The British Columbia Security Commission was created by the Canadian Federal Government through Orders in Council PC 1665 and 1666 on March 4th,1942.  Its main role was to organise and supervise the uprooting and relocation of approximately 23 000 Japanese Nationals and Japanese Canadians.  In addtion, it was to set up housing and welfare programmes including employment, education for children and medical services for the sick.

SJCTM - How the British Columbia Security Commission Worked.

Redress is the Canadian Government’s official acknowledgement and apology for the wrongs it committed against the Japanese Canadians during World War II.  The Redress Agreement was signed by the Prime Minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney and the President of the National Association of Japanese Canadians, Art Miki, on September 22, 1988 in Ottawa.

SJCTM - What was Redress?

Picture brides were the early twentieth-century’s version of extreme online dating.  Japanese men living in Canada would exchange pictures with a Japanese woman back in Japan. Once a match was struck, the woman would marry the man by proxy in Japan and then sail to Canada to meet her husband for the very first time.  Talk about intense.

SJCTM - Who were Picture Brides?

Thomas Shoyama was a great many things.  He was first the Editor of the New Canadian during the internment period and eventually went on to become one of the most powerful public servants in the Canadian Government.  But throughout his life, it is important to note, that this thoughtful man always took time to water the plants.

SJCTM - Who was Thomas Shoyama?

Sounds Japanese Canadian to Me is a monthly podcast hosted by Raymond Nakamura and Alexis Jensen.  The two sit around a microphone (usually in the museum’s collection vault – for ambience) and have a casual discussion on a chosen Japanese Canadian topic.  The goal of this endeavour is to entertain and wow people about Japanese Canadian history and culture.

Nikkei National Museum