June 2018

Stankirk

Stuff contributed by Stankirk

community
25 Feb 2024

Exile and Back: The Story of the Hirai Family

Chapter 6—Life after Retirement and Vision for the Japanese Canadian Community

Exile and Back: The Story of the Hirai Family

Chapter 3—Childhood Experiences in Taga, Japan

Exile and Back: The Story of the Hirai Family

Chapter 2—Life in Postwar Japan: Hardships and Neighborly Support

Exile and Back: The Story of the Hirai Family

Chapter 1—Family Background, Life in Canada Before and During War

This series narrates the history of the Hyoshiro1 and Fujiye Hirai family, especially focusing on the two sons, Shig (Shigeru) and Miki, both of whom have been very active members of the Japanese Canadian community in Vancouver, BC (British Columbia). When Shig and Miki were children, the Hirai family were …

community
20 Apr 2020

A Japanese Canadian Teenage Exile: The Life History of Takeshi (Tak) Matsuba

Part 7: Formation of JC Exiles Group in Kansai, Life after Retirement

Stanley Kirk

Involvement in forming and leading the JC Exiles Group in Kansai

community
13 Apr 2020

A Japanese Canadian Teenage Exile: The Life History of Takeshi (Tak) Matsuba

Part 6: Career in the Private Sector - Santai Trading Company & Fujicopian

Stanley Kirk

Employment with Santai Trading Company

community
6 Apr 2020

A Japanese Canadian Teenage Exile: The Life History of Takeshi (Tak) Matsuba

Part 5: Career in the Private Sector - Amerex & Sogo Department Store

Stanley Kirk

Employment with Amerex

community
30 Mar 2020

A Japanese Canadian Teenage Exile: The Life History of Takeshi (Tak) Matsuba

Part 4: Employment with the US Occupation Forces

Stanley Kirk

Soon after moving to Japan Tak found work with the US occupation forces. While it included room and board, the salary itself was rather low and was frozen by law at about 1500 yen per month, of which he was only permitted to withdraw 500 yen per month while the …

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About

I grew up in a small conservative town in western Canada and am now teaching English at Konan University in Kobe, Japan. During my college days at the University of Calgary, I met a few Japanese Canadians, including an office administrator who was a sister-in-law to Joy Kogawa. After coming to Japan I was fortunate to come in contact with several fascinating Japanese Canadians who had been illegally deported to Japan after the war and have lived in Japan ever since. A couple years ago I started my present research on the life histories of these exiles and am finding it to be the most fulfilling research I have ever done. I hope to continue this research and eventually develop some English language education materials around these life histories.