Category Archives: Victoria Nikkei

Book Launch: GATEWAY TO PROMISE: CANADA’S FIRST JAPANESE COMMUNITY

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Gateway to PromiseApril 22, 2012. 70 years ago today the Japanese-Canadian population of Victoria was exiled from Victoria. None of them ever returned…

Today, Kana, the kids and I were at Victoria city hall for the book launch of “Gateway to Promise: Canada’s First Japanese Community”. Gateway to Promise written by Ann-Lee and Gordon Switzer chronicles the first Japanese community in Canada…right here in lil ole Victoria. It was fitting that the history of these wonderful pioneers was launched on such an auspicious day….keep up the good work Victoria!

The book is available through Ti-Jean Press at http://www.tijeanpress.ca.

Support Japan 2011 – Earthquke and Tsunami Relief

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Support Japan 2011 - Gambare Nippon

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

Japanese No. 1 Town – Cumberland BC

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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.

Craig becomes a board member of the VNCS

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VNCS

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!