On Sunday afternoon, July 12, 2026 the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre welcomed the Saitama City delegation from Japan during their visit to the City of Nanaimo to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Nanaimo–Saitama Friendship City relationship.
Before travelling to Nanaimo, the delegation visited the Nikkei Centre to learn about the history and legacy of Japanese Canadians. They were welcomed by Herb Ono, Carrie Okano, Karah, Keiko (NPF), and other board members and staff.
Led by Mayor Hayato Shimizu, the delegation included municipal officials, Saitama City Council members, and representatives from the Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver. Guests enjoyed a guided tour of the museum galleries, archival collections, and the Nikkei Place campus, learning about the history and experiences of Japanese Canadians.
A highlight of the visit was a presentation by our Media Conservation Technician, Jeffery Chong, who shared reference material in our collections related to the Uchida family of Saitama Prefecture. Over 100 years ago the Uchida family immigrated to Vancouver’s Paueru-gai neighbourhood from Saitama Prefecture. On Powell Street, Sentaro Uchida established two Japanese-language bookstores and his nephew Dr. Matasaburo Uchida opened a doctor’s office. Sentaro’s niece, Chitose Uchida, was the first Japanese Canadian woman to study at the University of British Columbia; Dr. Irene Uchida, Sentaro’s daughter, also studied at UBC and later rose to national fame in the medical community as Director of the Department of Medical Genetics at the Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg. This sharing offered a meaningful connection between Saitama and the Japanese Canadian community.
We were honoured to welcome the delegation and grateful for the opportunity, and extend our warmest congratulations to the Cities of Nanaimo and Saitama on 30 years of friendship and partnership.
