Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/415/

Interviews

Wakabayashi,Kimi

(b.1912) Japanese Canadian Issei. Immigrated with husband to Canada in 1931

Her early life in Canada

I*: So when you came to Saskatchewan, how did you feel?

Well, I forget but very lonesome that time, isn't it? Yeah. I don't know how cook and I don't know anything. Can't talk English, and kind of lonesome, kind of, sometimes.

I: How many families were there?

Regina? Maybe (I know) Kitano, Nomura, maybe five or six families.

I: And how did they help you?

Oh, they take me shopping, yeah, shopping most of the time. Oh, Mrs. Kitano same apartment stay, she, and then that's why she taking me shopping and cooking. So I'm lucky that time.

I: So you stayed with the Kitagawa family the first time?

Yeah, same apartment, yeah.

I: And basically you spoke Japanese all the time?

Oh, yes, yeah.

I: So then after you were in Regina, then you didn't work at the store, did you, at the Silkalina?

Oh, no, no.

I: You just stayed home?

Yeah, that's right.

Sugu ni are ninshin shita desho. Dakara. [Laughs]

I: She got pregnant. [Laughs] And so she became a mother.

* "I" indicates an interviewer (Peter Wakayama).


communities immigration languages

Date: January 10, 2005

Location: Mississauga, Canada

Interviewer: Peter Wakayama

Contributed by: Sedai, the Japanese Canadian Legacy Project, Japanese Canadian Cultural Center

Interviewee Bio

Issei female. Born March 27, 1912, in Binmanji, Japan. Grew up and married in Japan, before immigrating with husband to Canada in 1931, eventually settling in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Raised family in Saskatoon, working in fabric store established by husband. City street named in honor of the Wakabayashi family's contributions to the city over the years. (January 10, 2005)

*The full interview is available Denshō: The Japanese American Legacy Project.

Rose Ochi
en
ja
es
pt
Ochi,Rose

Fifty Years and Going Strong

(1938-2020) Japanese American attorney and civil rights activist

en
ja
es
pt
Tamio Wakayama
en
ja
es
pt
Wakayama,Tamio

Re-examining Identity

(1941-2018) Japanese Canadian photojournalist and activist

en
ja
es
pt
Jimmy Murakami
en
ja
es
pt
Murakami,Jimmy

Teaching English in Japan

(1933 – 2014) Japanese American animator

en
ja
es
pt
George Takei
en
ja
es
pt
Takei,George

Father's Influence

(b. 1937) Actor, Activist

en
ja
es
pt
Paulo Issamu Hirano
en
ja
es
pt
Hirano,Paulo Issamu

The difference between Nikkei community in Oizumi and Brazil (Japanese)

(b. 1979) Sansei Nikkei Brazilian who lives in Oizumi-machi in Gunma prefecture. He runs his own design studio.

en
ja
es
pt
Michelle Yamashiro
en
ja
es
pt
Yamashiro,Michelle

Okinawan Americans

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

en
ja
es
pt
Tom Yuki
en
ja
es
pt
Yuki,Tom

Mochitsuki tradition

(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.

en
ja
es
pt
Michelle Yamashiro
en
ja
es
pt
Yamashiro,Michelle

General reasons why people left Japan for Peru

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

en
ja
es
pt
Michelle Yamashiro
en
ja
es
pt
Yamashiro,Michelle

Working together in Okinawa using three languages

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

en
ja
es
pt
Fumiko Hachiya Wasserman
en
ja
es
pt
Wasserman,Fumiko Hachiya

Mother founded Japanese language school in neighbors’ backyard

Sansei judge for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California

en
ja
es
pt
Holly J. Fujie
en
ja
es
pt
Fujie,Holly J.

Her grandfather was pressured to teach Japanese

Sansei judge on the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California

en
ja
es
pt
Juan Alberto Matsumoto
en
ja
es
pt
Matsumoto,Juan Alberto

Changes in the Nikkei Community in Japan (Japanese)

(b. 1962) Nisei Japanese Argentinian, currently residing in Japan

en
ja
es
pt
Monica Teisher
en
ja
es
pt
Teisher,Monica

Keirokai, the biggest celebration in the Cali Nikkei community

(b.1974) Japanese Colombian who currently resides in the United States

en
ja
es
pt
Kazumu Naganuma
en
ja
es
pt
Naganuma,Kazumu

Checking in with Immigration once a month

(b. 1942) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

en
ja
es
pt
Mia Yamamoto
en
ja
es
pt
Yamamoto,Mia

Cofounding the Asian Pacific Islander Law Student Association

(b. 1943) Japanese American transgender attorney

en
ja
es
pt