Jul 16 2011
Hello All,
The Mercers (Craig, Kana, Yuki and Haku) are planning on coming to Osaka for a visit! Kana and the kids will be arriving on Friday, September 2nd and Craig will be arriving on Saturday, September 17th. We’ll all be heading back to Canada on Saturday, October 25th. We are looking forward to visiting with all of our friends and family. Below is our itinerary so you can see when we might be free to hang out and catch up. Mata ne!
Mar 11 2011
The VNCS home page is being used temporarily to provide updates on the activities of the Support Japan 2011 Gambare Nippon umbrella group that includes the Japanese Friendship Society, Victoria Japanese Heritage School Society, the Victoria Morioka Friendship Society and the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society.
Support Japan 2011 – Gambare Nippon!
http://www.vncs.ca/wordpress/category/support-japan-2011/
The Support Japan 2011 page is where all of the activities and events around fund raising for the earthquake & tsunami survivors in Japan is being posted.
Media contact: Michael Abe
President, Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society
Spokesperson, Support Japan 2011 Gambare Nippon
Cell: (250) 704-6164
Email: or
Oct 25 2010
Sep 4 2010
We finished our day on the playground at Hans Helgesen Elementary School. Good times were had by all.
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Jun 19 2010
As many of you know we live in a two bedroom basement suite which is not quite big enough to throw a birthday party for our son Wyatt (Haku) in. After thinking about what would work best we decided on Beacon Hill Park as the venue as it was large enough and we might even have some sunshine. We then invited our Japanese and Canadian friends to come and join us for a picnic party and some Lighthouse Bakery birthday cake goodness. Then in true Mercer style we allowed Wyatt to eat his first birthday cake any way he wanted (which helped us make the wonderful video below). Happy Birthday Wyatt but next year you’ll have to use a fork!
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May 8 2010
We joined the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society (VNCS) back in January and we found out about this event taking place in Cumberland and even though we did not know what to expect we decided to go. The event was for the unveiling of a plaque commemorating/dedicating 31 sakura (cherry) trees in honour of the 31 Japanese families that were forcibly relocated as a result of the Government of Canada War Measures Act of 1942. It was attended by all manner of dignitaries, guests and descendants of the exiled families.
Obviously Kana and I are only vaguely aware of Nikkei issues on the west coast. Attending this event was a privilege and gave us some insight into not only the history of Japanese-Canadians but also into the present as well.
Apr 18 2010
We’ve been doing homegroup with Kathryn “Toad” Dunphy and Dan & Becky McGregor for a couple of years now and birthday’s are always a great time to see if we can surprise each other. We were able to pull it off as shown in the video short we created "Becky’s Surprise Birthday".
Jan 31 2010
We’ve been members of the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society (www.vncs.ca) for a couple of years now. We attended a few events and so I (Craig) decided to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to see what it was like. I took Kinya along for moral support…not sure why I thought a Japanese national would be moral support at a meeting of Japanese-Canadian Nikkei (diaspora)…LOL I am sure Kinya was more confused than me! We were sitting behind Roy Katsuyama and Roy Natsuhara (the two Roys) and the next thing I knew…I am now an elected member of the Board of Directors. Wish me luck!
Nov 6 2009
Nov 1 2009
Hey Puritch Family,
I know that the Christmas season is soon approaching and was going through some photos and video clips from our 2007 get together at George & Elaine’s and threw a little something-something together to tide us over till this years’ party.
Oct 31 2009
One of the funnest parts of being back in Canada is being able to celebrate Halloween. Grace Yuki loves to get dressed up in her lady bug costume and go “trick or treating”. After a quick visit from Angie and Dave we headed over to the Simpsons (Travis, Chrissy and baby Elias) where we went “trick or treating” in their neighbourhood. Yuki really got into the swing of it this year and had a super good time going door to door with Kana.
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Jun 20 2009
Wyatt Haku Mercer joined the human race Saturday, June 20th 2009 at 11:05AM Pacific Daylight Time weighing in at 3036 Grams (6 lbs 11 ounces for you non-metric types). Kana and Wyatt are doing very well and enjoying some much deserved rest at Victoria General Hospital.
Dec 10 2008
Greetings! As many of you know Kana and I are huge fans of SASUKE/Ninja Warrior, the Japanese Obstacle Course Game Show that we started watching back in 2005 while living in Japan.
Since then we have hosted many a SASUKE/Ninja Warrior party to convert as many people as possible to the awesomeness that is SASUKE/Ninja Warrior.
After returning from Japan at the end of October, I began working on putting together a new SASUKE/Ninja Warrior website to help spread the word, and to give us something to do between shows. The fruits of my labour have paid off and I am pleased to announce the launching of www.sasukecentral.net. Please drop buy and check it out.
Cheers!
Nov 13 2008
Sep 3 2008
Hello All,
We are planning on coming to Osaka for a visit arriving Wednesday, October 8th and leaving Saturday, October 25th. We are looking forward to visiting with all of our friends and family.Read more…
Aug 25 2008
Last week was my last day at Vigil (again). Today I begin work for the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA). I will be working as the Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manager for the IM/IT (Information Management/Information Technology) PMO (Project Management Office).
Going from a company of 25 to a company of 17,500 should be interesting. Wish me luck….although I know luck has got nothing to do with it. 😉
Aug 22 2008
Well here we go again! I’ve been back with Vigil Health Solutions (www.vigil.com) since returning from Japan and now it is time to say good-bye again.
I have learned a lot during my time(s) at Vigil and while I will miss all of my vigilante colleagues it’s time to work closer to home.
Thanks for all of the memories!
Oct 10 2007
Jul 14 2007
I have been cleaning up the website over the last couple of weeks and here is the final archive version. Here is how it will stay…”The Mercers Adventures in Osaka” (until I change it again).
It was fun while it lasted but all good things must come to an end.
Oct 11 2011
Scotch Fest 2011
Auk wee I, Once again tiss time
to rattle the claymores and fill the Quaich.
Then let the flowing Quaich go round
and boldly let the pibroch sound
Till every glen and rock resound.
All wee clansmen and women are welcome
To the Tenth Annual Scotch fest 2011.
So bring your See ya Jimmy and get ready to crack your kranium.
7:00 PM AT 2985 Harriet Rd Nov 5th 2011
Hope to see you all then.
Cheers
For new people who will be coming
Please bring a bottle of
Single malt scotch to share.
If scotch is not your thing,
Well bring beer or wine and have a good time.
By Craig "hachiroku" Mercer • Scotch Fest •