Dr. David Suzuki is famous for being a scientist, activist, and broadcaster, but did you know his middle name is Takayoshi? On September 25, 2010, as the keynote speaker at Reflect, the 10th Anniversary Gala of the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre (NNMHC), Dr. David Takayoshi Suzuki captivated a sold-out audience at the exquisite Star Sapphire Ballroom in the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Downtown Vancouver, BC Canada.
Dr. Suzuki, 74, opened his presentation by introducing himself, very clearly enunciating his Japanese middle name, and declared himself to be one of the oldest sansei (3rd generation Japanese Canadian) at the event. Dr. Suzuki’s inspirational talk illuminated and informed on topics he’s been championing for over 3 decades – the environment and the impact that humans have on this planet. He warned against prioritizing the economy over environment, and stressed the critical importance of diversity in culture.
Today Canada…is radically changed from what it was when I was born in Vancouver in 1936 [where] it was a rare and courageous Japanese Canadian…who would marry a non-Japanese. [Now], there is little barrier today to interracial marriage.
Japanese who do migrate to Canada now, are radically different from the Japanese of my Grandparents’ generation. My Father’s Parents left Japan because they were uneducated, destitute, and desperate. Canada to them represented an opportunity to get a leg up economically and their intent really was to make enough money to get back to civilization, which was Japan.
Today’s immigrants are products of Japan’s enormous post war success. They are educated and proud and come to a Canada that is far more accommodating to them when my Grandparents arrived…interracial marriage for Japanese is the rule. So I believe Japanese language, culture, even food in…Canada will be perpetuated by non-Japanese.
He made an important link between the powerful story of Japanese Canadians and their impact on the study of democracy.
Democracy is a wonderful concept but…is an ideal we have to constantly work on to get more of. We can never get enough democracy and when…half of the population does not even bother to vote, we are in trouble as a democracy.
It is easy to guarantee rights of citizenship, freedom of speech and movement when times are good but those rights and freedoms only matter when times are tough and if they can’t be guaranteed then democracy fails.
When Canada imposed the War Measures Act…it failed to live up to the ideals of democracy. With Redress and formal apology, the Japanese Canadian experience must not be forgotten or expunged from history textbooks…We must remind Canadians of that failure in democracy. As victims of racism and repression, we must be the sentinels of injustice in society… I see a vital role of Japanese Canadians in the political context of working to make sure we work towards that concept or ideal of democracy.
Poignantly, Dr. Suzuki stressed the value of elders of the community, paying homage to his own mentor, his late father who he cites as his hero and greatest teacher.
What’s most impressive to me is the role elders play in their society…We need the perspectives that our elders can give us…I remember my parents teaching us, ‘Save some for tomorrow’, ‘Live within your means’, ‘Share with your neighbours because there may come a time when you may need their help’, ‘Don’t run after money. You need money to buy the necessities of life but do not think that because you have more money you are better or more important than everybody else.
We need that perspective today….Japanese Canadian elders will remind us of how precious the privilege of voting is because they and their Canadian born children couldn’t vote until after World War II. Those who have experienced bigotry and discrimination are needed to lead the fight against prejudice…We are going to have to rediscover old notions and I believe one of the most important rallying cries is going to have to come from Japan and that is ‘mottainai’,…‘Mottainai’ - we have got to be more careful with the kinds of things that we have to use. We have to relearn how to grow and preserve our food, to sew and repair clothing, to fix things around the house.
My great hero and mentor was my father and in 1994 he was dying of cancer and I couldn’t believe it but he was totally unafraid. He knew he was dying and I moved in to live with him the last month of his life and we had a wonderful time…All he ever talked about was family, friends, neighbours, and the things we did together and he kept saying, ‘David, I die a rich man’. He was never a wealthy man but he kept saying, ‘I die a rich man’, because his wealth was in people and the things they did together and in that, he was truly wealthy. We have to rediscover some of these old truths.
Over $180,000 was raised at Reflect primarily through the generosity of community members. All proceeds go towards supporting programs, services and activities at the NNMHC at Nikkei Place. It will also help the Japanese Canadian National Museum fulfill its national mandate to collect, preserve, and exhibit the artifacts and archives of Japanese Canadians.
The National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre, which opened officially to the public in September 2000, was the result of an $8.5 million capital campaign that raised funds from individuals, corporations, and foundations, both Canadian and Japanese. The NNMHC endeavors to be a resource to engage with the diverse communities of people of Japanese ancestry in Canada and to explore Japanese Canadian history and culture and their impact on Canadian society. Nikkei Place is the legacy of over 100 years of Japanese presence in Canada, and helps to connect our past with future generations of Canadians. Moving into our second decade of operation, the NNMHC will expand its programs, looking outwards to the broader community to share our story and learn from others.
“This community includes not only those of Nikkei heritage but also family, friends, and neighbors from every part of Canadian society”, says NNMHC President, Craig Natsuhara.
Located in Burnaby, Nikkei Place is comprised of the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre, Nikkei Home Assisted Living, and New Sakura-so Seniors’ Residence.
For more information please go to www.nikkeiplace.org.
© 2010 Sherri Kajiwara
