We respectfully acknowledge the ancestral and unceded territories of Indigenous peoples who are the traditional keepers of the lands and waters.
Past President Lorene Oikawa has a special report. In September, she joined the Tomoshibi Journey organized by the Nikkei National Museum. The Journey was a Japanese Canadian Internment Camp bus tour that visited historic communities – the so-called ghost towns and areas where about 22,000 Japanese Canadians were incarcerated in 1942 after being forcibly uprooted from the West Coast. Many know the breathtaking views of water and mountains in BC, but many don’t know the dark history and injustice faced by Japanese Canadians. Tomoshibi is a Japanese word that means “to light” for example shrine or festival lanterns that help guide us and it could also mean to set alight hope.
Highlights of the Tomoshibi Japanese Canadian Internment Camp Bus Tour
By Lorene Oikawa

We gathered in the lobby of the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre. There were going to be 50 on the bus (including the driver). I didn’t know most of the people, but we would get to know each other through this journey.
Our first stop was at Hastings Park in Vancouver. For those of us growing up in Metro Vancouver, this is the PNE, the Pacific National Exhibition. On March 1, 1942, it was taken over by the Department of National Defense for use by the BC Security Commission. About 8,000 Japanese Canadians who were forcibly uprooted from communities outside of Metro Vancouver were sent here. Boys aged 13 to 18 were forced into the Rollerland Building. Men and boys over 18 were living in a sea of bunk beds in the Forum building. Women including mothers with children and babies had to manage in the animal stalls in the Livestock Building.
My maternal side of the family had to leave Royston (Vancouver Island) with 24 hours notice and stayed at Hastings Park from the spring and then in September were sent to the Kootenays. My mom was a little girl at the time and she mentioned the horrible animal smell in the Livestock Building. This is a common memory of Hastings Park survivors. I wrote about more memories in an article on the NAJC website https://najc.ca/the-story-of-hastings-park/
Daniel Tokawa, President of the Japanese Canadian Hastings Park Interpretive Centre Society (JCHPICS), met us and was our guide for a walking tour. I’m JCHPICS VP so I am very familiar with the site, but seeing others, some who were seeing the site for the first time, made it an emotional visit. On this bus trip, there were three wellness facilitators who set up moments for reflective pauses and sharing. Tami Hirasawa was one of the facilitators. She said, “I felt it was important to be surrounded by other Japanese Canadians while standing in the livestock building at Hastings Park and listening to the stories by Dan Tokawa. Sharing in this experience and reflecting on the experiences of our family’s history…. it takes a special group of people who can understand what I was feeling at that time.”
Dan was glad that the group found his commentary “informative and interesting” and said it was heartening to see “the mix of the many seniors and the 3rd or 4th generation keen on JC history.” He also said, “The opportunity to give the tour also made me want to refine my JCHPICS pecha kucha so I found some previously unknown (to me) photos of the park in the city archives. There’s still a lot of research do on the clearing station.”
JCHPICS is working on a plan to set up an interpretive centre at Hastings Park, and the PNE has agreed to the interpretive centre being in the abandoned cafeteria space in the Livestock Building. We are currently trying to obtain funding and will be working on Phase 1 which will include the names of the approximately 8,000 Japanese Canadians who were at Hastings Park in 1942. Records are not always accurate so please email us at [email protected] with the correct spelling of the names for you and/or your family.
We toured inside the Livestock Barn and Dan pointed out features including the location of the trough which was used as a toilet. We also walked the grounds and saw the four bright green signs installed by a coalition of Japanese Canadian community groups and individuals (including Dan and me) in 2015. More information about the signs and the centre is at http://hastingspark1942.ca/centre/
After we toured Momji gardens, we hopped on the bus and headed to Tashme.
Tashme is about 23 kilometres southeast of Hope. At its peak, it had about 2,690 in the camps and closed in 1946. Japanese Canadians were moved to other camps or exiled to Japan.
Ryan Ellan, the founder/curator of the Sunshine Valley Tashme Museum met us and explained the set up of Tashme. https://tashme.ca/ There used to be about 350 shacks where families lived but those no longer exist. Only one of the two barns remains. He took us through the remaining barn and described how it had been renovated to become living spaces for Japanese Canadians and pointed out how it would have been divided up. Tashme had a shoyu (soy sauce) and miso factory on site, a hospital, sawmill, stores, post office, RCMP detachment, fire service and functioned like a small town. We found more photos and info in the museum. It’s the first bus trip for former NAJC President Terumi Kuwada. She found her family members in the photos on the wall of the museum.
Soon we were on our way to a quick break at the Visitor Centre in Princeton and then Osooyos to spend the night.
We would travel to Greenwood to spend a day with Chuck Tasaka. Chuck has written books and articles about Greenwood, and is working on historical projects. I interviewed him for my article on Greenwood. https://najc.ca/highlights-of-greenwood/ He hopped on the bus and took us through a quick tour of town pointing out “the location of schools and the types of accommodation which were different from Tashme, Lemon Creek and even New Denver.” We visited the Nikkei Legacy Park which had plaques for the families who were at Greenwood and a tribute to JC veterans. Chuck said, “I hope the session at Greenwood’s Nikkei Legacy Park gave a history lesson where “acceptance and integration” can solve many of the world’s problems.”
Chuck added, “There were two family members who wanted to learn about their parents’ history in Greenwood…who lived in #10 Building.” “The September Nikkei bus tour was a great group who was very interested in learning about the JC internment. My book “My Hometown, My Furusato” was the best seller that day. [He chuckles.] Museum ran out so I had to go home to bring another box. Much appreciated.” Thanks to Chuck for his work to preserve this important history.
In 1942, Mayor W.E. McArthur Sr. of Greenwood placed an ad in the Vancouver paper that said, “Greenwood will not refuse to accept the Japanese Canadians”. He was the only mayor who could see the positive of bringing in people and reinvigorating his community whose population dropped from a few thousand to a few hundred when the fortune seekers abandoned the smallest city in Canada. Greenwood was the first internment camp, and the mayor arranged a welcoming committee for the first arrivals. Everywhere else Japanese Canadians faced “Keep Out” signs. About 1,200 Japanese Canadians would fill up the dilapidated buildings.
Walking down the main street of Greenwood, the façade of the buildings have the familiar look of Western false front architecture with clapboard siding. In the Greenwood Museum we saw many exhibits including a replica of a small room that would have been occupied by a Japanese Canadian.
All the shops were closed except a few from our tour found a bakery that was open, and they shared their treasure of hot butter tarts just out of the oven. Delicious. Not that we were starving. We had enjoyed a lunch at McArthur Centre and our guides Mike Abe and Kimiko Yoshino regularly ensured we had snacks and drinks to keep us going.
Our next short stop was in Grand Forks at the Boundary Museum & Archives. I was pleased to see a display with Nobby Hamagami’s memories. In 2013, she was the last remaining resident of the Alpine Inn at Christina Lake. I remember talking to her when I was co-editing the book Honouring Our People: Breaking the Silence about JC internment/incarceration survivor stories. Nobby submitted her story for the Christina Lake section. We were hoping to visit the Christina Lake Visitor Centre, but they just switched to fall hours and closed minutes before we were to get there. Luckily my friend Mickey Keller-Nadon who came to meet us in Grand Forks went to the Visitor Centre to check. She warned us and we diverted to the south beach of Christina Lake and took in the beautiful and peaceful sight of water and mountains. Some of the group took off their shoes and socks and waded into the warm water. We had a lovely break and then made our way to night one in Nelson.
We had a busy day starting with a trip to the village of Slocan. Local Dave Fredrickson who knew my uncle gave us a short tour around Slocan and Bay Farm (field). I found out that Mike Abe and his cousins on this bus trip had a family connection to Slocan. We stopped at the Slocan cemetery, but during the drive Dave had pointed out where my grandparents used to live and where I used to visit them. I told Kimiko I would be back in 15 minutes. I ran to the lot. The house is no longer there, but I needed to take photos and a short video.
We went to Lemon Creek. Many were sharing stories. The view of this mountain formation was in someone’s memory – the same background in an old photo of their mother. At Popoff, another field, some saw a flock of birds maybe black crows and one white bird. Thanks to Patti Ayukawa, another wellness facilitator, who walked with me and spotted a small white rock and gave it to me. This was where my mom, a little girl, and her family were forced to live in a tent along with other Japanese Canadians. 1942 was one of the coldest winters in the Kootenays. My article about Popoff, Bay Farm and Slocan will be posted on najc.ca shortly.
We headed to New Denver where we had a quick stop to pick up our preordered bag lunches and the bus parked by the Orchard and Kohan Garden and Slocan Lake. We took advantage of picnic tables and ate by the water. And then we walked to the Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre and explored. There were replicas of shacks, an out house, a bath house, and a tent that my family would have lived in. These are wonderful exhibits to check out – to bring history to life. Everyone was checking out the photos.
I saw Kim Yamada. Her sister Carol Howell was taking a photo of her in front of a large iconic photo of a little girl at the train station. I asked her if she was the little girl. She said yes, it was her, 4 year old Kimiko. Kim said, “My mother came in 1937 from Japan. She worked to get a certificate in domestic arts. [She showed me a photo of the certificate signed by the president.] She had no experience. She took pattern making and seamstress classes. She would make beautiful clothing for herself. She was a seamstress and only stopped her work when internment happened and during the internment years. She would make winter clothing for her family. Any piece of fabric even discarded clothing, she could take pieces from it to create something. It was terribly cold and there are photos of her wearing winter clothing.”

Kim explained her father is bent over looking at something so you can see the back of him. The woman in the photo isn’t her mother. Her mother was there, but she is not sure where she was. Now others have gathered and are listening to her story. We ask her about the boy in the photo. She is holding his hand. She doesn’t remember. She thinks it (holding hands) was a comforting gesture. She says some people say this photo is arrival, but it was the second uprooting. There was pressure to choose to go east or “back” to Japan. Her father thought Japan may be better for the family so at first, he said yes. Anyone who chose Japan was sent to Tashme first and so they went too. She said her father later changed his mind, so they didn’t go to Japan. I told her I’ve only seen the black and white photo, but the little girl in the beautiful coat always haunted my memories. Who was she? Kim said the coat looks like it’s cream with a black collar, but it was light blue. Her mom found some navy velvet and used it on the collar and trim on the pockets. I thanked Kim for solving the mystery for me. I may add this to my New Denver article https://najc.ca/highlights-of-new-denver-and-rosebery/
We then headed to Sandon to check out Sandon. We visited the museum and the power house which is the longest running power house in Canada. Sandon was one of the first camps to close because of the severe winters. It’s hard to imagine this desolate town was once known as the Monte Carlo of North America and had 29 hotels, 28 saloons, theatres, opera houses, and a peak population of 10,000. I write more about it in an article about Sandon and Kaslo. https://najc.ca/highlights-of-sandon-and-kaslo/
We returned to the Hume Hotel in Nelson for a buffet dinner and Tami Hirasawa in her kimono had us dancing Odori and then she demonstrated her skill. Tami said the dancing is a way of honouring the past. She said, “I was so happy that everyone got up and danced for joy while in the relocation centres as we remembered those who have passed before us. In looking at the photo of the approximately 200 girls in New Denver who were wearing Kimono as part of their Odori performances, one bus tour participant pointed to their photo and remembered dancing as a child in New Denver and in Tashme. I felt connected and joyful while we talked about her experiences.”
The next day we went to the Langham Museum in Kaslo. I’ve written about the Oikawa experience. I remember hearing about a man who had bought the Kaslo Hotel and was offering a free night to any Japanese Canadian who had lived in the hotel and that he would put a photo of every family who stayed in the hotel. I ran to the hotel, but the receptionist said there was a different owner and there aren’t any family photos. I was a bit disappointed because someone told me that they had seen a photo of the Oikawa family in the hotel. I did see a photo of my father in a Kendo photo at the Langham. I had seen it before, but it was reassuring to see his photo. My father died when I was young, and I only have a few photos of him. I left a message in the guest book, because his first name was missing in the description of the photo.
Susan Yatabe is doing research to find her mother’s former students from her grade 3 class in Kaslo and, other former teachers in Kaslo. She said people on this bus tour helped her locate one of the students. She said, “It was a very unique and positive experience to have so many people, most of whom had families affected by the internment, together and able to share their individual family stories. We share this common bond, whether we want to or not!” She added, “I was very glad to have Ewan, a yonsei, participate in the trip. He doesn’t have many opportunities to meet many other Japanese Canadians other than our own extended family.”
I told her about my experience at the Kaslo Hotel. She showed me a map that she had accessed at the Kootenay Lake Archives which listed buildings and names of JC families during the internment. She found the Oikawa name along with her family name and thinks they may have known each other. She’ll keep me updated on her findings. That’s a new piece of info for me. Thanks Susan.
Her son Ewan said, “This trip was unique in how most people attending either had relatives who were interned, or they were interned themselves. Each person had their own story, but all the stories were connected. I learned a lot from this tour and even consider going on it a second time.” His mom also mentioned going a second time.
We went to Nakusp and took the Upper Arrow Lake Ferry to Revelstoke. We stopped at the Three Valley Gap road sign, made a quick stop in Sicamous and then on to the Kamloops Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre where we were treated to a fabulous Japanese supper just like your obaachan (grandmother) would make. We were also happy to see special guest Kaye Kaminishi, the last surviving Vancouver Asahi baseball team player, long time and former KJCA Rep to NAJC George Uyeda, and KJCA Prez Lance Yamada, and Lana Tomiye KJCA Rep to NAJC. While I was writing this article, I received the news Kaye had passed away with his family by his side. I am so glad we got to meet one more time. RIP Kaye.
After a delicious breakfast at the KJCCC we drove to East Lillooet. We did a group photo at the East Lillooet Memorial Garden, had a lovely lunch at Miyazaki House where Dr. Miyazaki lived and set up a medical practice, and then walked across The Old Bridge. Kaye and his family were incarcerated in East Lillooet. Japanese Canadians needed a permit to cross the bridge to get to town. Kaye asked a RCMP officer if a JC team could play a town team. Exhibition games started. Thanks Kaye.
And then back to Burnaby where everyone quickly left to catch the next part of their travels. It felt a bit like leaving family, but we said we would keep in touch. Thank you to the organizers, wellness facilitators, local guides and hosts, our driver, and everyone who participated and supported each other.
Terumi Kuwada said, “I have a greater appreciation of the strength and courage of internees at all the camps to endure all the atrocities and indignities they faced.”
Candie Tanaka said, “What an experience to have an opportunity to spend time with other Japanese Canadians and Americans carrying similar shared histories and how that intimate experience brought us community. It was a privilege to have the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre organize this bus tour, so that we can remain connected into the future in a journey of healing through the shared lived experiences of our ancestors.”
Tami Hirasawa said, “I found the bus tour very meaningful as a Japanese Canadian Sansei. It is very rare and precious that Japanese Canadians can get together and share these experiences. I hope the healing component will continue to be a part of all the bus tours in the future.”
Joanne Nakamura Rollins said, “Amazing! This is a well-organized and facilitated tour. I thought I knew a lot about the internment camps but found that I learned so much more over the 5-day tour. I felt like I was in a small community on this tour and enjoyed hearing everyone’s family stories. I am so glad that I finally got to go on this tour!”
Our Tomoshibi Journey
invites – allows – locates
reveals
collective ancestors, our heart’s
Essence
this clearing Presence
Our healing ecosystem
Thrives
Patti Ayukawa