Stories From the Stage: 2020-21
In the age of social distancing, performing artist Kunji Mark Ikeda takes the reins of Sounds Japanese Canadian to Me to lead a series of in-depth conversations with some of today's most exciting Japanese Canadian performing artists.
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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development, and the Rozsa Foundation.
Explore the fascinating world of Japanese Canadian history and culture with Sounds Japanese Canadian to Me. Our first series is hosted by Raymond Nakamura and Nikkei National Museum staff members features casual discussions on Japanese Canadian topics. Our second series, Stories from the Stage, features interviews between Kunji Mark Ikeda and some of the most exciting Japanese Canadian performing artists living through the age of social distancing.
Episode 17 – Obon
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.
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Episode 16 – Japanese (Canadian) Food
Sukiyaki hotpot dish Photo: Masayoshi Sekimura, via Flickr and Wikipedia SJCTM – 16 – Japanese Food In this episode, Raymond and Carolyn discuss some of their favourite Japanese (Canadian) cuisine, […]
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Episode 15 – Japanese Canadians in Japan
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.
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Episode 14 – Aiko Saita
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.
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Episode 13 – Franchise
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.
> read moreEpisode 12 – Magic Hour
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.
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Episode 11 – Strawberry Farming in the Fraser Valley
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.
> read moreEpisode 10 – Hide Hyodo Shimizu
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.
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Episode 9 – Registration Cards
In March, 1941, the RCMP, under the orders of Prime Minister King, began registering Japanese and Japanese Canadians. Afterwards all people above the age of sixteen carried registration cards with them at all times. But wait this was nine months before Pearl Harbour?! Join Raymond and Alexis as they talk about the what, why and how of registration cards.
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Episode 8 – Japanese Folklore (and its Creatures)
Join Raymond and Alexis as they talk about their favourite Japanese folklore creatures, characters and folks including daruma, kitsune and tanuki.
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