Sounds Japanese Canadian To Me

In this episode, Raymond and Carolyn discuss the samurai way of life - from the Satsuma clan to Inazo Nitobe's Bushido - and its possible influence on Japanese Canadian history and culture. While the figure of the samurai has been popularly mythologized in Western culture by the likes of Tom Cruise, many real-life samurai emigrated from Japan in the late 19th century to build new lives for themselves in places like Canada.  Some went on to become Canadian citizens, and fight for their adopted country in the First World War.

The post Episode 18 – Samurai appeared first on Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

In this episode, Raymond and Carolyn discuss the Buddhist holiday of Obon, and how it is celebrated in Japan and Canada. Obon is a summer festival held in remembrance of deceased ancestors, but rather than being a sombre occasion, it is seen as a time to celebrate and show gratitude to those who came before. It is one of the major holidays in Japan, and an important cultural occasion for Japanese Canadian communities across Canada.

The post Episode 17 – Obon appeared first on Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

In this episode, Raymond and Carolyn discuss some of their favourite Japanese (Canadian) cuisine, sharing stories and interesting facts about different dishes. Do you have a favourite Japanese or Japanese Canadian food that we didn't mention in the episode? Tell us about it!

The post Episode 16 – Japanese (Canadian) Food appeared first on Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

In this super-size episode, Raymond and Carolyn discuss various experiences of Japanese Canadians in Japan, from the kika-nisei, to the war years and the difficult experience of deportees after the war, to their own stories of living there as Canadians.

The post Episode 15 – Japanese Canadians in Japan appeared first on Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

Raymond and Carolyn share the story of Aiko Saita, an international music star and Cumberland-born Nisei. Saita's studies in Italy were funded by the Japanese Canadian community, who formed the "Saita Aiko Kouenkai" (Aiko Saita support group) to pay for her world-class training. Although she passed away in Japan in 1954, Aiko Saita maintained a deep connection with the Japanese Canadian community: her third North American tour was cut short by the illness which took her life. Even today, many Nisei still remember going to hear her sing.

The post Episode 14 – Aiko Saita appeared first on Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

In light of the recent federal election, Raymond and Museum Intern Carolyn Nakagawa discuss Japanese Canadians' long fight for the right to vote, from the British Columbia government's ban against Japanese Canadians being added to the voters' list in 1885, to the lifting of all restrictions on citizenship rights for Canadians of Japanese descent in 1949.

The post Episode 13 – Franchise appeared first on Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

Raymond, Scott, and special guest Momoko Ito took some time this past spring to tour the museum's Magic Hour exhibit, admiring the treasures of the collection quirkily curated by the Instant Coffee collective and sharing background stories on some of the items. Now, their conversation is an archive of this unique exhibit.

The post Episode 12 – Magic Hour appeared first on Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

Strawberry farming the the lower mainland was an industry pioneered by Japanese Canadians in British Columbia. At one point, Japanese Canadians were responsible for as much as 83 percent of strawberry production in the province.

The post Episode 11 – Strawberry Farming in the Fraser Valley appeared first on Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

At 18 years of age, Hide Hyodo Shimizu was the first Japanese Canadian teacher to teach in British Columbia's public school system. She was part of the delegation sent to Ottawa in 1936 to campaign for voting rights for Japanese Canadians, along with Samuel Hayakawa, Edward Banno and Minoru Kobayashi. She was responsible for organizing schools in the internment camps in British Columbia and later moved to Ontario to attend art college.

The post Episode 10 – Hide Hyodo Shimizu appeared first on Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.