Japanese Canadian Oral History Collection

The collection is comprised of interviews conducted by the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre with Japanese Canadians on topics ranging from early immigration; their participation in pre-World War II industries including fishing, farming, and the lumber industries; and their internment during World War II. The collection is a rich source for the study of ethnic history, BC history, Japanese Canadian history, immigration history, and oral history at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The majority of audio files are in English, but some are in Japanese.

The collection is comprised of interviews conducted by the National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre with Japanese Canadians on topics ranging from early immigration; their participation in pre-World War II industries including fishing, farming, and the lumber industries; and their internment during World War II. The collection is a rich source for the study of ethnic history, BC history, Japanese Canadian history, immigration history, and oral history at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The majority of audio files are in English, but some are in Japanese.

License usage and permissions

  • This work is protected by copyright in Canada unless its copyright has expired. The user is responsible for doing their own assessment.
  • You may use this work as permitted by applicable licenses, fair dealing and other exceptions under copyright legislation in your jurisdiction. For guidance on seeking further permissions, contact the source/owner of the material.
  • Preauthorized permission is granted to educational institutions, teachers, and students to reproduce, perform, publish, exhibit, crop, reverse, translate, or archive the material for educational, noncommercial purposes.

Acknowledgements

Contributed by National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre in partnership with Simon Fraser University.

Search within Collection

Displaying 121 - 135 of 260

Interview with Masato Arthur Takahara

Date: 1994-09-14
Name(s): Shozawa, Katherine Megumi, Takahara, Masato Arthur
Description: Interview takes place on the movie set of "Hakujin." Masato talks about his father and his mother, and their experience during internment.

Interview with Masayo Marie Hora

Date: 1991-03-02
Name(s): Hora, Masayo Marie
Description: Tape ends mid-sentence

Interview with Masayoshi Okamura

Date: 1990-07-19
Name(s): Okamura, Masayoshi, Reilly, Jessica

Interview with Masayoshi Oye

Date: 1983-07-25
Name(s): Oye, Masayoshi

Interview with Masque Yagashira

Date: 1983-08-16
Name(s): Yagashira, Masque

Interview with Masue Tagashira

Date: 1988-10-22
Name(s): Tagashira, Masue

Interview with Masuo Hashimoto

Date: 1990-06-08
Name(s): Hashimoto, Masuo, McAllister, Kirsten Emiko, Nishimoto, Ono
Description: Tape begins with an English summary of what is included

Interview with Masuo Nagasaka

Name(s): Nagasaka, Masuo

Interview with Masuo Sakamoto

Date: 1990-04
Name(s): McAllister, Kirsten Emiko, Sakamoto, Masuo
Description: Recorded from a second generation copy which makes the interviewer difficult to understand.

Interview with Masuo Sakamoto

Date: 1990-05-24
Name(s): McAllister, Kirsten Emiko, Sakamoto, Masuo, Tota, Stan

Interview with Matsuo Sakamoto

Date: 1990-05-24
Name(s): McAllister, Kirsten Emiko, Sakamoto, Masuo

Interview with Mayumi Takasaki

Date: 1990-07-20
Name(s): Takasaki, Mayumi

Interview with Michiko Sakata

Name(s): Sakata, Michiko

Interview with Midge (Mitchiko) Ayukawa

Date: 2000-09-14
Name(s): Ayukawa, Michiko Midge, 1930-2013, McAllister, Kirsten Emiko
Description: Midge lived in Vancouver until she was sent to an internment camp when she was12 years old. She talks about how she took photographs when they were not allowed to have cameras. She also discusses about how the education system worked while she was at internment camps. She claims she had a relatively easier time in school than her older brothers, because the education system was not stabilized until she started going to school.

Interview with Midge Ayukawa

Date: 1991-01-10
Name(s): Ayukawa, Michiko Midge, 1930-2013
Description: Powell Street Festival and questiions of 'authenticity' of the festival. Japanese culture and 'mixed' marriages, changing attitudes. Interviewee describes Powell Street in the present as 'ghost-town,' 'unpleasant,' and 'hurtful.'