"O-Bon in Chimunesu: A Community Remembered" is a moving tribute to a community of Japanese-Canadians and the way they lived their lives. Prior to the Second World War, when Canada's official policy of internment changed the lives of Japanese-Canadians forever, the Vancouver Island town of Chemainus ("Chimunesu") was home to a thriving Japanese-Canadian community, whose members struggled to adapt to the difficulties of life in a new country, while at the same time keeping their own traditions alive. During the war, Japanese ...
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"O-Bon in Chimunesu: A Community Remembered" is a moving tribute to a community of Japanese-Canadians and the way they lived their lives. Prior to the Second World War, when Canada's official policy of internment changed the lives of Japanese-Canadians forever, the Vancouver Island town of Chemainus ("Chimunesu") was home to a thriving Japanese-Canadian community, whose members struggled to adapt to the difficulties of life in a new country, while at the same time keeping their own traditions alive. During the war, Japanese-Canadians on the west coast were shunted off to internment camps in the British Columbia interior, and were not permitted to return until 1949. Most decided to take up new roots elsewhere, and what had been a significant community in Chemainus was relegated to memory. Catherine Lang was a freelance reporter working on a story when she attended a 1991 reunion of Chemainus' former Japanese-Canadian community. The reunion occurred during O-bon, the annual Buddhist festival for the dead, in which burning candles light the way for the souls of ancestors. Lang couldn't resist such a meaningful encounter with living history. "O-Bon in Chimunesu" consists of poignant personal narratives of former residents of Chemainus' Japanese-Canadian community. They include the stories of Shige Yoshida, who after being refused entry into the Boy Scouts, formed his own troop, made up entirely of Japanese boys; Matsue Taniwa, who moved to Chemainus after an arranged marriage to raise children and tend a store; and Kaname Izumi, who remembers as a boy throwing candy from his boat to the children at the Native residential school on Kuper Island. Winner of the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize
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Add this copy of O-Bon in Chimunesu (Chemainus): a Community Remembered to cart. $158.95, like new condition, Sold by RareNonFiction rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Ladysmith, BC, CANADA, published 1996 by Arsenal Pulp Press, Limited.
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Seller's Description:
Fine. 1551520362. "Prior to World War II the town of Chemainus ("Chimunesu") on Vancouver Island was home to a thriving community of Japanese Canadians. They were interned in the British Columbia interior in 1942 and not allowed to return until 1949. However, most decided to take up roots elsewhere, and their significant community in Chemainus was relegated to memory. Author attended a 1991 reunion of these people in Chemainus during the O-bon festival. The reunion formed the impetus for this book, which collects poignant personal narratives by Japanese-Canadians about their lives in Chemainus before internment."-back cover. "A vivid and realistic portrayal of a Japanese-Canadian community which disappeared in 1942. An admirable accomplishment."-F. Moritsugu. 287 pages including glossary and index, plus two sections of black and white reproductions of archival photos. Average wear. Prior owner's name whited out atop first leaf. A sound reference copy of this valuable study.; 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall; O-Bon in Chimunesu: A Community Remembered Japanese Canadians British Columbia Chemainus Biography History Immigrants Nippon Nihongo Internment Camps Ontario World War II Two WW Vancouver Island Mid-Island 287 pages including index and two sections of b.
Add this copy of O-Bon in Chimunesu: a Community Remembered to cart. $62.50, very good condition, Sold by Rainy Day Books rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Courtenay, BC, CANADA, published 1996 by Arsenal Pulp Press.
