Interview with Toshiko Usami

Toshiko Usami's interview was conducted on September 24, 2012 by Lisa Uyeda.

Toshiko (Otsuka) Usami was born October 5th, 1924, in Vancouver, British Columbia. This interview covers her experiences growing up with the Japanese Canadian community in Vancouver prior to World War II, internment at Sandon and Lemon Creek, her family’s repatriation to Japan after the war, and her migration back to Canada in the 1950s. She discusses the living conditions and various activities she participated in during internment. In particular, she discusses how each place she lived formed communities in different ways and reflects on her Japanese heritage having lived in Japan post-war working as an interpreter for the occupational forces. After moving to Toronto, she went on to volunteer with the JCCC throughout its early days.