The Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (NNMCC) is a non-profit that preserves and shares Japanese Canadian history, as well as a gathering place to celebrate Japanese culture. Every year, over 400 volunteers bring their unique talents to the NNMCC. From the meticulous work in our archives to the bustling seasonal festivals, these individuals ensure our heritage remains alive.
In honour of National Volunteer Week, we sat down with one of our dedicated volunteers who serves in two very different but equally vital areas: the NNMCC Auxiliary and our Archives.
Finding a Connection Through Food
For many, the path to volunteering starts with a simple invitation. For Joy Tsukishima, it was a conversation between her sister and another volunteer that led her to join the Auxiliary just before the pandemic.
Though she grew up with her mother making yaki manju at home, she was never involved in the making: “Mom used to make it all by herself. Probably didn’t want our help!” she laughs. “So, the first time I really learned was here.”
Today, she is part of the dedicated team that prepares hundreds of pieces of manju and mochi for the Spring Bazaar and Mochitsuki. Beyond the skills of shaping ropoyaki or mochi manju, she has found something deeper in the kitchen: a social connection.
Uncovering the Stories in the Archives
Two years ago, Joy’s curiosity led her to the Museum’s archives. As a fan of fiction and a seeker of stories, she felt a pull toward the history her parents’ generation rarely spoke about.
“My parents were of the generation that didn’t talk about it,” she explains. “As you get older, you just have a few more questions. I thought I’d help with the archives and learn these amazing stories—the good and the bad.”
While updating indexes and organizing newspaper clippings, she has uncovered forgotten fragments of the past—from a tragic robbery and murder of Yoshiyuki Uno in 1942 to heartwarming accounts of a Japanese Canadian student in an internment camp corresponding with their former art teacher Jack Shadbolt.
For her, the work isn’t just about organizing archival items; it’s about understanding the resilience of those who came before. “I think back more about my grandparents and parents. What they went through… how did they cope? I think about that a lot.”
A Place to Belong
Perhaps the most poignant part of her experience isn’t the history she’s learned, but the community she’s found. Having moved from Southern Alberta to Prince George as a child, she grew up in an area where there were almost no other Japanese Canadian families.
“I was isolated,” she says. “It sounds a bit corny, but when I volunteer here, I feel like I belong. I’ve never been treated badly elsewhere, but this just feels different. You’re part of a community. I never had that before.”
When asked what the gem of volunteering at the Nikkei Centre is, she doesn’t point to a specific task, but to the people. “It’s the social aspect. Everyone is very nice and helpful. As you talk to different people, you hear about their backgrounds.”
Join Us!
Whether you want to learn the art of manju making, help us preserve the voices of our ancestors in the archives, join our seasonal events, or simply find a place where you belong, we have a spot for you.
Join our team of 400+ volunteers and help us keep the Japanese Canadian community strong and connected.
