Interview with Hisako Shin Shinkoda

Title
Interview with Hisako Shin Shinkoda
Accession number
2010.038
Interviewer
Lisa Uyeda
Videographer
Lisa Uyeda
Date of Interview
Language
English
Description

Hisako Shin Shinkoda was born on August 10, 1918. She talks about her parents and a short story she wrote about them. She talks about her father, who was very active in the community and helpful to other immigrants in Britannia Beach, ON. He ran a logging camp during the summer. She talks about her childhood and schooling days in the country. She talks about being discriminated against, her family's strawberry farm, and the respect the community had for her father. Hisako talks about what her brothers work on the farm and that they transported berries to Mission City. She compared the experiences for Japanese Canadians in the country versus Vancouver during celebrations such as May Day. Hisako talks about her family life, chores including milking the cow, and going to the United Church (because there was no Buddhist church), and Christmas traditions. She remembers visiting her grandmother in Japan prior to WWII and living there until for while before returning to Canada. She talks about her hopes of going to university, her sister's opera and musical education in Vancouver when the war broke out.

During WWII, her family was removed to Tashme, BC while Hisako and her husband and child were removed to Kaslo, BC and then to Montreal. After marrying, she needed to find a job to support her children, but struggled because she was not trained to do any of the work that was posted. She talks about learning French in Montreal. Unable to cope with an abusive husband, Hisako went to live with her family in Tashme, BC. After the war, Hisako relocated to Toronto, ON and worked at the airport in Toronto as an interpreter. She also attended University of Toronto to learn Japanese. She talks about her work with the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) including Caravan, teaching odori, and talking to younger generation about their heritage. Hisako talks about her education at the University of Toronto at the age of 80.

Format
Videotape
Video File
Length of Interview
3 hr 2 min
Period
Pre War
Post War
World War II
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
Event
World War II
Location
Japan
Britannia Beach, Squamish, BC
Whonnock, BC
Mission, BC
Montreal, QC
Tashme, BC
Kaslo, BC
Vancouver, BC
Hope, BC
Topic
logging
housing
family
education
farming
health
marriage
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC)
odori
volunteer
boat works
food
language
discrimination
music
bathhouse
sports
clothing
religion
Buddhism
United Church
travel
The Great Depression
transportation
children
Kika (Nikkei educated in Japan)
community
Christianity
Number of Physical Tapes
3
Permission
For uses other than research or private study, researchers must submit a Request for Permission to Publish, Exhibit or Broadcast form.
Citation
Hisako Shin Shinkoda, interview by Lisa Uyeda, July 19, 2010, 2010.038, Sedai: The Japanese Canadian Legacy Project Collection, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.