project had been prepared showing three main categories of healing support: counselling support, education grants and community healing initiatives. A number of online and in-person meetings have since been held to inform the community on the healing support available, to bring together survivors in a Gathering of Old Friends, and to learn about intergenerational trauma. The project office has been reaching out to survivors, for example on the sidelines of the Human Rights symposium discussed below, to further discuss the available healing support. Uptake has been slow, with only nine applicants for counselling support and nine applicants for education grants to date. Given the fact that Mr. Nakayama is known to have abused hundreds of Japanese Canadian boys, the results to date show that (1) our community is generally loathe to ask for help and (2) much more outreach by the HFJC project is required before significant healing support can be provided.

BC Redress

In May, BC Premier John Horgan announced that the Government of BC would invest $100 million in six legacy initiatives recommended by the NAJC. As many of you know by now, the initiatives, or pillars, include

monument, education, senior health and wellness, community and culture, heritage restoration and anti-racism. The announcement followed years of effort by NAJC to consult with the community across Canada and to “flesh out” the initiatives. Many thanks are due to consultant support provided by Paul Noble. Major credit is also due to the negotiating team that included President Lorene Oikawa, Paul Kariya, and Susanne Tabata, and to Art Miki and Maryka Omatsu who provided advice and guidance. The entire project over the past three years was led by Susanne Tabata. Following the announcement, the NAJC established the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society to finalize the agreements (in May, no agreements had been signed or monies received; the first of such monies were only received on September 22, 2022) and to implement the legacy initiatives. Going forward, NAJC’s only involvement with the initiatives will be to utilize a $2.25 million capacity building grant that is currently being negotiated with the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society project office.

GEI Artists Symposium & Toronto NAJC Human Rights Symposium

As if the above wasn’t enough, in 2022 NAJC also collaborated with other organizations to stage two national symposia during the year. Over the September long weekend, the first national multi-day symposium of Japanese Canadian artists and Japanese artists living in Canada was held in Victoria. The event was a collaborative effort with the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society and the University of Victoria, and received funding support from the Canada Council for the Arts. Then, over a weekend in October, the NAJC human rights and young leaders committees supported the Toronto NAJC in a multi-day human rights symposium in Toronto. Although each event took place over a single weekend, the planning for each took over a year. In retrospect, it may have been overly ambitious for NAJC to participate in two national symposia in one year, particularly one as eventful as 2022. Yet somehow it all got done. Let’s see if we can carry the momentum forward into 2023 and beyond.

Photo (rom left): Cecilia Point, Kelvin Higo, Naomi Yamamoto, Kelly Greene, PS Rachna Singh, Susanne Tabata, Premier John Horgan, Mary Kitagawa, Aki Horii, Lorene Oikawa, Jim Kojima

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JAPANESE CANADIANS

Susanne Tabata Resignation

The National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC) announces the resignation of Susanne Tabata from the National Executive Board as she takes on the role of CEO of the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society (JCLS).

Susanne most recently held the position of BC Redress Project Director 2020 – 2022 under the umbrella of the NAJC. She carried that file to the JCLS, a BC-based society set up to provide oversight to the implementation of the legacy initiatives, which are baked into a framework dating back to March 30, 2022.

NAJC.CA

UPDATE

Susanne is focusing on the full-time development and implementation of the entire slate of Japanese Canadian Legacy Initiatives.

“The NAJC is the only organization which will take the political risk to push for redressing these historical wrongs and that ‘worth’ should not be lost in the new narrative regarding the implementation of the initiatives. At another point in time, this needs to be reflected. Gratitude to everyone in the NAJC and chapters who were part of this achievement, notably Maryka Omatsu, Art Miki (who were both co-chairs of the 2019 community consultations and honorary cochairs of the BC Redress team, former President Lorene

“The NAJC is the only organization which will take the political risk to push for redressing these historical wrongs and that ‘worth’ should not be lost in the new narrative regarding the implementation of the initiatives. At another point in time, this needs to be reflected.

Gratitude to everyone in the NAJC and chapters who were part of this achievement . . .”

Oikawa, who was politically aligned to the process; and the NEB and its member organizations. Read the gratitude section of jclegacies.com. The NAJC trusted me to lead this file and again trusted the process to set up the JCLS to continue this work. In keeping with the framework set up well before the formation of the society and the finalization of agreements, we want to make sure all programs get implemented and completed within a five-year window, as this is not an endowment.”

Susanne served on the NAJC board for six years and was the first Director of Arts, Culture, and Education aka ACE. She conceptualized and oversaw the creation of the online Japanese Canadian Artists Directory japanesecanadianartists.com and the GEI Artists Symposium a nation-wide artists gathering held Victoria in September 2022.

Says Susanne, “For the past six years it has been an honour to serve on the Board of the NAJC, thrice appointed and twice elected, under three Presidents – Bev Ohashi, David Mitsui, and Lorene Oikawa – and to create the portfolio of Director of Arts, Culture, and Education aka ACE. For the Japanese Canadian Artists Directory, gratitude must go the steering committee of Bryce Kanbara, John Ota, Emi Morita, and the team of Terry Watada, Sally Ito, Carolyn Nakagawa, and John Endo Greenaway. For the GEI Artists Symposium I thank the team of Melisa Kamibayashi Staples (programmer), Emiko Muraki (fundraising & logistics), Yukari Peerless (artist relations and communications) Kunji Ikeda (incubator), John Ota (architect programmer), Sally Ito (writer), and the great team at CAPI, including Helen Lansdowne, Mike Abe, the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society volunteers, and of course my GEI symposium co-chair, Cody Poulton. The ACE committee is well positioned to continue to strengthen our national arts identity and I wish Yukari Peerless the very best as she carves out a new path for the committee.”

Susanne will be working with the NAJC to develop the $2.25Million Capacity Building Grant which has been part of the legacy package since September 1, 2021. The NAJC looks forward to receiving and sharing updates and community opportunities for all Japanese Canadians.

Susanne lives with her nisei father Susumu. In summer 2022, Susanne was adopted by the St’langng Laanaas/Jaanaas clan of the Haida nation and given the name Si K’ajaang Jaad.

Susumu and Susanne Tabata

Landscapes of Injustice (LOI) was honoured and humbled to receive the Connection Award at the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Impact Award ceremony in Ottawa in December. The prestigious Impact Awards recognize the highest achievements from outstanding researchers and students in social sciences and humanities research, research training, knowledge mobilization and outreach activities funded partially or fully by SSHRC. The finalists are selected by a jury composed of renowned experts from academia, as well as the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.

In particular, the Connection Award recognizes an outstanding SSHRCfunded initiative that facilitates the flow and exchange of research knowledge within and/or beyond the social sciences and humanities research community. It is given to an individual or team whose initiative has engaged the campus and/or wider community, and has generated intellectual, cultural, social and/or economic impacts.

Stanger-Ross is the first faculty member at the University of Victoria (Uvic) to receive an Impact award. He did so on behalf of the project’s multisector leadership team, which included Nikkei National Museum director/ curator Sherri Kajiwara, Governor General Award-winning teacher Greg Miyanaga, Royal Society geographer Dr. Audrey Kobayashi, UVic history alumna Kaitlin Findlay, and museum curator Dr. Yasmin Railton.

“This award validates the work that went into the human relationships behind this partnership,” Stanger-Ross states. “Landscapes of Injustice was a community. We realized that we could work together to find answers to common questions, and that by doing so we might challenge historical and systemic injustices more powerfully than any of us ever could alone.”

The Honourable Madam Justice Maryka Omatsu, Canada’s first East Asian woman judge and member of the National Association of Japanese

www.landscapesofinjustice.com

The database they created is also an indispensable resource for the Japanese Canadian community in its ongoing talks with the BC Government for redress.”

From Landscapes of Injustice, a new research network has emerged, Past Wrongs, Future Choices , with Stanger-Ross and Kobayashi as Project Co-directors. They have gathered together former members of the LOI team and dozens of new participants spanning five continents. This initiative will be the first ever to connect records related to the mid-20th century malevolent treatment of people of Japanese descent in allied countries throughout the Americas and the Pacific.

“This powerful public history project has changed the national conversation about what happened to Japanese Canadians in the mid-20th century and why it matters today,” states Alexandra D’Arcy, Humanities Associate Dean Research at Uvic. “By choosing connection and cooperation, the research and resources developed by the Landscapes of Injustice team — and now those from Past Wrongs, Future Choices — will have a profound impact for generations to come.”

The Landscapes of Injustice initiative has garnered a number of prestigious awards over the years, including the Canadian Race Relation Foundation’s 2018 Award of Excellence, BC Heritage’s 2021 Outstanding Award for Excellence in Education, Communication and Awareness, and UVic’s 2022 Reach Award for Excellence in Knowledge Mobilization. Their capstone exhibition, Broken Promises, was shortlisted for a 2021 Governor General’s award and received an award of excellence from the British Columbia Museums Association. The SSHRC Connections Impact Award was a wonderful note to end on.

Jordan spoke to Gregor Craigie on CBC’s On the Island about the project. https://www.cbc.ca/listen/ live-radio/1-48-on-the-island/clip/15953188-a-uvichistorian-recognized-research-japanese-canadiandispossession-house

by

Michael Abe with files by Philip Cox

Project Director Dr. Jordan Stanger-Ross, Project Manager, Michael Abe and Research Coordinator Kaitlin Findlay were on hand to accept the award. Photo: Alexandra D’Arcy

Searching for Japanese Canadian Home Cooks!

YOU: Love to cook, eat & talk about food. Perhaps you have some Japanese family recipes you would love to show others how to make in the kitchen?

US: Our casual cooking workshops are maximum 12 – 15 participants. Everyone shares in food preparation activities during these relaxed, hands-on learning & eating events, held at Tonari Gumi or Vancouver Japanese Language School.

INFO: For instructing a roughly 60-70 minute class, the Japanese Canadian Heritage Cooking program pays an honorarium. Shopping for all food & supplies and organizing of each event is taken care of by the program. For more info, please call Michael at 604 609 0657 or email torabc@gmail.com.

LOVE IN A DANGEROUS TIME

by Akira Imai 今井明

I suppose it was only a matter of time. The inevitability of a massacre based off of hate for queer, trans and gender variant people is a distinct possibility that many in our community have in the back of our heads, especially in the United States where mass shootings have tragically become mundane. Yet the Colorado Springs massacre at Club Q, much like the Pulse nightclub massacre in 2016, has sent shock waves of dread through the hearts of queer and trans people throughout the world. The most significant detail is that it was queer and trans people that were targeted in a nightculb that many people called home.

We could wax philosophical about the shooter’s motivations, background and life. I don’t wish to do that, as that kind of attention is what seduces a mass shooter to desire this macabre notoriety in the first place. It is a fruitless exercise, one that we fall into time and time again seeking answers to violent acts that devastate communities. The truth is that you do not need to search for long to discover the rhetoric that paint children and families as monsters.

From Robert Foster, a Mississippi Republican tweeting on 24 March 2022, “I think they need to be lined up against (a) wall before a firing squad to be sent to an early judgment” in reference to trans women like

myself, to the Women’s Liberation Front creating a map of children’s hospitals throughout North America in order for them to be targeted for harassment and bomb threats simply for providing medically necessary gender affirming care. Care, I might add, that adheres to strict WPATH guidelines and is endorsed by the paediatric and endocrine societies of both Canada and the United States.

There are numerous law makers and media pundits that create entire careers from stoking the flames of violence that are committed against us. The Alliance Defending Freedom, whose mandate is to curtail rights for LGBTQ people, had revenue of $65,187,555 USD in 2020 alone. This is one organization in the world among many with luscious coffers funding hate and marginalization. They are well financed and relentless in their pursuit to eradicate undesired populations from the face of the earth.

My point is that you do not need to look for very long to find this hatred. It exists, and we certainly cannot ignore threats that are made against our lives, especially from white law makers in positions of authority. While Canada has some of, if not the most robust laws explicitly protecting the rights of gender diverse and queer people in the world, those laws are not a panacea for violence and prejudice towards us. According to Statistics Canada, 2021 had 884 reported hate crime cases in Canada on the basis of sexual orientation alone. This is an increase from the previous year (2020), which was 530. This does not bode well for a society that sees itself as a bastion of civil liberties for queer and trans people. This is why I decided to write this article in the first place, to show that our existence means resistance. That too many of us live in fear of being explicitly and violently attacked.

As we can clearly see from these statistics and from the Colorado Springs massacre, this is far from an abstract concern. The violence we face is real and ever present. If you can accept that as fact, I wish to highlight the victims of this shooting that died. The people who had families, parents, partners, friends, pets, and most importantly a future that was stolen from them. A future that can never be replaced.

In addition to the 19 injured people who survived, the Colorado Springs Police Department have identified the five victims killed:

Raymond Green Vance (he/him)

Kelly Loving (she/her)

Daniel Aston (he/him)

Derrick Rump (he/him)

Ashley Paugh (she/her)

Daniel Aston and Kelly Loving were transgender. This is notable because, morbidly, this shooting came just one night before Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a memorial held annually on November 20 to commemorate our trans siblings around the world who were murdered. In some cases, the suspect is never brought to justice.

I can tell you that every year since I came out of the closet and lived openly as a trans woman, Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day I commit my heart and mind to the best I can. Coming together in times of need, loss and grief is a part of being a community. The loss of five lives from this world, in addition to all of the trans people recognized on November 20, is recognizing the absence of my siblings.

I have attended many dance parties in my time out of the closet. I can tell you that it is a place for us to let loose, have fun, and be our complete selves in a way that is difficult or non-existent in the rest of our lives. It is a chance to catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and be welcomed, knowing that the organizers have our needs and desires in mind. Witnessing only the superficial trappings of a dance party diminishes its wonder and wholesomeness. Multiple parents were present at Club Q, because they wanted to show up to support their children and participate in their lives. They wanted to see their joy, their triumphs, and the place that they had in each other’s hearts.

For all of the Right’s talk about keeping traditional family values sacrosanct, the one thing they fear the most is seeing us as family. That our families, chosen or otherwise, are a sense of comfort and love for queer and trans people. That we open up ourselves to being loved by others because we opened up the possibility of loving ourselves. For people like myself, it is being alive in the world with a part of ourselves that we

We queer, trans, non-binary Japanese Canadians have been volunteering at Powell Street festival, sitting on the board of the GVJCCA, working towards redress, and building community outside of Japanese Canadian spaces. In spite of having little to no recognition of our presence, we still commit to uplifting Japanese Canadians because our identities are indivisible.

never believed that we could love. That is what we mean by choosing love, that love wins.

I want every Japanese Canadian who is reading this to know that transgender people are not separate from our community. I am transgender, and I am a part of your community. I was invited to present at the NAJC symposium this year, speaking, along with my co-presenters, about issues like this. I am also not the only transgender Japanese Canadian person who exists.

If you do not see us as a part of this community, then you are refusing to see reality. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex, asexual, TwoSpirit, queer people have always existed in our community, long before this article was written. Even those few identities lack the comprehensive ways that we relate to ourselves and one another outside of the strict heterosexual cisgender expectations of our society. I am mindful that speaking on behalf of identities I do not share may come across as overreaching, yet being a part of a community is sharing and engaging with each other’s stories and experiences. And I share this knowledge with you because I have been engaging with the stories and experiences of my community members.

So let me share that many of us do not believe that you care about us. That our lives are not worth considering in the agenda that exists in this community for activism and social justice. That many of us, myself included, believe that we have to leave an essential part of our identity muted in order for civility and decorum to be prized over our self-worth. We fear that holding hands with our partners and sharing our pronouns will be met with sterile bewilderment or abject humiliation. The more that we shy away from sharing that part of ourselves with you reinforces the fear that our humanity can be ignored simply out of discomfort.

Many of us have been afraid of losing the one thing that we come to our communities for: connection. We queer, trans, non-binary Japanese Canadians have been volunteering at Powell Street festival, sitting on the board of the GVJCCA, working towards redress, and building community outside of Japanese Canadian spaces. In spite of having little to no recognition of our presence, we still commit to uplifting Japanese Canadians because our identities are indivisible.

This community is a part of our lives, just as much as we are a part of your lives. To be thought of fondly, to be recognized for our contributions, to be honoured for our authenticity, to pursue deeper understanding with one another, to engage courageously with vulnerability, that is what shows we have a place in this community.

Akira Imai 今井明 (she/her) is a board member of the Greater Vancouver JCCA

update

Holiday Message from the Powell Street Festival

Hello Powell Street Festival friends. We hope you are staying warm as we approach the holiday season! We have been working on some great projects and initiatives lately and are excited to share them with you all.

Winter Care Package Fundraising Campaign

Our Winter Care Package Fundraising Campaign is in full swing! Help us meet our goal of raising $10,000 by December 31 to distribute 250 winter care packages to the unhoused and precariously housed in the Downtown Eastside (Paueru Gai/Powell Street neighbourhood) and get some special Powell Street Festival swag for yourself! Donate $50 or more and receive a Powell Street Festival drawstring bag, or $100 or more and receive a limitededition tote designed by Emmie Tsumura. An initiative of our year-round DTES community care programming, this is our third Care Package project since 2020. Read more and donate today at powellstreetfestival.com/winter-carepackage.

2023 Japanese Canadian Youth Cohort

We are happy to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2023 Japanese Canadian Youth Cohort! This program offers an expenses-paid opportunity for young Japanese Canadians, age 19 to 29, who were raised outside of British Columbia to attend the Powell Street Festival, participate in its production, attend training sessions, and create a vibrant embodied experience of Japanese Canadian identity. We encourage you to apply or share this with someone you know! More information at powellstreetfestival.com/japanese-canadian-youth-cohort.

Leave your mark on the Powell Street Festival Main Stage! We are currently seeking submissions from artists, illustrators, and graphic, scenic, or other designers to create our next Diamond Stage backdrop, which will become an integral part of the visual atmosphere of our festival for years to come.

Powell Street Festival Society happily invites submissions Canada-wide, across disciplines and levels of experience from those who will be able to complete the large-scale, final design. Please apply online or share this call with those whose work we may not be familiar with yet.

More details: https://bit.ly/psf46-backdrop

We can’t believe the year is already nearing a close! Until then, keep in touch through our E-Newsletter (sign up at powellstreetfestival.com) and social media. Find us at Powell Street Festival Society on Facebook, or @powellstfest on Instagram and Twitter.

SCENES FROM THE SYMPOSIUM

by Mika Fukuma, Yosh Inouye and Wendy Matsubuchi

Top Row L-R Mike Murakami and Michael Hayashi, Kristen Kiyomi Perry and Fern Fujimoto, Jun CuraBongolan and after-party friends.

Middle Row L-R 2SLBBTQI+ presentation, Building Solidarities panel with Amira Elghawaby, Kim Uyede-Kai, Hayden King and Karen Cho.

Bottom Row L-R Sharing group featuring Kathy Shimizu, survivor dinner-75th anniversary dinner with JC researchers including Mona Oikawa.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

“We approach our lives on different trajectories, each of us spinning in our own separate, shining orbits. What gives this life its resonance is when those trajectories cross and we become engaged with each other, for as long or as fleetingly as we do. There’s a shared energy then, and it can feel as though the whole universe is in the process of coming together.” Richard Wagamese, Embers.

Richard Wagamese’s quote embodies the wonderful experience we had at the human rights symposium. As we approach 2023 and contemplate the success of this in-person event our goal is to prioritize the “shared energy” of in-person engagement and to nurture the relationships, actions and ideas that were the result. There is no substitute for the depth and richness of meeting in-person. Our AGM on Sunday, January 15 will be followed by a potluck dinner.

The Toronto NAJC Board of Directors wishes you contentment and joy and lots of hugs in 2023.

– Lynn Deutscher Kobayashi

UPCOMING EVENTS

NEW YEARS EVE SUNSET EVENT

Japanese Canadian Centennial Temple Bell at Ontario Place

The Toronto NAJC is convening a sunset gathering at the Japanese Canadian Centennial Temple Bell at Ontario Place. It may be the final opportunity to ring the Temple Bell at its current location in Ontario Place. A bell ringing ceremony in the Buddhist tradition will take place to start the new year and 108 guests will be invited to ring the bell. An RSVP is required to be included in the bell ringing.

To register for the event and for more details, phone 416-3179726 or email torontonajc@gmail.com

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & POTLUCK DINNER

Sunday, January 15, 2023

192 Spadina Avenue (Centre for Social Innovation)

AGM from 3:30 to 4:30pm (for 2022-23 members)

POTLUCK DINNER (beverages and wine provided) from 4:30 to 7:00pm (members, volunteers, supporters)

To RSVP and info on what you can contribute to the potluck email torontonajc@gmail.com or call 416-317-9726

Photos

First Friday Forum Keeping Harry’s Dream Alive

Before he left Vancouver, Harry had all his possessions confiscated, with the promise that he would get them back after the war, but when the war ended, it didn’t happen. He and many other Japanese Canadians instead got a paltry cheque from the government that only covered a fraction of their assets. Instead of lashing out at the world after the internment experience, he channelled his energy into crosscultural communication through music and dialogue, and he became a proponent of social justice. This gave him the idea to start the First Friday Forum to bring musicians and others from different backgrounds together to perform and share their music.

If you happen to be at Tonari Gumi on the first Friday evening of any month, you might hear the songs of Frank Sinatra, Joni Mitchell, or the Beatles, just to name a few. The singers and musicians who perform them have one thing in common: a passion for music. This is exactly what Harry Aoki, the founder of the First Friday Forum had, a great passion for music.

Harry Hiro-o Aoki was born in Cumberland BC in 1921 to parents who had been sent by the Japanese government to set up Japanese language schools in BC. When his family was forced to evacuate during the Second World War, they were told to take with them only what they could carry. Because his violin came in a cardboard box that was falling apart, he threw his harmonica in his back pocket and with regret left his violin behind.

At an Alberta internment farm, in his spare time Harry studied music by correspondence, bought an inexpensive bass and learned to play it. He was offered a scholarship by the University of Chicago, but was unable to accept it. He nonetheless persevered with his music, and throughout his life played his harmonica and bass with classical and jazz musicians around the world.

As he once told CBC Radio, “I’ve had so much experience with this thing called racism. Music is one of the first places where racism breaks down. Music is so easy to get at: you can just sit there, relax and listen. The colour of the person doesn’t matter.” Talking to The Bulletin in 2008 he explained, “Through music I was able to deal with not so much the general public, but well, musicians, who were just a little bit different, you know, and they accepted me for what I was doing.”

Harry would have been proud of the performers at his celebration of life. They sang in Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, Gaelic and English in the classical, jazz and folk genres.

The Aoki Legacy Endowment Fund

Through a generous gift from Harry, his friends established the Aoki Legacy Fund in 2008 in partnership with St. John’s College, an international graduate college at UBC that emphasizes international understanding and exchange. The purpose of the fund is to further Harry’s vision of intercultural harmony and social justice by equipping younger global citizens for a multicultural world. With Harry’s creative work in mind, the fund will support programs that encourage dialogue among artists, musicians, scholars, students and community members.

This year, the First Friday Forum took a few brief pauses because of the pandemic. However, we have now restarted, and are hoping to get back on track.

When: the first Friday of each month from 7pm to 9pm Where: Tonari Gumi, 42 West 8th Avenue in Vancouver. We welcome you join us, whether you want to perform or just come and listen. Refreshments are served. Admission is by donation, and net proceeds go towards the Aoki Legacy Fund.

– Wayne Soon Co-ordinator, First Friday Forum

For more information or to get on the mailing list: first. friday.forum2022@gmail.com

TATSUO KAGE CELEBRATION OF LIFE

On behalf of the Kage siblings, heartfelt thank yous to all those who were able to join us for Tatsuo Kage's Celebration of Life event on November 5. Despite the power outage all day, road closures, nearby traffic accidents, and no underground parking, over 120 of us gathered at the Nikkei Centre Hall to share stories, grieve, and celebrate the life and work of our father Tatsuo Kage. This included all of his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, our mother Diane and many of his colleagues and friends coming together in remembrance. While we relied on natural light, volunteers with flashlights, unamplified speeches, songs, and music the room was filled with gentle and thoughtful teamwork and perseverance which was the very essence of our dad in his life and work.

We began with a song, followed by a participatory flower offering ceremony which included inspirational readings from John Price and Satoko Oka Norimatsu, a story about the shore of the living to the shore of the ancestors, shakuhachi by Alcvin Ryuzen Ramos, and singing the song ‘Furusato’. Next was the Family Presentation which started with our mother Diane who shared how they began their lives together some 60+ years ago, followed by words from each of us siblings delivered in all of our unique styles.

Messages from family in Japan were shared by a few of our cousins attributing their entrepreneurial life choices and proficiency in English as stemming from our dad's influence on them. Also pointing out that they learned of the internment and exile of Japanese Canadians during WW2, which they would never have known about if it wasn't for their uncle.

Snacks and social time highlighted the 150 omanju prepared by Tonari Gumi members and a variety of drinks courtesy of the JCCA. Another highlight were the sockeye salmon harvested by three Kage-Thevarge grandchildren from their ancestral River within the St'at'imc Territory, and smoked in the traditional indigenous style by family friend Shane John.

Community presentations speakers included Roy Uyeda, Katsumi Kubo, Thekla Lit, Randy Enomoto and Judy Hanazawa. Messages from friends and colleagues from afar were also read, including heartfelt words from Mami Miyata, Rita Wong, Ruby Truly, Stan Kirk, Dr. Carin Holroyd, Dr. Jordan Stranger-Ross, Lorene Oikawa and others. After songs by a few members of our local Japanese singers and an open mic with Bill Chu, Kerry Coast and Lily Shinde, the event wrapped up.

Thank you to both David Iwaasa and Angela Hollinger for their effective Emcee skills without voice amplification. As the event ended, we were rather stunned and incredibly grateful for all the support we received from the community including Tonari Gumi, GVJCCA and the staff and volunteers from the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre. We especially thank the GVJCCA board members who prompted and supported us allowing us to do this event in honour of Tatsuo Kage.

by Kayla Isomura

Photo

Community Update

487 Alexander Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1C6 Tel: 604.254.2551 Email: info@vjls-jh.com

VJLS NEWS

Save the Date – 2022 Mochitsuki | December 17

We are pleased to be able to bring back our annual Mochitsiki event for families and community members to participate in. Tickets are available in advance online for $8 per person:

There are limited pre-order spaces with an additional limited amount available at the door on December 17th. This year’s event will feature both a meal as well as an opportunity to pound Mochi using traditional wooden hammers. This year’s event will feature a healthy Miso-zoni veggie soup with home made Mochi using premium Sho-chiku-bai rice.

We owe a big thank you to all of the volunteers who will be helping to prepare the food for this event!

VJLS-JH Holiday Hours

The VJLS-JH office and Library will be open until 4:00pm on December 23rd and then remain closed for the holidays until January 3, 2023. All Children’s World programs and the VJLS Winter Camp will run until December 23rd. Staff will be monitoring emails and voicemails over the holiday closure however there will be a delayed response as staff are on vacation or working remotely.

Understanding the Importance of Peace

On November 12, the day after Remembrance Day, VJLS welcomed Sachi Rummel, a survivor of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, and her husband Charles. Sachi shared their experiences of the atomic bombing, their lives afterward, and the horror of the bombing. In preparation for this day, VJLS teacher Maruo delivered lessons about the war to our junior and senior high school students who appreciated the opportunity to deepen their understanding of war and peace. After their talk, Sachi and Charles willingly answered the many questions that our students had for them.

An autographed copy of Sachi’s memoir, a book titled, “Hiroshima-Memories of a Survivor,” was donated to VJLS and can now be borrowed from our library.

Montreal Speech Contest

On November 27 the Montreal Japanese Centre organized a national speech contest for students across Canada and two of our students were able to make the finals. We are incredibly proud of their performances and abilities as they represented themselves and VJLS very well!

Okaeri: What does home mean to you?

As a space of belonging and welcoming for so many, VJLS-JH has thrived thanks to a diverse and engaged community dedicated to ensuring that Japanese Canadians have a place to gather and celebrate their language, culture, and history.

To recognize and honour this legacy, and the diversity of people, experiences, and ideas that have connected generations of students, families, volunteers, and community members to VJLS-JH, we are launching our Okaeri fundraising campaign.

We each have a memory or an experience that connects us to this place, whether it’s a warm bowl of udon from the kitchen, or volunteering at a Bazaar, or meeting a friend in a language class, and it is that connection that keeps us coming back week after week, year after year.

Through the Okaeri campaign we are asking you to consider making a donation in support of our language, culture, and childcare programs that will help us to continue creating these meaningful experiences and to help make our Hall feel like home for generations to come.

We appreciate your continued support and look forward to hearing what makes VJLS-JH feel like home for you!

To donate, visit www.vjls-jh.com/donate

JCCA Donations

The Greater Vancouver JCCA and The Bulletin gratefully acknowledge generous donations received during November, 2022. If we have missed your name, please contact us and we will correct it in the next issue.

Elaine Aura, Armstrong BC

Doreen & Robert Friesen, Ft St James BC

Mutsumi Hamakawa, Richmond BC

Sakaye Hashimoto, New Denver BC

Tetsuo & Noriko Kumagai, Richmond BC

Setsuko Kuwabara, Welland ON

Lillian M. Lee, Ottawa ON

Ken & Marianne Minato, Chilliwack BC

Richard & Nancy Minato, 100 Mile House BC

Masako & Kenichi Moriyama, Calgary AB

Lila Murao, Surrey BC

Harry Nakano, Thompson MB

Terry & Sumiko Nakano, Burnaby BC

Clara Norris, West Vancouver BC

Mary Okabe, Richmond BC

Yaeko Oye, Nanaimo BC

Kay Sasaki, Vernon BC

Kazuhiro Shibata, Vancouver BC

Shimizu Family, Toronto ON

Peter & Masako Stillwell, Richmond BC

Nachiko & Tad Yokota, North Vancouver BC

Kazuye Yoshida, Vancouver BC

Memory of Lily Kamachi

From Kiyo Goto and Joyce Oikawa, New Westminster BC

From W.B. Lee, New Westminster BC

It’s that time of year when we say thank you to everyone who has supported The Bulletin/Geppo over the past year, including the Board of Directors of the GVJCCA, the publishers of our small-but-mighty publication. I just did the math – The Bulletin will be turning 65 years old in the spring. Not bad for a community journal that started out as a way to bind together the post-war community that found itself scattered across the lower mainland in the wake of the lifting of wartime restrictions. Spring 1958 was a time when, in the words founding editor Mickey Tanaka (née Nakashima) “Vancouver was beautiful, the returning Japanese Canadians were definitely optimistic, excited with their jobs, happy to be ‘home’ again.” What a wonderful spirit with which to start out. Thanks Mickey, and thanks to our readers, contributors, adverstisers, community partners, and everyone who helps keep our engine running. If you enjoy reading The Bulletin but are not a subscriber/member, please consider subscribing and/or donating (see the opposite page) so that we can keep publishing year after year. Your support means the world to us.

Speaking of math, next fall will mark my 30th year as English editor. If being a new grandfather doesn’t make me feel old, this realization certainly does! I was on the cusp of becoming a new father when I took over the editorship from my mother back in 1993. It remains an honour and a privilege to be at the helm of The Bulletin, along with my Japanese editor colleagues. Wishing everyone all the very best for the holiday season, however you choose

President’s Message

by Cary Sakiyama

The GVJCCA 2022 Board thanks you, our members, for your continued support!

As a Director, it is truly heartwarming to receive the cheques and etransfers every month for your memberships. We receive a great many letters of support and cheques that far exceed the cost of membership, and many donations which allow us to continue to serve the Japanese Canadian community. Your contributions keep us motivated in knowing that the work we are doing is appreciated and that the Bulletin/ Geppo is of great value.

But wait, there’s more……another way to help us is to take advantage of a limited time offer of a 20% discount on a new GVJCCA gift membership! Any existing paid up member can purchase a NEW membership for someone else at a 20% discount. Share The Bulletin with your nieces, nephews,

brothers, sisters, kids, grandkids, in-laws, etc … a great gift that keeps on giving.

With your kind support in 2022, we were able finish our race-based data collection, host an amazing SUPER Keirokai, collaborate and create the Japanese Canadian Survivors Social Club, host the BC Redress announcement with NNMCC and attend the East Lillooet Memorial Garden Renewal. We also supported and participated in a Cross Cultural Walking Tour, Surrey Fusion Festival, Nikkei Matsuri and hosted a Community booth and SPAM musubi at the Powell Street Festival! We are very close to finalizing the renaming of one of Vancouver Coastal Health Centres –target March 2023 and our work with UBC to acknowledge the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association has resulted in a plaque that has been placed and we are planning for an unveiling ceremony in April 2023. We also implemented Japanese Canadian Heritage Cooking classes, four Directors attended the Human Rights Symposium in Toronto, we participated in the Kage Celebration of Life and we hosted a truly wonderful Volunteer Appreciation event. We still

GVJCCA

Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association

GVJCCA Volunteer Appreciation Party 2022

story & photos by Wendy Matsubuchi-Bremner

As we start emerging from the pandemic, volunteers of all ages and talents are reappearing in person as well as virtually. Since our last recognition event, many hands have made lighter work for the GVJCCA, at events such as Keirokai in April, Powell Street Festival’s SPAM BBQ and Community Booth in July, Nikkei Matsuri in September, BC Redress events throughout the year, and many tasks and sub-committees in between. All are welcome to join one or more GVJCCA committees, events or projects – young or old, veterans and/or newbies. No pay, but the perks include friendship, promotion of Japanese Canadian culture and community! Many thanks to all who volunteered in 2021-22, and to those who attended this event!

On November 26, board members April and May organized Rika, Liz, Akira and Cary to create the Volunteer Appreciation event. It was a pleasure for the GVJCCA to host and acknowledge the many volunteers who make our events possible. A nice turnout of about 30+ guests made for great company and wonderful conversations. Delicious food catered by Fujiya was complemented with Judy’s famous chow mein and many homemade desserts from Board members and guests! A fun time was had by all, with this year’s door prizes going to Cali, Akira, Shag and Jackson. Next year, it could be YOU organizing, attending – or even winning a door prize!

GVJCCA is already looking forward to seeing “the crew” at Keirokai 2023 on April 15! Like to join us? Contact us at gvjcca@gmail.com

JCCA continued

have one or two cooking classes in December plus our final JC Survivors Club event – a Christmas Choir Concert on Sunday, December 18 from 1pm at Tonari Gumi. The Very Moody Singers is a six-voice choir and are pleased to be presenting their first postCovid concert. RSVP: Please register by replying this email at socialclub@tonarigumi.ca or call Yuko at 604.687.2172 ext.105 by December 9

We are starting 2023 early and BIG – Shinnenkai! This year, the GVJCCA is hosting so please join us on January 7, 2023 at NNMCC. The party starts at 6pm, doors will open at 5pm. The early bird rate of $55 is available until December 23. After December 24, the rate is $60.

Please contact: shinnenkai.nikkei@gmail.com to buy tickets.

The Japanese Canadian Heritage Cooking Classes are continuing to be very popular and sell out very quickly. We will try to have two classes per month throughout the year but our challenge is finding more home cooks and chefs. Come join us and see how much fun it is.

More exciting news, we have booked the big hall at NNMCC for Keroikai 2023! Save the date, April 15. We are excited to honour our seniors, feel the room energy and break bread.

Massive thank you to John, Kao, and Kazuho for your incredible creativity over the past year, your desire for quality and your unyielding commitment to the JC community. I am in awe!

The longest nights of the year are upon us as the Winter Solstice nears. Take advantage of this time to bundle up, make some hot chocolate and get out to do some stargazing.

May the stars shine bright for you and I hope you have a very Happy New Year! : )

Exhibit TAIKEN: Japanese Canadians Since 1877 Nikkei Centre

Exhibit TAIKEN

Generations of Resilience

New 2022 | Ongoing | Free

Explore Japanese Canadian history and continuing heritage on the walls of the upper level of Nikkei Centre. Learn about the first immigrants from Japan to Canada; vibrant prewar communities in British Columbia; forced dispersal across Canada; and continuing stories of civil rights and Japanese heritage in Canada. Presented in English, Japanese, and French.

Tonari Gumi Supporting the Japanese Canadian community since 1975

To learn about Tonari Gumi’s support services and recreational activities for older adults and upcoming events, visit www.tonarigumi.ca.

Location: 42 W. 8 Ave, Vancouver Hours of operation: Monday – Friday 10am – 3pm Inquiries: 604-687-2172 info@tonarigumi.ca

Nikkei

national museum & c u l tur a l ce n t re

All Nikkei Centre Events at 6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby, BC phone: 604.777.7000 info@nikkeiplace.org I www.nikkeiplace.org

Thursday, December 29 | 11am - 3pm

First Friday of each month

7pm – 9pm

First Friday Forum

Tonari Gumi, 42 West 8th Avenue

Music, diverse genres and cultures. Standards, jazz, pop, classical, folk, world music. Poetry and other readings. Enjoy an evening of music, discussion, friendship. Admission by donation, net proceeds go towards the Aoki Legacy Endowment Fund, UBC.

Nikkei Mochitsuki | Free Admission Mochitsuki (or 'mochi pounding') is returning to the Nikkei Centre this year! A traditional New Years and year-end activity, mochitsuki is when the community comes together to make glutinous rice cakes the oldfashioned way: with a hollowed-out tree trunk and wooden mallet. Whether mochitsuki is a tradition in your own family, or you're completely new to Japanese cultural experiences, we invite the public to come join in this experience together. Watch the pros hammer away, and try your out your own hand at turning rice into sticky, gooey, irresistible mochi. The event features a demonstration by the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association.

Nikkei Nikkei

national museum

c u ltu r al cen t re

Start Here

Kiyooka, Nakamura, Takashima, Tanabe September 17, 2022 – January 22, 2023

Art Gallery Of Greater Victoria | 1040 Moss Street Victoria BC Curated by Bryce Kanbara, Guest Curator, Graham Gallery

Saturday, December 31, 2022

New Year's Eve Bell Ringing "Joya no Kane" at UBC 11:30 PM (usually ends by 12:30am) Asian Centre at UBC | 1871 West Mall, Vancouver, BC Joya-no-Kane refers to the annual ringing of bells on the night of New Year's Eve at temples in Japan. In fact, "joya" is one way of saying "New Year's Eve" in Japanese while "kane" stands for "bell."

• No registration required.

• The bell ringing may be cancelled without notice due to severe weather conditions.

Hosted by Vancouver Buddhist Temple 604.253.7033

Robbie Fukushima Japanese and English 604.618.3245

Sales Manager Nissan and Mazda Midway Mazda 604.538.5388 sales@midwaymazda.com #6-3050 King George Blvd Surrey www.midwaymazda.com

King George Nissan 604.536.3644 sales@kinggeorgenissan.com 14948 32 Ave Diversion Surrey www.kinggeorgenissan.com

From October 22nd – January 8, 2022, everyone is welcome to The Nanaimo Art Gallery to view a new exhibit by Cindy Mochizuki, Tides & Moons: Herring Capital, an animated art installation that employs memory work, archival research and oral histories to tell the story of Japanese Canadian fishing and boat building families who populated Nanaimo shorelines before World War Information: nanaimoartgallery.ca/exhibition/tides-moons-herring-capital

CommunityKitchen

with Alice Bradley and Lea Ault lea@hapaizakaya.com

COOKIES!

Anyone doing a Christmas cookie exchange? We did ours on Saturday and as we’ve been doing this for years we’re fairly good at varying our cookies so that there’s a nice selection. If you’re doing all your own baking it’s always good to try to make different types of cookies –different flavours, textures, shapes, and levels of decoration. One friend specializes in the simplest and best buttery shortbread, another does ginger spice cookies to disturb our sinuses. There is always a prettily decorated sugar cookie in there, and often there are chocolate cookies: crinkles or crisp biscuits decorated with royal icing. I do glazed lemon biscotti so there’s citrus in the mix; also, biscotti are easy to make and last for ages. I upped my presentation game with a quick brush of edible gold dust across their white tops. Now, there is me and my friends and our level of cookie making. Then there is Mom, whose cookie making is at a completely different level. Hazelnut shortbread crescents, dipped in chocolate. Mexican (or Russian depending on who made them) wedding cakes which look like snowballs that, once bitten or broken, contain a cherry within the shortbread. You get the idea. She’s done relatively easy cookies for us, thank goodness, as I’m sure we all have big hardcover cookbooks and racks of magazines to consult should we want a fancy cookie. You know, the kind that about halfway through making you’re sorry you started but now you’re in it and you may as well order pizza for dinner because they’re so labour intensive and there are racks of cookies everywhere and icing sugar footprints all over the kitchen. These recipes are the other kind. Let’s make things as easy and fun as we can, shall we? Happy Holidays!

Christmas Hermit Cookies

½ cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

2 Tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon cloves

¾ cup mixed candied fruit/citron

½ cup candied /glace cherries or maraschino cherries ( if the latter, then drain well and cut up)

½ cup raisins or currants, soaked for 15 minutes in hot water and drained well

½ cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F

Lightly grease cookie sheets or use silpat or parchment paper liners.

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, beat in the eggs, milk and vanilla.

Sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, and spices. Stir dry ingredients into the butter mixture, then stir in the dried fruits and nuts.

Drop by heaping teaspoons onto cookie sheet, leaving 2 inches between the drops (these cookies spread slightly).

Bake for 12 minutes or until done, starting to brown slightly on the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, remove to rack to finish cooling.

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

1 cup butter

¼ cup sugar ½ cup icing sugar ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups all purpose flour

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

Beat the butter until light, beat in the sugar and then the salt and flour.

Grease a 9 inch square baking pan or line with parchment paper.

Press the dough evenly into the pan, smoothing the top and making a nice even surface.

Score the dough into whatever shape you like: squares, diamonds, or small rectangles. Prick the top with a fork.

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, then re-score the dough so that it will be easy to separate later.

Return to the oven and bake for another 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.

Remove from the pan and break up gently along the score lines.

Glaze

1 and ½ cup icing sugar

Grated rind of 1 lemon

Juice of 1 llemon.

Yellow sprinkles or holiday sprinkles (Lea: edible gold dust!)

Mix together using just enough juice to make a thick but slowly pourable glaze.

Put glaze in a freezer bag, snip a tiny bit off a corner and drizzle over the cooled cookies. Or you could also brush a bit of glaze on the cookies to give a thin coat.

Sprinkle with the yellow sprinkles or any holiday sprinkle. It is also fine without any sprinkles.

Holiday

¾ cup butter

½ cup sugar

1 egg

Refrigerator Cookies

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

Strawberry or raspberry or apricot jam, heated and strained to remove any lumps

Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy, then beat in the egg and flavourings.

Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Stir dry ingredients into the butter mixture.

Turn out of the bowl, form a roll, then cut into 4 equal pieces.

Roll each piece into a 12 inch log, place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and flatten slightly and then using a big straw or wooden handle or other tube shape, make a trough in the dough. It need to be deep enough to hold the jam but not so big that the cookie falls apart. The ends need to have dough to keep filling from running out.

Put the cookie sheet in the fridge and chill for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Fill the little troughs with the jam. You will use about 4-6 tablespoons in all. Don’t overfill.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. It should be starting to brown on the edges. If you bake for too long, the jam will overflow.

Cool until cold. Then slice the cookie in ½ inch slices, cutting at an angle. You can lightly dust the cookies with icing sugar before serving.

Whoever reads this far gets a bonus recipe:

Mulled Wine

Mulled wine loves an Instant Pot or crock pot – it maintains a nice simmer that’s perfect for keeping mulled wine hot without boiling it into an alcohol-free syrup when you’ve had a few glasses and have forgotten that the heat is still on.

Combine in a crock pot or Instant Pot on low saute or in a heavy bottomed pot on the stove over a very low heat:

2 bottles of fruity red wine – Zinfandel, Merlot, or Grenache. Nothing too tannic and nothing too light, sweet or subtle. And NO OAK. Oakiness and tannins will make it bitter

1 c. brandy – this can be Calvados, which is apple brandy, or pear brandy, or even Grand Marnier. You can also add rum or bourbon.

1 c. fruit juice – apple, orange or cranberry work well

2 lemons, sliced any way you like, seeds plucked out please

1 orange, ditto

3-4 cinnamon sticks

4 star anise

5-10 whole cloves

A few peppercorns if you like!

Heat it all until it’s steaming and then sweeten carefully with honey, sugar or brown sugar – start with ¼ c., taste it, and then sweeten more if desired. We’ve compared mulled wine to sangria and that’s sort of the level of sweetness we’re going for. It’s up to you. Serve in sturdy wineglasses and garnish with cinnamon sticks, lemon or orange slices and a few cranberries.

Kanpai and Merry Christmas!

Milestones

SUNAHARA, David Fumio 1944 – 2022

Husband, Friend, Teacher, Gardener, Sociologist, Volunteer, Chef, Glass Artist.

David left us peacefully on November 16, 2022 after a good life characterized by much love, humour, travel, study, adventure, banter, friendship, creativity, and intellectual rigour.

Born to the late Tamotsu and Marion (Hoshino) Sunahara in Slocan BC and raised with siblings Setsuko Joane, Reginald, and Michiko Jane Eddington in London ON, David attended the London Teachers’ College; taught primary school in St Thomas ON; sky-dived 200 times; volunteered with CUSO in Sarawak Malaysia where he met his future wife Ann (Gomer); and travelled through Asia and Europe. Back in Canada, he married Ann and encouraged her work on Japanese Canadian history while he studied at Western (BA MA) and UofA (PhD). Policing management, especially First Nations Policing, was the focus of his professional life. Privately, his gardening, his many community activities, his dinner parties and his glass butchering rounded out his world.

He will be greatly missed by Ann and both their families, friends and neighbours. He did not want a funeral so we will gather in the spring when his garden is in bloom to celebrate his life.

In his honour, please donate generously to your local Food Bank or to the charity that he most respected: Médecins sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders.

GOTO, Yoneko May A peaceful end came to a wonderful life of a lady, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother in her 100th year. 31 May 1922 –30 Nov 2022. May was born in New Westminster and grew up in Delta at Sunbury, BC. After finishing grade 8 she went to the Goto family home in Yonekawa, Japan in 1937 to complete her schooling. She married Chuji (Charlie) (Chiba) in 1941 and he changed his name to Goto. May and Charlie returned to Canada in 1957 and moved to Kamloops, BC with their three children: Tab, Massey and Audrey. She worked at a few different jobs and at the Royal Inland Hospital in

Kamloops and retired in 1988 after 25 years with the Hospital Employees Union. She opened her home to all and always had a cheerful word and a reminder to “Drive Safe”. She enjoyed crafting and crocheting and made many afghans and scarves. Five years after Charlie passed away, she moved to Nanaimo in 2005, living on her own until 2019. May will be missed by family and spouses Jane, Lavinia, Dan; grandchildren Sylvia, Kevin (Carolynne), Lindsay (Craig), Mike, Steven (Winnie), Sara (Russel), Samantha, and great grandchildren Keenan, Corbin, Phoenix and Minerva. A celebration of her life will be held in May. Survived by sisters Kuni (Katsuji) Chiba in Kamloops and Hideko (Koji) Shima in Japan; brother Tadayoshi (Mikiko) Goto in Japan.

SOKUGAWA, Michael (Mike) October 29, 1937 – December 4, 2022. With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our dear papa, Michael (Mike) Sokugawa. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Fumi, kids Rick, David (Kelly), Mike (Sue), Jan, Gerald (Caryn) and Dyan (Kelly), many grandchildren, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, and nieces and nephews.

After many years at Tree Island Steel, Mike settled into retirement enjoying his garden, taking cruises, playing badminton, and volunteering at the Nikkei Centre. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family. He adored his grandchildren and was the best Papa. Mike was a hard-working, kind and generous man who cherished his wife. They were devoted to each other to the end.

Thank you to the staff at New Vista Care Home. In lieu of flowers and koden, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, the Nikkei Place Foundation or a charity of your choice would be appreciated. A private family service will be held.

YADA, Kiyoko Deptember 23, 1920 – December 4, 2022. It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Kiyoko Yada on December 4, 2022, at the age of 102. Born in Japan, Kiyoko immigrated to Canada in 1941. She resided in Greenwood, BC, Toronto, and finally returned to Vancouver. Over the years, Kiyoko was always grateful for the support of many close friends. She was predeceased by husband Kiyoshi, son Robert, daughter-in-law Louise, and son-in-law James. She is survived by daughters, Jane and Margaret, grandchildren Stacey (Steve), Darren, Brooke (Sean), Michael (Roula), Aaron, great-grandsons Lucas and Jacob, and family in Japan. Our heartfelt appreciation to the Fair Haven Vancouver staff for their kind care. Koden and flowers are graciously declined.

YOSHIDA, Fay Sachiyo January 31, 1958 – November 7, 2022. Fay was predeceased by her parents Yoshio and Harue. She is survived by her sister Joyce and brothers Doug (Luz) and James (Jean), nephew Daniel and nieces Sarah and Tamara. There will be a private Memorial service to be held at the Steveston Buddhist Temple. Flowers and Koden gratefully declined. Donations may be made to MADD.

One Nikkei Voice

– TERRY WATADA

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BLACK FRIDAY SAVINGS … IN AUGUST

by Terry Watada

A few years ago, I complained about the commercialization of Christmas coming earlier and earlier, a creeping of the sales period as it were. Back then, it seemed to start right after Halloween. These days, the Christmas Creep has ventured into September territory. I was in Hawaii visiting relatives from about mid-September to midOctober. It was around the end of September when I heard the simple strains of Christmas music over the Muzak system in Longs. Longs Drug Store has its equivalent in Shoppers Drug Mart in Toronto or London Drugs in Vancouver.

“You can get anything you want at Longs” to paraphrase Arlo Guthrie. If you don’t understand that reference, you don’t understand me. But it is true, you can get anything from sodas to non-prescription and prescription drugs to household items. There is the added bonus of products like crack seed, arare and bento. Amazing what you’ll find.

Sometime in the early 2000s, CVS bought Longs and attempted to change the name, but locals wouldn’t have it and complained. CVS, a mainland company, in its wisdom changed the name back to Longs. Never mind that many of the products have the CVS logo on them, the name Longs is forever attached to the store.

Besides the canned music, I noticed a few Christmas products on the shelves right next to the Halloween paraphernalia. Somewhat distressing but not enough to make my blood boil. But as time went on, more and more Christmas stuff appeared and more and more Christmas music tickled my consciousness.

By mid-October, the stores were into full Christmas mode short of Santa Claus on his throne, elves running around to assist, Christmas kiosks hawking decorations and the like, and wrapped presents beneath fully adorned trees. My lord, Hallmark started broadcasting a new Christmas movie once a week!

No one seemed to complain. Customers just walked on by as if it was all a natural occurrence.

I was told, it was all prelude to the season of giving and receiving. They anticipated Santa Claus on a surfboard coming into Waikiki Beach. Santa in a bathing suit naturally. His beard and hat intact, however. The ensuing parade down Kalakaua Avenue is colourful and much loved. Department stores like Macy’s and TJ Maxx (again, mainland stores) are decked out in Christmas regalia; and then there are the malls like Ala Moana – just dripping in tinsel and baubles. It is a Christmas Wonderland minus the snow, ice, and cold temperatures.

For a boy raised in frigid Toronto, a Hawaiian Christmas is a strange experience. I mean, where are the piles of snow (yes, I know there are brown Christmases from time to time here)? The high winds freezing everything in their wake? The fully clothed Santa Claus greeting bundled up children gasping in anticipation of receiving much wanted toys.

Christmas trees can be bought in Honolulu, for a premium price, though my father-in-law could always find a beautifully shaped five to six foot tree for the remarkable price of $14.00 US. I was skeptical but I had to believe him. The tree was wonderful. Most, I imagine, buy the standard artificial plastic tree. I know of one family who was very proud of their white tree (or was it silver?) slowly spinning on a floor mirror while (I’m Dreaming of) A White Christmas played from some source. Very surreal.

And also surreal was watching a movie like the aforementioned White Christmas or such classics as Holiday Inn , The Bishop’s Wife or a Christmas Story . Fake Hollywood winters on the screen were much more believable than the put-on fakery of a Honolulu holiday.

Yes, I understand, the season means a great deal of money for shop owners. They push their balances into the black at this time of year. So the desire is great to start the shopping season as soon as possible, but can’t they wait until Halloween is over, at least?

Apparently not.

And I haven’t even talked about the religious side to the season. After all, the birth of Jesus is the reason December 25 is observed. Not sure the date is correct, but it is the accepted date around the world. I am not Christian, so I have never been to a Christmas Mass or service, but I imagine they are very beautiful with the crowds, the Christmas music, and scripture.

Mind you, I recently learned that the hymn, Oh Come All Ye Faithful , was not in praise of Jesus but a call to arms for Catholics in Europe to invade England to rid the land of Protestants. The Catholics wanted Bonnie Prince Charlie of Scotland on the throne. Puts a whole new slant on spiritual music for me. And what of the new King Charles? Is he a usurper? Don’t think so, he is enjoying playing king.

In any case, I cannot stem the tide of the Christmas Creep. The almighty dollar reigns supreme in our land. I just hope the Creep doesn’t invade July one day. I did see a store sign that read: Take Advantage of Black Friday Savings Now! It was mid-September.

TONARI GUMI CORNER

Heartfelt thanks to our community!

Thanks to our community supporters through the years, Tonari Gumi has been able to raise funds for its support services and social programs from the sale of many beautiful, handy items that you have donated to us – kimonos, gift items, craft items, jewellery, Japanese dishes, quality rummage, etc. etc. etc. At this year’s Powell Street Festival, we had four large tents selling these items along with a sign, “We are re-cycling,” that also caught the attention of many people. Tonari Gumi also held the Fall Bazaar and participated in the Nikki Craft Market this year and sold various items with great success!

Please keep us in mind throughout the year when you come across items you might want to donate.

Yoroshiku ne!

Japanese Dementia Caregiver Support Group [FREE]

Tonari Gumi’s Dementia Caregiver Support Group is a safe place for caregivers in the Japanese Canadian community to share experiences and to connect with others. Sessions are over Zoom and open to caregivers living anywhere.

Target: Caregivers who are currently caring for family with dementia (at home or remotely)

Facilitator: Masako Sakuma-Anderson, BC Registered Clinical Social Worker

Session: [English] 2nd & 4th Wednesdays 1-2PM/ [Japanese] 1st & 3rd Fridays 1-2PM

Access: Zoom (Link sent upon registration) Inquiry/registration: Phone: 604-687-2172 ext. 102, email: services@tonarigumi.ca (Masako)

Walkers for the community

Tonari Gumi has gratefully received a number of walkers from the community. We are making them available for rent to anyone in need. If you or someone you know would benefit from using a walker or even just to try it out, please contact Tonari Gumi at 604.687.2172 ext. 101 / info@tonarigumi.ca.

Thank you for supporting Tonari Gumi!

Tonari Gumi’s services such as TG Café, Telephone/ Zoom Programs, in-person exercise programs, Income Tax Clinic, and the bento lunch delivery are supported by donations from the community and volunteers, making them available for free or at an affordable fee. For example, we have been able to serve seafood and even add desserts on some days despite the limited budget and the rising food prices thanks to food donations.

Tonari Gumi will strive to continue the services that bring anshin (peace of mind) to seniors and programs that bring joy to people’s lives. Thank you for your interest in Tonari Gumi and the wellbeing of seniors in the community and for your support. Tonari Gumi gratefully accept donations online via CanadaHelps at www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/japanesecommunity-volunteers-association-tonari-gum

The Japanese Community Volunteers Association, “Tonari Gumi” gratefully acknowledges and thanks the following people for their generous donations received October 26 to November 28, 2022. Although we try our best, we may miss your name. Please contact us and we will make correction in the next issue.

Monetary Donations Dan Kurahashi, Yoko Toki, Joyce Takeshima, Toshie Aoki, Mieko Ujiie, Geraldine K Fujisawa, Utako Ueki, Naomi Shikaze, Yukihide Ogasawara, Tomiko Noda, Masayoshi Mineta, Lillian Morishita, Sachiko Okazaki, Catherine Makihara, Takuo Hashizume, Yoshiko Saito, Hisako Tanaka, Masako Hasegawa, Shizuka Tsuzuki, Emiko Mah, Sachi RummelNorman Shuto, Sakukichi Nakamura, Shoko Shimizu, Yasuko Masuhara, Kyoko Shibusawa, Nick Sueyoshi, Kazuko Tomihiro, SHIBATA DENTAL CERAMICS LTD., Anonymous (14)

Monetary Donations (Canada Helps) Paul A White, Hisako Sung, Kiyoko Nakai, Crux Strategic Clarity Inc., Anonymous (1)

In honour of all JC internment camp survivors Chuck H. Tasaka

In memory Peter Nimi Sadao Don & Shioko Mukai

In memory Roy Akimi Kariatsumari Carol Kariatsumari

In memory of my parents, Tomi & Nobuo Nishimura Shawn Nishimura

In memory of grandmother, Sue Miyata Mutusmi Hamakawa

In memory of Marianne Natsuhara Anonymous

In memory of Yasuhiko Nakata (Canada Helps) Shirley Nakata

In Kind Donations Toshie Aoki, Kazuko Koyanagi, Tazuko Mochizuki, Toshi Kimbara, Taka Iida, Makoto Matsuzawa, Emiko Pang, Yoshiko Saito, Hisako Tanaka, Akemi Wakabayashi, Yuka Brennen, Atsumi Hashimoto, Terry Culp, Eri Matsumoto, Makiko Suzuki, George Hara, Takuko Suzuki, Tak Sugii, Shawn Nishimura, Stella Tin, Jessy Johl/Queen Elizabeth Lions Club, , Anonymous (7)

MONTHLY GIVING

Monetary Donations (Canada Helps) Takashi Sato, Tsutae Suzuki, Mitsuko Mizuguchi, Tamotsu Nagata, Satomi Yamashita, Emiko Morita, Anonymous (1)

OUR EDIBLE ROOTS

Year End Report

The Japanese Canadian Kitchen Garden

by Makiko Suzuki

Tonari Gumi Garden Club celebrated the gardening season with a “Year in Review” potluck luncheon. Introductory remarks reminded of the hard work and challenges faced and the bounty of harvest reaped. TGGC is looking forward to the 2023 growing season and already developing a 2023 planting schedule!

TGGC provides an opportunity to grow, process, and enjoy fresh Japanese vegetables. Many delicious preparations are experienced. The 2021 year-end potluck featured the group making okonomiyaki. This year participants pinched, steamed, and fried Kyoto gyoza, and enjoyed the huge assortment of wonderful potluck dishes.

Myoga plants from several plots sent up masses of flower shoots late summer through November. Most were sold at the Nikkei Garden Market or delivered to Tonari Gumi seniors’ lunch program. The residuals were preserved for special preparations. Atsumi Hashimoto created a sumptuous Myoga Amazuzuke (Sweet Pickled Japanese Ginger) for potluck participants. Eddy Hayashi’s salt baked sockeye salmon was also a special treat!

Paul Christiansen made the trek out from Langley to join our celebrations. This year, Paul graciously supplied a large garden plot on his Langley farm. Plus, he set up a watering system for six – 100-foot garden beds and built a tool storage shed and outhouse for TGGC volunteers! Paul solved problems and assisted. A bountiful harvest of fresh vegetables and flowers followed. Together with Paul’s blueberries and apples, the harvest supplemented Tonari Gumi’s lunch programs and sales at the TGGC – Nikkei Garden Market table.

The Langley farm plot provided ample space to raise several varieties of kabocha. Prolific production followed, assisted by planting Hanamame beans nearby – Hanamame flowers attract pollinators. After harvesting and drying, beans were saved for sowing next year, but some were simmered with sugar and sake to create Hanamame Nimame, a traditional Japanese dessert for us to enjoy.

Meanwhile, Larry Okada’s front yard garden raised the standard for kobocha; his bed grew unique Black Futtsu Early, a fragrant Japanese heirloom. At the Gala (potluck) Larry’s produce was served as Kabocha No Nimono, a delicious, savoury simmered dish.

In closing the year: TGGC acknowledges support of community members Gary and Emmy Mikurabe, for their donation of wonderful fuki and delicious plums, hand-picked from the fabled tree growing in their backyard featured in an earlier edition of The Bulletin. Orrin Morishita of West Coast Seeds again supplied most seedstock that enabled TGGC to grow produce for the Tonari Gumi kitchen and provide fresh nutrition to seniors’ lunches and obentos distributed through TG’s ‘Meals on Wheels’ program. This year West Coast Seeds donated a huge length of float cloth that ‘saved TGGC’s bacon’. The cloth protected seedlings from the summer heat wave and sheltered maturing greens as the temperature lowered. Tokyo Bekana, Mizuna and Komatsuna mustard greens were harvested throughout the summer and well into November.

A big thank you to community members Aki(hiko) Miyaji – for donation of amazing rosemary and aloe vera plants, Betty von Hardenberg – for her rakkyo bulbs, and Lucy Matsuba – for access to her warabi fields. Nachiko Yokota, donated lovely Japanese towels. After stamping with Tonari Gumi’s logo the towels ‘sold out’ at the TGGC market table. Proceeds from these generous contributions support services and activities at Tonari Gumi.

TGGC could not have been achieved this without a crew of dedicated volunteers. Kudos to Mamiko, Eddy, Larry, Sharon, Vicki, Miki, Tracy, Mayumi, David, Peter, Kasue, Sato, Yuto and our summer student, Emily. TG staff Masako and Rie donated fruits, vegetables, and seedlings and assisted TGGC in many ways – thank you!

In the new year we will track progress of Sharon Hara’s yuzu plants, discover how Samiko Guest’s experiment in growing Japanese rice fared, and report further on lessons learned during the 2022 growing season.

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2022

by Linda Reid | photos by Wendy Matsubuchi

After two years of limited gatherings at the Japanese Canadian War Memorial in Stanley Park, 430 people came out to pay their respects to those who had served in the Canadian Armed Forces. The light sprinkling of rain did not deter the onlookers from gathering, or later laying their poppies on the cenotaph.

David Iwaasa, the master of ceremonies, paid tribute to the 32 Japanese Canadian men who somehow, against all odds and discrimination, were able to enlist before the bombing of Pearl Harbor in the Canadian Armed Forces. All but three of them were from outside British Columbia, because BC units had been instructed not to enlist Japanese Canadians. Once Canada declared war on Japan in December of 1941, an Order in Council under the War Measures Act made it official throughout Canada that Japanese Canadians were not to be enlisted during the war. It should be noted that despite this discriminatory and racist ruling (because no similar exclusionary action was taken against German and Italian Canadians) those Japanese Canadians who were already in the Canadian Armed Forces continued to serve diligently and bravely while many of their own families and friends were being uprooted and deprived of their civil rights in Canada. Late in the Second World War, the British and Australian Armies pressured Canada to allow Japanese Canadians to enlist because they were in desperate need of Japanese speakers to serve in the South East Asian Translation & Interrogation Centre (SEATIC). Ironically, many of the Japanese Canadians who were then recruited had to take Japanese language training because they were already so fully integrated into Canadian society that their Japanese language abilities had languished.

PROGRAM

David Iwaasa managed the program smoothly, starting with a powerful performance of Chibi Taiko, led by Shinobu Homma and Tai Anderson. Following a moving rendition of O Canada led by Kevin Takahide Lee, David introduced the representatives this year. Reverend Tatsuya Aoki of the Vancouver Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temple gave us a chance to reflect on his words from a Buddhist perspective. The Last Post and the Lament were performed by Bugler Bombardier Couturier who, we found out later, speaks fluent Japanese, learned at the Vancouver Japanese Language School! The lament was piped by Edward McIlwaine. A longtime supporter of our event, we are always glad to see him. Eileen Kitamura recited In Flanders Fields, and David Mitsui’s daughter Meaghan Becker from Edmonton recited the Act of Remembrance. David, the grandson of Sgt. Masumi Mitsui MM, was missed this year as he is recovering from a knee operation. We were also grateful to see five VPD constables on horseback who graced our ceremony.

Quinn Rinke, the Constituency Assistant for Vancouver Centre and Personal Assistant to Dr. Hedy Fry, provided an official statement from the House of Commons, which David read. It acknowledged the land of the first nations we are on, and paid tribute to the sacrifices

made by Japanese Canadian soldiers: “Today as we remember them, let us be aware that those values they fought for are once again, under attack, globally, by anti-democratic, extreme nationalist and fascist ideology”.

Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA for Vancouver West End and Coal Harbour, also acknowledged Indigenous Remembrance Day a few days ago, and acknowledged the similarities of racist policies stripping both cultures of their rights. He encouraged us to think each day, “are we are worthy of their sacrifices?” He also looked forward to reconciliation with the First Nations as we move forward.

For the first time God Save the King was sung by Kevin Takahide Lee, reminding us of the legacy of the British Empire with which as a commonwealth country, Canada has a long and complex history.

WREATHS

An extraordinary year of wreath layers kept Hanamo Florist very busy! There were 22 wreath layers in total, with three new organizations making requests to lay a wreath each year moving forward. The wreath layers were:

BESL Legion #9 Meaghan Becker (great granddaughter of WWI veteran, Masumi Mitsui)

S-20 & Nisei Veterans Association Mike Yamauchi, grandson of WWII veteran, Peter Shoji Yamauchi.

Government of Canada Representing MP Dr. Hedy Fry, assistant Quinn Rinke

Province of British Columbia MLA for the West End/Coal Harbour, Spencer Chandra Herbert

Consul General of Japan Consul General Kouhei Maruyama

RCMP Corporal Peter Somerville

VPD and Mounted Unit Inspector James Flewelling

NAJC Past President Lorene Oikawa

NNMCC Executive Director Karah Goshinmon Foster

City of Vancouver Lisa Dominato, Councillor

Vancouver Parks Board

GVJCCA President Cary Sakiyama

Tonari Gumi Executive Director Keiko Funahashi & Vice Chair Makiko Suzuki

VJLS & Japanese Hall Executive Director Darius Maze

BC Jodo Shinshu Temples Ted Akune

Vancouver Konko Faith Reverend Roderick Hashimoto

Holy Cross Anglican Church Alecia Greenfield

Seicho-No-Ie Church Cleusa Yamamoto

Nikkei Seniors HC&HS Jay Haraga

Japanese Canadian Legacies Society Susanne Tabata

Ohfukai Katsumi Kubo

National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Joy Mooney

Open poppy wreath for everyone Kathy Yamamoto

Mike Yamauchi, grandson of Peter Shoji Yamauchi (Second World War veteran), said a few words on behalf of the family, to pay tribute to Chic Tanaka (wife of Henry Tanaka, veteran of the Korean War) who passed away this year. He dedicated his poppy which was given to him by her, (who is also his great aunt) in her memory. Chic and Henry were stalwarts of the Japanese Canadian War Memorial committee for decades, Chic being in charge of the food for the reception, which until the pandemic was held after the ceremony. For some years, she hand-rolled the sushi for the reception!

We are hopeful that we are able to resume our gathering next year at the Rowing Club, which we did not do this year due to concerns over the Covid 19 virus and other respiratory viruses still circulating.

THANKS

The event was live streamed by Adam PW Smith and his crew, Marc L’Esperance, and Brandon Fletcher, and live viewed by 288 people across Canada. At the time of this report, the new polished recording has an additional 230 views. The recording will remain posted for the year, and is available on our youtube channel, see the following link:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j_g1PpOsoE

centre.nikkeiplace.org/events/remembranceday-2022/

You can view 2020 & 2021 special edition Remembrance Day recordings created during the pandemic, which include videos of local filmmakers Linda Ohama and Susanne Tabata.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn11ebO7exY www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIe0dXR_NDI

We gratefully acknowledge Adam & his team, sponsored by Veteran’s Affairs Canada, Nikkei National Museum specifically Nichola Ogiwara, Isabelle Rupos & Patrick Fujiwara, Nikkei Place Foundation, and the NAJC for their support. We also thank John Kamitakahara from Kami Insurance for the loan of the generator each year!

This event was hosted by the JCWMC and the NNMCC, Chair Linda Kawamoto Reid, Moderator David Iwaasa, Veteran Tak Irizawa, David Mitsui, and Frank Kamiya.

Legacy Gala raises over $105,000 for the Japanese Canadian community at Nikkei Place

On October 22, 2022, the Nikkei Place Legacy Gala was hosted at Nikkei Centre, emceed by JC actors Hiro Kanagawa and Jennifer Spence. On behalf of the Nikkei Place Foundation and Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, thank you to all our guests for joining us! We extend our deepest appreciation to our friends, donors, sponsors, volunteers and staff for making the Nikkei Place Legacy Gala a great success.

 View Photo Gallery: centre.nikkeiplace.org/ legacy-gala-photos

Our event committee worked tirelessly to bring together an evening to remember; 180 guests gathered to reconnect, rediscover, and honour community leaders for their enduring and dedicated service. It was an evening that allowed us to honour the late Robert T. Banno, Raymond Moriyama, Suki Takagi, Susanne Tabata, Paul Kariya and Yoshi Hashimoto, and celebrate Kianna Darbyshire, GOLD

Kenji Yamamoto and Max Hashimoto for their 20202022 Nikkei Youth Athletics Bursary. Among the guests included Premier John Horgan, City of Burnaby Mayor, His Worship Mike Hurley, newly appointed Consul General Kohei Maruyama, and Deputy Consul General Masayo Tada.

Together over $105,000 was raised for the JC community at Nikkei Place! All proceeds of the evening equally support the Nikkei Place Foundation and the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre’s education and cultural programs, museum collection, Charles H. Kadota Resource Centre, and exhibit development. It supports Nikkei Place Foundation with a portion dedicated to the newly created “Robert Banno Endowment Fund”, which is a restricted fund named in memorium of the Foundation’s founding Board President. This restricted fund annually supports the important work of Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre and Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society.

DONORS

GALA Louise Akuzawa & Ron Kruschen Masami Hanashiro Weiguo He

Jason Hicks Yoshiko Karasawa Hidemi Matsushita Jane Nimi Carrie Okano

Robert Banno, QC Don Campbell P. Anthony (Tony) McArthur Brian Tsuji

FUND-A-NEED

Anonymous (2)

Alan & Betsy Shimokura Ray & Joyce Shimokura

Leigh Ann Shoji-Lee Norman Shuto & Patricia Wallace Fred & Linda Yada

ROBERT BANNO ENDOWMENT

FUND

Anonymous

Kevin Banno Dean & Ayumi Dalke Sandy Elliott Akiko Gomyo Masami Hanashiro Jason Hicks Kevin & Denise Isomura

John & Carol-Anne Kamitakahara

Paul & Diana Kariya Linda Kawamoto Reid Cathy Makihara David Makihara Yukimi Makihara

Yuki Matsuno Kathy Miki Ian Miki & Chieko Chijiwa Dr. Patrick Miki & Diane Miki Nancy Miki & Adam Smith Karen Nishi Laura Saimoto Kumi Shanahan Suki Takagi Karen Tanaka Glenn Tanaka Brian Tsuji Shino Watanabe

Paul & Sandra Beauchamp Don Bell Linda Parsons & Douglas Buchanan Donald Campbell Dean & Ayumi Dalke Robert & Irene Groves Pablo Guzman Cathy Makihara Justin Mooney Barry Penner Richard Press David Reid Michael Richards Michael Styczen Brian Tsuji Sam Yamamoto Fred & Linda Yada

Monthly Update Nikkei Place

Nikkei Place Donations

Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre

Honouring, preserving and sharing the history and heritage of Japanese Canadians and Japanese culture in Canada centre.nikkeiplace.org | 604.777.7000 | info@nikkeiplace.org | Support NNMCC: Donate by phone, mail or online

WHAT’S ONSITE 館内にて開催

Reception | Gallery | Museum Shop: Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00am - 5:00pm Sunday & Monday Closed

Nikkei Bookstore 日系ブックストア: Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 11:00am - 3:00pm Year-End Books Sale: December 3 - 17, 10am - 5pm

MORE INFO: https://centre.nikkeiplace.org/upcoming-events VOLUNTEER: https://centre.nikkeiplace.org/volunteer/

CLOSED

Sat. Dec 24 - Tues. Dec 27

OPEN Weds. Dec 28 - Fri. Dec 30 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

CLOSED Sat. Dec 31 - Mon. Jan 2, 2023

Regular hours resume on Tues. Jan 3, 2023

Kakizome - Japanese New Year’s Calligraphy - Free Drop-in Activity Saturday, January 7, 2023 11am-3pm

In conjunction with the Washi (Japanese paper) exhibit, drop in to write Japanese characters on washi with brush and ink.

The first calligraphy you write in the new year is called kakizome, which literally translates to ‘first writing’. Experience this Japanese tradition with family and friends. Write auspicious words associated with the new year or your aspirations for the new year. Materials, examples, and guidance provided.

On now until February 25, 2023

Nikkei Mochitsuki もちつき Thursday, December 29 11am - 3pm

Mochitsuki (or ‘mochi pounding’) returns to the Nikkei Centre! Join us to experience this traditional Japanese new year activity hosted with the NNMCC Auxiliary Volunteers. The event features mochi pounding by the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association, and cultural demonstrations. You can try pounding rice to make sticky, gooey, irresistible mochi.

MUSEUM SHOP ミュージアムショップ

https://shop.nikkeiplace.org/

Dress up your gifts in Japanese design and quality furoshiki – wrapping cloths that make your gift extra special, ecofriendly, and a sustainable item that can be used for a long time. Available in store and online.

CURRENT EXHIBITS 展示

Taiken: Generations of Resilience

Explore Japanese Canadian history and continuing heritage on the walls of the upper level of Nikkei Centre. Learn about the first immigrants from Japan to Canada; vibrant prewar communities in British Columbia; forced dispersal across Canada; and continuing stories of civil rights and Japanese heritage in Canada.

This exhibit showcases the work of Canadian artists Naoko Matsubara and Alexa Hatanaka, plus a heritage corner drawn from our archives. Exhibit produced in cooperation with the Canadian Society for Asian Arts, with support from the BC Arts Council and Deux Mille Foundation.

PERMANENT EXHIBITS

2F Kadota Landing – Treasures from the Collection

– Taiken: Generations of Resilience NEW!

MEMBERSHIPS 会員 | Visit: https://bit.ly/3vX4Jr6

Become an NNMCC member and get the benefits!

NIKKEI CENTRE is located at 6688 Southoaks Crescent • Burnaby, BC | centre.nikkeiplace.org | Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

Monthly Update Nikkei Place

Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society

Healthy Foods That Should Be In Every Senior’s Diet

by Dr. Melissa Carr

Some useful advice as we head into the festive season, when eating can become a major pastime!

Many seniors find it hard to know what foods are best to eat, especially with all the conflicting information out there. And with so many baby boomers retiring and living independently, it is critical that seniors get the right foods. So, while nutrition is best personalized to suit the individual, here are some of the most nutrient-dense foods you want to make sure to include.

Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are essential components of a healthy diet. They also provide fibre and other nutrients that may decrease the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Try to make half or more of what you eat be some type of veggie, including things like spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, yams, and mushrooms. For easier digestion, have them cooked, whether steamed or added to soups, stews, or slow cooked meals.

Fish

Fatty fish like sardines, mackerel, herring, wild salmon, cod, halibut, and tuna contain omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation and improve blood circulation throughout the body. Omega-3s also protect against stroke by helping prevent blood clots from forming in the arteries.

Many seniors don’t get enough protein, so having an easy and healthy source of protein is key. For example, sardines or smoked salmon on crackers makes a delicious and simple snack.

Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds are a great source of protein that help build muscle mass and keep you feeling full longer. Choose walnuts, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds for their heart-healthy benefits. Watch out for salted versions though as they may put you at risk for high blood pressure, if you have too much. If chewing is a challenge, consider softer options like cashews or choose nut or seed butters or milks.

Legumes

Legumes—including beans, lentils, and peas—are high in fibre, which helps lower cholesterol and keeps blood sugar levels under control. They also provide protein, which is essential for maintaining muscle mass as we age. Legumes can be served as a side dish or added to soups and stews. Try black beans in chilli or chickpeas in hummus! Edamame beans are also a wonderful snack or side dish to a meal.

Whole grains

Whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal are packed with nutrients such as B vitamins and magnesium— essential for good health. Whole grains are also rich sources of fibre, needed to help regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation, which is a common issue for seniors.

If you want to get a bit adventurous, consider adding in “grains” like quinoa and buckwheat. These are actually seeds—so they are rich in essential fatty acids and protein, as well as fibre, vitamins, and minerals—but they cook like grains and make a great side dish or addition to a soup or salad.

Getting older doesn’t have to mean a decline in health. In fact, eating more nutritious foods can help you age more gracefully while keeping your immune system and brain sharp.

Dr. Melissa Carr is a registered doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncturist with a B.Sc. in Kinesiology. In addition to running her own practice, Dr. Carr is also a natural health and nutrition consultant, lecturer, and writer. Her goal is to work in partnership with her patients to bring them to their optimal health. www.activetcm.com

Monthly Update Nikkei Place

Nikkei Place Foundation Donations

Nikkei Place Donations

The Foundation acknowledges donations we receive for Nikkei Place through our Tree of Prosperity program. Donate online or learn more: nikkeiplacefoundation.org/give | 604.777.2122 | gifts@nikkeiplacefoundation.org

As this year comes to a close, we wish you and yours a Merry Christmas, happy holiday season, and prosperous New Year!

NNMCC

Louise Akuzawa & Ron Kruschen

Anonymous

FortisBC Energy Inc. - Ian Miki

Stanley & Masako Fukawa

Toshie Hosonuma

Keiko Kobiyama

Betty Miller

Herbert Ono & Tara O’Connor

Tsuyako Sokugawa

Building Maintenance

Tsuneo & Noriko Miki

Nikkei Matsuri

Otowa Ryu Japanese Dance Group War Memorial Jeffrey Yamasaki

History & Preservation

For Shuzo Fujiwara Camera Linda Kawamoto Reid

NIKKEI PLACE LEGACY GALA Alan & Betsy Shimokura

NPF

Louise Akuzawa & Ron Kruschen

Anonymous (2)

Grace T. Asao

Ian & Debbie Burgess

Jean Laborie

Hiroshi Minemoto

Richard Murakami

Brian Tsuji

Roy & Yaeko Uyesugi

NSHCHS

Anonymous

Grace T. Asao

Robert & Cathey K. Hoogerbrug

Ronald & Shirley Lee

Atsuko Mori

Miyoko Watanabe

HONOURS & TRIBUTES

In Celebration of Sam Yamamoto’s 101st Birthday Tsuneo & Noriko Miki

I n Honour of Gabrielle Nishiguchi Jada Watson

In Honour of Barbara Voye Nancy Voye

In Memory of the Greenwood survivors who have passed away Charles Tasaka

In Memory of Tatsuo Kage Lisa Uyeda

In Memory of Lily Kamachi Ethel Adachi

Dr. Lindsay Kamachi & Family Toyoko & Alan Oikawa

In Memory of Takeo & Kanako Kariya Gail Mayer

In Memory of Mas Kosaka Philip & Pauline Cooper

In Memory of Toshimi Mitsui Dorothy Yamamoto

In Memory of Sakie Nariiwa Akio Tsuji

In Memory of Peter NimiFor Nikkei Youth Athletics Bursary Jane Nimi

Mikel & Patty Ruegamer & Family Stan & Audrey Kanegawa & Family Don & Donna Nimi & Family

In Memory of Peter Nimi Shirley Joe Joyce M. Nakamoto

Susan Yagi

In Memory of Shirley Ohono Farhang Arjomandi

In Memory of Akira (Chuck) Oye

Philip & Pauline Cooper

Mitsuyo Kawabata Nancy & Richard Minato

Joyce M. Nakamoto Bruce & Nan Tasaka Dorothy Yamamoto

In Memory of Satoshi Sakamoto Kazuko Sakamoto

MONTHLY GIVING CLUB

Anonymous (2) Carina Abe Ian & Debbie Burgess Brian & Marcia Carr

Patricia H. Chan Michael & Ruth Coles Grant Dustin Masami Hanashiro Tad & Mitsuko Hosoi

Shaun Inouye Kenneth & Bernadine Isomura Mary F. Kawamoto Greciana Langamon Tommy Li Shinobu Kadome

Stewart Kawaguchi Ted Kawamoto

Marie McKee

Catherine Makihara Masako & Ken Moriyama Anne Motozono Roberta H. Nasu

Craig Natsuhara

Takeshi & Mizuho Ogasawara

Chris Oikawa Hanako Oye

Linda Kawamoto Reid Vivian Rygnestad Jim & Norma Sawada Howard Shimokura

Audrey Shimozawa

Barbara Shishido

Sharlene A. Tabata

Michael Takahashi

Joyce C. Takeshita

Darlene Tanaka & Trevor Jones Grace Tanaka

Ginzo & Harue Udagawa Hisako Wada

Fred & Linda Yada

Chris, Jan Yamamoto & Family Norine K. Yamamoto

Sam Yamamoto

Tatsuo & Mariko Yamamoto Jack Yeh

Gwendolyn Yip & Santa Ono

HERITAGE ESTATE

GIVING CIRCLE

Yoshiharu Hashimoto George & Elaine Homma Betty Issenman Sato Kobayashi

Cathy Makihara Robert & Jane Nimi Carrie Okano

Linda Kawamoto Reid Richard & Gail Shinde Norman Shuto Haruko Takamori Sian Tasaka Fred & Linda Yada Sam Yamamoto

LEGACY GIFTS

Estate of Nancy Machiko Cameron Estate of LA Dinsmore

Estate of Gordon Kadota

Nikkei Place Foundation is located at Nikkei Place 6688 Southoaks Crescent • Burnaby, BC | www.nikkeiplace.org

果物・野菜

果物や野菜は、ビタミン・ミネ ラル・抗酸化物質を多く含んで おり、健康に良い食品として欠 かせないものです。また、心臓 病や脳卒中、2型糖尿病のリス クを減少させる可能性のある、 食物繊維や他の栄養素も含ん でいます。 　出来れば食事の半分以上を、 ほうれん草、ブロッコリー、カリ フラワー、ニンジン、ビーツ、サツ マイモやキノコ類などの野菜で 取るようにしてみましょう。消化 を良くするために、蒸したり、ス ープやシチュー、煮込み料理に 加えるなど、調理して食べると良 いでしょう。

全粒穀物

玄米やオートミールのような全粒穀物にはビ タミンBやマグネシウムなど健康のために欠か せない栄養素が沢山含まれています。全粒穀物 は、食物繊維も豊富に含まれていますのでお通 じを整え、シニア世代に多い便秘を防ぐ手助け にもなります。

ちょっと冒険してみたい方は、キヌアやそば粉の ような穀物を試してみるのもいいかもしれませ ん。穀物とはいうものの、実はこれらは必須脂肪 酸、タンパク質、食物繊維、ビタミンやミネラル などを多く含む種子なのですが、穀物と同じよ うに調理し、副菜やスープ、サラダなどに適して います。 年を取るということは、健康が衰える、ということ ではありません。実際に、栄養価の高い食品を多 く食べることによって免疫力を高め、脳を活性化 させ、より健やかに、より優雅に年を重ねることが 出来るでしょう。

もちつきイベント-12月17日

毎年恒例のもちつきランチイベントが今年も開催されます。 事前購入チケット価格はお一人様$8、当日券はお一人様$10 です。当日のチケットは数に限りがありますので、オンライ ンで事前購入されることをお勧めします。今年はボランティ ア手作りの「味噌雑煮」をご用意します。上質な松竹梅のお 米を使い実際にもちをつくところから体験できます。 準備からご協力いただくボランティアの方々に感謝申し上 げます。

VJLS-JH年末年始オフィス・ 図書館会館時間

VJLS-JHオフィス・図書館は2022年12月24日から2023年1 月3日まで閉館となります。12月23日までは午後4時まで 開館しております。こどものくに、日本語学校ウィンタ ーキャンプは23日まで開催しております。緊急時に備え スタッフがボイスメールとメールを随時確認いたします が、それ以外は返信までお時間をいただく場合もござい ますので予めご了承ください。

リメンバーヒロシマ

リメンバランス・デーの翌日、11月12日にヒロシマ原爆の体 験者であるランメル幸さんと、ご主人のランメル・チャールズさ んをお招きして、被爆体験や核兵器についてのお話を伺いまし た。VJLSの中高生は、この日のために丸尾先生と2週間かけて事 前学習を行い、戦争と平和についての理解を深めてきました。お 話の後、活発な質疑応答もできました。 　ランメル幸さんが執筆された「Hiroshima-Memories of a Survivor」という本をサイン付きでVJLSに寄付していただきました。 図書館で借りることができます。

この遺産と、人々、経験、そして多世代に亘りVJLS-JHと生 徒、家族、ボランティア、そして地域の人々をつないできた考 え方を認識し、 尊重するために、私たちは「おかえり」募金キャンペーンを開 始します。

キッチンで食べた温かいうどん、バザーでのボランティア、 教室での友人との出会いなど、それぞれこの場所とつながる思 い出や経験があります。

このような有意義な体験を継続し、私たちが引き続き、次世 代の「ホーム」のように感じられるよう、「おかえり」キャン ペーンを通じて、言語・文化・保育プログラムの支援にご寄付 をお願いしています。

VJLS-JHを「ホーム」のように感じていただけるよう、皆様 のご支援をお願いいたします。 　寄付をしていただける場合は、こちらwww.vjls-jh.com/donate をご覧ください。

してかたる語り部としても最適な人材だ。どうか健康で長くご活躍 いただきたいと願っている。 　＜カナダ日系社会145年史＞セミナーを始めてみて、移民史は郷 土誌・史の中に位置付けられた時に生き生きと血の通った人物像が 過去から踊り出てくるのだと思う。ここで生まれ育った永野萬蔵 （1855～1924）が、海外雄飛に憧れ、それを実現する方法を知って いたこと、そして、さほど苦もなく英国船に乗り込んで白人たちの 中で水夫見習いとして働き始めたことは、口之津にまつわる地誌を 読み解くことでより深く納得できた。 　口之津港は、人がぽっかり口を開けた地形をしているが、実は水 深は15メートルもあり周囲が山に囲まれ、風待ちの外航船にはもっ てこいの港だった。そして、当地の歴史は16世紀から日本でも稀有 なほど多くの白人宣教師たちが足を踏み入れてきたところだった。 西洋人と文化に対する親和性は、島原の土地に染みついているのだ と思う。ただの、田舎村ではなかった。 　石炭積み出し人夫として、外航船に接し、船員たちが村の中を歩 き回っても何も奇異に感じなかったはずである。外国はいつもすぐ 目の前にあった。そして、19歳で英国船の水夫見習いとして乗り込 み5年ほど働く間に多くの港に寄港し、世界の広さを知ったに違いな い。簡単な英会話は身につけていただろう。1877年に、カナダのニ ュー・ウェストミンスターに船が寄港した時、船長にいくばくかの 金を握らせ、船員名簿から名前を削除してもらったのではないか。 あとは夜陰に紛れて波止場に降り立ち、いつもの寄港先と同じよう に、バーか居酒屋に入って一杯引っ掛けてから宿と職探しにでかけ たのだと思う。萬蔵は最初の数年は、イタリア人と組んでフレーザ ー河で漁師をしていたという。 　その後、金を貯めてシアトルにタバコ店を開業しそれが当たっ た。カナダの地に上陸してからちょうど10年目だった。移民とし ては順調に地保を固めたと思う。だが、「好事魔多し」の言われ通 り、彼はちょっとここでしくじった。横浜に西洋食堂「リキシャ」 を開店した。もしかすると、この店は本町通りの外国人居留地に面 した場所にあって、西洋人の好むメニューを揃えたところだったの かもしれない。日本人の口には合わなかったのだと思う。この頃、 萬蔵は数年間横浜に住んでいたようだ。あるいは、1892年に妻ツヤ をなくした後に親しくなった女性が次男・フランク照麿の生みの親

1579年、イタリア人ヴァリニャーノがジパングでの宣教に訪 れた。航海術士ならば誰でも知っている九州のKUCHINOTSUを選ん で帰港し、そこで南蛮寺を建てて、地元の日本人たちに布教を始め た。ここから伴天連たちが日本の各地に向かっていったのである。 　ところが、その半世紀後には、数万人のキリシタンたちが「禁教 令」の解除を求めて一揆を起こしたのもこの地だった。そして、原 城に籠城した3万7千人の隠れキリシタンたちのほとんどの命が断た れ、パライソへ向かっていったのである。

それから230年ほど経ち、明治期に入ると西洋文化が怒涛のよう に押し寄せてきた。その先頭に立っていたのは宣教師たちである。

パライソへの門が開かれた。隠れキリシタンたちはおずおずと、白 人の宣教師たちの前で信仰告白をした。先祖代々ひたすら隠れてマ リア像を崇めてきた日陰者たちが、やっと太陽の下でパライソへ行 けると安堵したに違いない。

そして、長崎港の一番奥の浦上に部落民や数万人の元隠れキリシ タンたちが住み着いた。天国に一番近い住処だった。そこに、自分 たちで立派な浦上天主堂を建てた。隠れキリシタンたちの集団の記 憶に、この地が約束の地であることが刻まれていたのかもしれない。 　もしかすると、鮭の帰巣本能のように、人間にも幼児期に刻まれ た原風景を最期の究極の住処として探す旅をし続けているのかもし れない。日本語の「住む」「澄む」「済む」という3つの動詞の語源 は同じだという。じっとこの3つの動詞をみていると、自分の脳裏の 奥にある、あるいは心の襞の隅にある原風景が見えてくるような気 がする。自分にとって、本当に「住む」場所とは何処か。それは、 心の隅々まで浄化され、澄んで清らかな気持ちのまま、ここは自分 の生が「済む」場所だと感じられるところなのだと思う。 　永野萬蔵は、晩年になってキリスト教に帰依したという。1920年 頃、結核にかかり死期を感じたのかもしれない。追い討ちをかける ように、1922年には不審火によって長野萬蔵商店の三階建て家屋が 焼滅した。この時、彼ははっきりと原風景が見えたのだろう。妻多 與を伴って口之津を目指した。 　自分の生家は、その後の口之津の発展を示すように料亭になって いた。店を経営しているのは弟の家族だった。店の女将さんは、萬

第53回　日本に暮らす外国にルーツを持つ子ども・若者 ■「ニューカマー」外国人増加から40年近くが経過 　日本で働く外国人が増加し始めてから40年近くが経過しました。 それ以前までは、日本で「外国人」と言うと、旧植民地（朝鮮半 島、台湾）出身者とその子孫を主として指していました。欧米やそ の他の国・地域の出身者もいましたが、現在と比べると人数は限定 的でした。 　1980年代半ばごろからバブル経済による好況期が始まり、東南ア ジア、南アジア、西アジア等からの出稼ぎ労働者が増加し、それま で主流だった旧植民地にルーツを持つ外国人と区別するために、「 ニューカマー」という新たな語が使われるようになりました。同時 に、旧来型の外国人を「オールドタイマー」と呼んで区別するよう にもなりました。

それから40年近くが経過し、現在ではニューカマーと呼ばれた 外国人たちの第二世代にあたる人々も日本に定着して暮らしていま す。一方で、この40年近くの間、一貫して日本には多くの国からさ まざまな形態で人々が移住してきました。その中には親に連れられ て来日した子どもたちも大勢いました。 ■南米日系人の増加と地域社会 　ニューカマー外国人の増加にともない、日本での外国人同士の結 婚や日本人との結婚（国際結婚）も増加し、その結果、両親とも外

関係づくりをめぐってさまざまな問題も起きました。

近年の日本では「外国人の子ども・若者」ではなく、「外国にル ーツを持つ子ども・若者」という言い方が増えてきています。そこ には、子どもたち、若者たちの多様な背景・状況があります。 　まず、国籍が外国籍の者もいれば、日本国籍の者もいます。母語 が日本語の者もいれば、日本語以外の者もいます。親や親族の出身 国・地域もさまざまです。両親ともに外国出身である者もいれば、 親の片方が日本人、親が日系人（祖父母が日本出身など）であった り、親が日本人と再婚したために日本に呼び寄せられたという者も います。こうした多様なルーツ・背景を持つ子ども・若者はカナダ では当たり前の存在ですが、日本ではニューカマーの外国人の増加 にともなって増加、顕在化してきたため、学校現場、一般社会でも 十分な受け入れ体制、支援体制ができているとは言えないところも まだ多くあります。

例えば、文部科学省による調査（2021年）では、日本で学校に通 学している児童生徒のうち日本語指導が必要な児童生徒は 58,307人 で、このうち外国籍は47,619人、日本国籍は10,688人いました。日 本では、外国人の児童生徒は義務教育の就学義務の対象外とされて いるため（ただし日本は国際人権規約、子どもの権利条約を批准し ている）、学校に通っていない外国人の子どもも一定数いると言わ れてきました。文部科学省が2021年に全国で行った調査では、学齢 に達しているが不就学と思われる外国人の子どもたち（小中学校相 当の年齢）が13万人いると推計されました。

Keiko Boxall

Fashion show producer

文 : Michael Boxall 翻訳 : Rika Kuroki

いたような気がしました。 40 年連れ添った最愛の

トで、私は彼女との子供が欲しいと言ったのがおそ 私と出会う前でしたが啓子はフォリオというモデ ル事務所でパートナーとして働いて、彼女の仕事は、 アメリカでモデルを探し、日本に連れてくることで した。エージェントと会うだけでなく、目を皿のよう にして街を歩きながら背の高い姿勢のいい女の子を 見つけてくるのも彼女の仕事の一部でした。そして 数十年後のバンクーバーでも、ファッションショーの 柄を表していて誰もが皆友達でした。

のパーティーを開催し啓子の人生に関わってくれた すべての人達に感謝の気持ちを込めて、参加できる すべての人に我が家で集ってもらい楽しんでもらい ました。このパーティーが敬子から私への最後のプ レゼントとなりました。 多くの人が彼女は自分の人生を変えてくれたと 言っていますが、彼女は私の人生を救ってくれまし どんな良い縁が私を彼女に導いたのかは分かり ません。私たちは東京のパーティーで出会いました。 彼女はお父さんのお墓参りをした時に墓前で「私の M r R i g h t が見つかりますように」と祈った

したことを、ここに謹んでお知らせいたします。彼 彼女の最後の願いは、彼女の素晴らしい人生を祝い、女は、愛する人たちに囲まれた快適な自宅のベッドで、安らかに眠りにつきました。 最後にもう一度彼女に代わって愛と喜びを広めるた めのパーティーを開いてほしいということでした。 そこで、 9 月 9 日、彼女の 76 歳の誕生日に、お祝い

2022 年 9 月 3 日、ボクソール土取啓子が逝去

「皆に幸せに

と言います。そうしたら、ホラ！そこに私が現れたの ! 私たちはよく、地球の反対側から来た私たちが、 ほとんどすべての面で正反対なのに、これほど強く結びついた奇跡に驚嘆したものです。 3 回目のデー

G O T J U N K どこかで啓子も一緒に大笑いしていたに違いあ りません。 M i c h a e l C . B o x a l l

に声をかけました。 しかし、その車は葬儀社の黒ではなく緑色で、側面バンがゆっくりと動き出しました。 には大きな白い文字でこう書かれていました。 1 8 0 0

9 時には息子のオリと私は葬儀社のバンが彼女を迎 えに来るのを今か今かと待っていました。痺れを切 らしながら待っていると、やっとバンが停まる音がし ました。でもバンは木に隠れていて見えません。 " さあ、ダーリン、旅立ちの時だよ " と彼女

をもちました。そうやって啓子が私の心を開いてく れたのです。私は啓子と、彼女の素晴らしい人生に関わったすべての人々に深く感謝します。 彼女が私に与えてくれたものは、私の中で永遠に 生き続ける事でしょう。 余談ですが、彼女は午前 5 時 20 分に亡くなり、

ーティーに私がこれまで経験したことのないよう な、全く新しい愛のネットワークを紡ぎ出してくれ ました。最後のパーティーで飾る為の写真などを物 色してる時に、私のものだと思っていた、もう存在 ない人達が皆で共有してたのだと思い至りました。しないこの女性の一部を、私が一度も会ったことの この人たちは皆、何らかの形で彼女によって変化さ せられた人達で、私が啓子の一部であるように、彼 らもすべて啓子の一部なのでした。私はこのパーテ ィーで、過去 2 年間よりも多くの人達と話し、交流

*コミュニティーコーナーへの投稿はeditor. geppo@gmail.comで受付しております。 1月号の投稿締め切り日は

「除夜の鐘」

今年も例年通り、UBCのAsian Centreに於きまして除夜の鐘をつき ます。除夜の鐘は、人間の持つ108の煩悩（ぼんのう：人間の持つ 欲望、執着、怒りやねたみの心）を打ち砕けるようにとの説明が一 般です。大きく分類すると108となりますが、正確には人間は108以 上の煩悩を有し、その数え方は様々です。古来インドに於いては、 108やその他の大きな数字は「大変多い」という意味を表す使い方 をしますので、数字自体にはあまり意味がありません。それよりも、 私自身が煩悩にとらわれ、それが苦悩へと導いているということに 気付くことが大切です。

日時：12月31日（土）　11:30 PMより

場所：UBC - Asian Centre (1871 West Mall, Vancouver) *尚、天候不良（大雨・大雪）の場合には、予告なくキャンセルもござ いますのでご了承ください。

場所はUBCの新渡戸稲造記念庭園隣接のAsian Centreという建物 の前です。詳しい場所はUBCのWeb Page等で"Asian Centre"で検 索・確認出来ます。

GVJCCA2022役員一同、会員の皆さんのサポートに感謝しています！

毎月小切手やイートランスファーを通してメンバーシップ代金を受け取 るたびに、会長として、本当に心温まる思いです。私たちは、メンバーシ ップにかかるコストを大きく上回るサポートのお手紙や小切手、ドネー ションを受領しています。そのおかげで、日系カナダ人コミュニティーに 貢献し続けることができています。皆さんからの寄付が、私たちの活動 が評価され、月報マガジンの価値を知らせてくれる動機付けになってい るのです。

でも、それだけではありません。現在、期間限定でGVJCCAの新ギフト メンバーシップが20%オフとなっています！この機会をぜひお見逃しな く！すでにメンバーの皆様も、お知り合いの方に新しいメンバーシップ を20%オフで購入していただけます。姪っ子、甥っ子、兄弟、姉妹、お子さ ん、お孫さん、義理のご家族の方々に、ぜひ月報を紹介してください。楽 しみが続く贈り物になるでしょう。

ケアリー・サキヤマ

その上、12月にはまだ数回料理教室がある他、最後の日系カナダ人生 存者クラブイベント～クリスマス合唱コンサート～が12月18 日日曜日 13時から隣組で行われる予定です。” The Very Moody Singers”は6声合 唱団で、コロナ後初のコンサートが行えることを楽しみにしているとのこ とです。参加希望の方は、12月9日までにsocialclub@tonarigumi.caもし くはゆうこさん604-687-2172 ext.105までご連絡ください。 2023年早々、一大イベント、新年会を開催します！今年は、GVJCCAがホ ストとなります。2023年1月7日にNNMCCでぜひお会いしましょう！17時 開場、18時開始です。先行予約は12月23日までの申し込みで$55、24日 以降の購入は$60です。 チケット購入はshinnenkai.nikkei@gmail.comまでご連絡ください。

日系カナダ人伝統料理教室は、引き続き大変な人気で即完売していま す。年間で1ヶ月に2度開催するよう努力していますが、より多くの家庭料 理とシェフの方を見つけるのに苦労しています。ぜひ参加されてその楽 しさを体験してください。

さらに楽しいお知らせです。NNMCCの大ホールで2023年敬老会を計 画しています。4月15日、お見逃しなく。お年寄りの皆さんに感謝し、活気 のある中で食事を楽しめることを楽しみにしています。

ジョン、カオ、カズホには、素晴らしいクリエイティビティ、より良いクオリ ティを求め、確固とした日系カナダ人コミュニティーへの奉仕をする姿 勢に、大変感謝しています。

冬至の日が近づき、一年で一番夜が長い日ももうすぐです。この時期を 楽しみ、毛布にくるまってホットチョコレートを飲みながら、外に出て天 体観測を楽しみましょう。

December 12月 2022 I 47

先月の編集後記にも書きましたが母が他界したので、日本に帰国してました。 「こうやって久しぶりに皆んなと繋がれたから日本のお正月を本家で堪能していこうかな」と納骨の儀で本家の長男に話 すと「プロテスタントはどうか知らんけど、ほら、ウチも母が春に亡くなって喪に服すから正月はやらんよ」ああ、そうか、そう だった。自分でもびっくりするぐらい日本のしきたりを忘れていた。四十九日を過ぎて納骨を終え、ちょっと肩の荷が降りたの で、自分を励ます何か楽しいことをしたいと思っての失言でした。 　そもそも、キリスト教には喪中の概念は存在しません。クリスマスはキリスト教行事なので、ツリーにクリスマスデコレーション をして部屋を灯し静かに過ごすとしましょう。

日本でゆっくりお正月過ぎまでバンクーバーに戻るのを延期しようかしらと考えてはいたものの、ありがたい ことにバンクーバーのアートセールの注文が忙しくなってきたので、ひとまずバンクーバーに戻ることをやむ なくされた。

故郷をお昼に出た時の気温は２０度。成田に着いたときは１８度。空は晴れ渡りとても清々しい。バンクー バーは雪が降っていると聞いたので、戻るのが躊躇われる…９時間のフライトの後、目の前に広がっていた のは雪景色。気温マイナス１度。曇天の寒空。（あぁ～、やはり冬は日本にいたかったな～）と早くも後悔の念 が…

けれど、夜になるとクリスマスライトが雪に映えて美しい。冷たい空気がクリスマスという季節をときめか せてくれ、私の小さな部屋からも見えるハーバーセンターの上のデコレーションが今年も変わらず赤と緑の クリスマスツリーライトを灯して楽しませてくれる。

LINE電話で日本の親友に電話をかけ、バンクーバーに無事着いたことを報告、と同時に雪景色の中のク リスマスツリーを見せる。

「そっちはすっかりクリスマス一色だね。日本は100円ショップに入るとクリスマス気分になるよ（音楽と