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.

Hongo,Etsuo

The reason he came to the United States (Japanese)

(1949 - 2019) Taiko player. Founded five taiko groups in Southern California

Kosaki,Richard

Teaching at the military language school during World War II

(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i

Shibayama,Art

Learning English upon discovering that family could not return to Peru

(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.

Shibayama,Art

Playing baseball along with American Nisei and Kibei

(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.

Shimomura,Roger

Grandfather's arrival in the U.S., experiencing discrimination

(b. 1939) Japanese American painter, printmaker & professor

Shimomura,Roger

Japanese American community life

(b. 1939) Japanese American painter, printmaker & professor

Kanemoto,Marion Tsutakawa

Mother's immigration to U.S. as a treaty merchant

(b. 1927) Japanese American Nisei. Family voluntarily returned to Japan during WWII.

Kutsukake,Rose

Why her parents came to Canada

(1918-2004) Interned in Slocan during World War II. Active member of the Japanese Canadian community.

Sasaki,Fred

Family background of Fredrick Yoshihide Sasaki

(b. 1918) Issei businessman in Canada

Ito,Mitsuo

Japanese school

(b.1924) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Interpreter for British Army in Japan after WWII. Active in Japanese Canadian community

Tanaka,Seiichi

Coming to America

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Inoue,Enson

The reason for coming to Japan

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

Azumano,George

Downtown in Portland, Oregon

(b. 1918) Founder Azumano Travel

Fulbeck,Kip

Lessons learned from The Hapa Project

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

Kato,Alfredo

Peru Shimpo for the Nikkei community (Spanish)

(b. 1937) Professional journalist