KOKUBAN Issue 1 Volume 3

Vacationing From Home / おうち旅をしてみませんか？

Japan has always been a popular destination for many in Toronto, Canada. Whether it’s for sightseeing – to catch the cherry blossoms or fall colours, to visit family and relatives, or to rediscover our roots, many Torontonians flock to Japan annually.

2020 has obviously foiled many people’s plan for travel, but for those with the travel bug, there is still a way to take a sneak peak into the Land of the Rising Sun. In response to the pandemic, and people’s inability to travel, many locations in Japan are offering virtual experiences for visitors worldwide.

春は桜、そして秋は紅葉を楽しむ予定で、日本への旅行を計画されていた方が多いのではないでしょうか。またこの期間に、次回の日本への旅行の計画を立てるのもよいかもしれません。インターネットで公開されている動画やコンテンツを見て、おうちで旅した気分を味わってみませんか。

Scenic Japan 千鳥ヶ淵の桜

YouTube channel Discover Nippon has vast content on different sceneries in Japan from the four seasons of Hokkaido to the cherry blossoms of Chidorigafuchi. https://youtu.be/JRpiaQdwRg

Discover NipponのYouTubeチャンネルでは、桜以外にも北海道の四季彩の丘、群馬県尾瀬沼、伊豆大島の椿など、心地よい音楽とともに美しい花々が咲く日本各地の風景を楽しむことができます。https://youtu.be/JRpiaQdwRg

Historic Japan ひろしま世界遺産クルージング

See and learn more about the historic sights of the Japan, such as the world heritage sites of Hiroshima. https://youtu.be/fjrlWxki1s0

この動画では、原爆ドームから宮島までのクルージングを体験できます。動画再生（乗船）中は常に360度見渡せるので、原爆ドームや宮島以外の景色を自由に楽しむことができます。HealingJapanのYouTubeチャンネルには、この他にも日本各地の景色の動画がたくさんアップロードされています。https://youtu.be/fjrlWxki1s0

Live Stream Video of Jigokudani Monkey Park / 地獄谷野猿公園

Try your luck and see if you can spot a monkey or two relaxing in the hot springs in real time. http://en.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/

日本の旅行ガイドで、必ず紹介されるのがこの野猿公園。こちらのウェブサイトでは、野猿が訪れる温泉のLive Camera映像が見れます。運がよければ、温泉に入る猿をリアルタイムで見ることができます。http://en.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp/

Makido Cave (Okayama Prefecture)/満奇洞

For an experience to tinkle all 5 senses, Makido Cave is not only offering a 360 degree views of the cave, but also sounds and illuminations inside the cave, giving visitors a complete immersive experience. https://secure.panoramic.graphics/publicvr/makidou/ 

満奇洞は岡山県にある洞窟で、こちらのサイトでは少し変わった体験ができます。洞窟に入って360度見渡せるだけでなく、水の滴る音を聞いたり、洞窟内をライトアップして、違った景色を楽しむことができます。https://secure.panoramic.graphics/publicvr/makidou/

Theme Park @ Home/おうち遊園地

Japan is known for its ability to entice and entertain children like no other. Hop onto this website with your children and enjoy a (virtual) day at the theme park, with attractions and rides and all! https://www.e-yuenchi.com/ouchiyuenchi/zekkyo/index.html 

日本の遊園地に行くことを楽しみにされていたお子さんも多いのではないでしょうか？このサイトでは、いろいろな遊園地の乗り物を楽しむことができます。お子様と一緒に、好きな乗り物を探してみてはいかがでしょうか。https://www.e-yuenchi.com/ouchiyuenchi/zekkyo/index.html

Though the pandemic has instilled a lot of distance between us and the world, but with the internet, it has also opened the door to many experiences that were traditionally rare and difficult to access. With what remains of the summer, we hope we have given you a desire to explore and experience what Japan can still offer us from a distance.

また日本に行ける日が早く来ることを願って。

Sedai Interview: Schooling in Pre-War Vancouver

Last issue of Kokuban, we explored the schooling for the nisei generation during World War II through the interview of longtime JCCC volunteer, Mickey Matsubayashi. Like the rest of the world, life and education of that generation were disrupted. How can we begin to comprehend what was lost? This month, we put a spotlight on Sue Kai’s Sedai interview where she speaks about her childhood memories of attending school in the Powell Street Area of Vancouver prior to the outbreak of the war. After which, in the blink of an eye, her life forever changed.
Sue Kai was born in January 26, 1925 and grew up in the Powell Street Area of Vancouver where the Japanese community was concentrated. Growing up surrounded by Japanese speaking family members and friends, Sue learned some English when attending kindergarten administered by the Powell Street United Church. The Church would eventually merge with the Japanese Methodist Mission and become known as the Japanese United Church. To learn more about the history of the Japanese United Church, visit the newly launched website, “Enduring Faith” that works to preserve the enduring history of the Church.

After graduating kindergarten in 1931, Sue attended Strathcona School. At the time, Strathcona School had over 1,200 students with 630 of them being Japanese Canadian nisei (Laura Saimoto, CBC News, 2019). Sue retells the story of her first day of school with laughter when she mistakenly went home during recess by mistake! When asked her experience of schooling, Sue Kai beamed and said, “I love school, I just loved school!”

After graduating kindergarten in 1931, Sue attended Strathcona School. At the time, Strathcona School had over 1,200 students with 630 of them being Japanese Canadian nisei (Laura Saimoto, CBC News, 2019). Sue retells the story of her first day of school with laughter when she mistakenly went home during recess by mistake! When asked her experience of schooling, Sue Kai beamed and said, “I love school, I just loved school!”

To watch the interview, click here.To read Sue Kai’s full interview transcript, click here.

The JCCC Archives Need Your Help!

Help the JCCC Archives by identifying people in photographs. This month we would like to ask for your help in identifying the forty-two people in the photograph of the Fairview Japanese Language School taken on March 23, 1940 during their 14th Annual Graduation. Your contribution will help us in our work at the JCCC Archives. To send us information, please email heritage@jccc.on.ca.

BEST OF TJFF: Rent-A-Cat

The pandemic has brought a lot of new phenomena. One of them is a surge in pet adoption. Being confined to our homes, many people look to pets as a means of distraction and emotional relief, with many places around the world seeing record numbers in pet adoption.

This week at the JCCC, we are combining our film series on Festival Favourites (the Lighter Side) with a touch of animal love. Rent-A-Cat follows the life of an awkward young woman who pushes a cart of cats along the riverbank, shouting “cats for rent”, while exploring the complexities of the characters who rent cats from her. This gentle and whimsical comedy celebrates self-discovery and explores the importance of finding companionship.

Loved by our audience at our 2013 Toronto Japanese Film Festival, the JCCC is delighted to bring this wonderful film to you again. It’s the best remedy for a hot summer night. Available for streaming from Friday July 24 to Sunday July 26.

Click here for more details.