Stuff contributed by Masaji
Japan Journal
Kannagara no michi: "Musings from Mister Donut"
Norm Masaji Ibuki
So far. The Mister Donut where I’m sitting has been a good metaphor for my experience in Sendai. It was the music, the Golden Oldies that were so important to me when I was growing up in the ‘70s, that lured me into here, like a siren call.
UBC’s new 1942 Japanese Canadian Students Fund
Norm Masaji Ibuki
Let me begin by saying that I have never had the honour of meeting Charles Kadota, 90, who passed away shortly after he received his University of British Columbia degree 70 years after he was expelled from that school because of his Japanese ancestry.
3 Nikkei Voices - The 2012 UBC Convocation Experience - Part 2
Norm Masaji Ibuki
Read Part 1 >> From Toronto’s Greig Nishio, 56, son of Tom Nishio, 91:
3 Nikkei Voices - The 2012 UBC Convocation Experience - Part 1
Norm Masaji Ibuki
“It is my hope that the people of Canada never lose sight of what happens when the democratic system crumbles.” Mary Keiko Kitagawa, leader in effort to get UBC to award degrees to 76 Nisei whose educations were affected by InternmentSeventy years after being forced to leave the University of …
About Hatsumi... with Toronto Director Chris Hope: Part 3 of 3
Norm Masaji Ibuki
Read part 2 >> Is it important to preserve Japanese Canadian cultural centers and institutions for future generations? Critically. The Japanese Canadian and Japanese American community story is one of strength, determination and perseverance. It doesn’t matter how much “Japanese blood” future generations have, it is vitally important that the original settlers; …
About Hatsumi... with Toronto Director Chris Hope: Part 2 of 3
Norm Masaji Ibuki
Read part 1 >> It seems to me that the film honours Nisei but is aimed mostly at Yonsei. Did you have this intention?Absolutely. Besides providing an overview of the internment the subtext of the film is to drive home the fact that we all should make the effort to do …
About Hatsumi... with Toronto Director Chris Hope: Part 1 of 3
Norm Masaji Ibuki
“An extraordinary and beautiful film…exhaustively and passionately researched, both at the level of the filmmaker’s personal history and as an investigation into our national consciousness” —Academy Award® Nominated Director, Atom EgoyanThus far in 2012, the 70th anniversary of internment, there has been no greater artistic tribute to the generation of Nikkei …
Mary Kitagawa’s Speech presented at the University of British Columbia
Norm Masaji Ibuki
Delta, British Columbia’s Keiko Mary Kitagawa, 77, has lead the remarkable effort over the past few years to convince the University of British Columbia that the 76 Nisei who were not able to complete their degrees because of the 1942 internment deserved to get honorary degrees.
Kizuna: Nikkei Stories from the 2011 Japan Earthquake & Tsunami
“Human Ties” 3/11 volunteer group in Tohoku, Japan
Norm Masaji Ibuki
“Human Ties” is a Sendai-based organization originally established as an NPO in the aftermath of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Pacific coastal region of Tohoku. It is now a registered charitable foundation.