Chuck Tasaka

“The day the music died,” from the song “American Pie” by Don McLean, referred to February 3, 1959, the day Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper perished in the ill-fated plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa. Those who were teenagers back then remembered ever so clearly when they heard the tragic news. You know exactly where you were and what you were doing. Music does that. Remember that song on the phonograph for the home waltz at the school dance? You don’t forget who you were dancing with, and how you had such a mad crush on ...

How can you tell a Nisei by looking at the food they eat? Have you heard of Cumberland chow mein, denbazuke, or karinto? In the case of Japanese Hawaiians, you have heard of and most likely have eaten Spam sushi. Spam sushi became popular after World War II when the Nikkei 442nd soldiers returned from Europe, and having Spam as their staple diet, they invented this type of fusion sushi. The other creation is their breakfast where a fried egg and hamburger patty is served on top of the hot rice. I’m sure soya sauce was sprinkled on the ...

When the Canadian government finally gave the Japanese Canadians the freedom to have equal rights as all Canadians in 1949, they were able to choose their destination. The Nikkei families scattered across Canada. Some moved to the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Others moved to Ontario and Quebec. However, some internment towns like New Denver and Greenwood had many families plant their roots with jobs in the local sawmill and logging. Therefore, Christmas and Oshogatsu festivities were probably determined by geography. I’m sure some families still maintained the osechi ryori custom.

In Greenwood, there were many families ...

Most Yonsei (4th generation Nikkei) and Gosei (5th) are most likely living very comfortable lives with their parents. There may be a Lexus, Acura, and an Infiniti parked in the driveway. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating. For sure, a Honda Accord, Toyota 4-Runner, and a Nissan Note could be seen in the neighbourhood. The household will have a TV in nearly every room and the children will have an iPhone stuck permanently in their hands, listening to their iPod or viewing YouTube on the iPad. For the Nisei grandparents in the house, they’re probably saying, “I can’t…. I ...

Good evening, I was asked by Stan to speak on behalf of the berry pickers. However, I had to think it over for awhile because I felt that I would not be able to give a broad cross-section of the berry pickers’ experiences. You see, I was a late comer by berry pickers’ standards. Most of my sisters, brother, and their friends preceded me, and they left Greenwood at age 10 and 11 to earn money for their families. They went to Magna Bay, Cawston, and Mt. Lehman. As you can see, our parents did not abide by the Child ...