Interview with Tokugi "Tok" Suyama

Title
Interview with Tokugi "Tok" Suyama
Accession number
2010.041
Interviewer
Lisa Uyeda
Videographer
Lisa Uyeda
Date of Interview
Language
English
Description

Tokugi "Tok" Suyama was born on May 22, 1926. Tok talks about his family history and background. Tok discusses what employment opportunities there were in Cumberland on Vancouver Island, BC and the community there. He talks about his schooling and what life was like growing up there. During the war, his family were interned in Lemon Creek Internment Camp, BC. He talks about his life in Lemon Creek including education, employment, and social life. He also discusses a story of when his friend was injured by bullet wound in Lemon Creek. Tok discusses how his family decided to emigrate to Japan after the war while he decided he would relocate to Toronto, ON. He talks about discrimination and racism he encountered there. Tok discusses his life in Toronto, attending university as well as employment. Tok briefly discusses how he met his wife. Eventually, his mother returned to Canada. Tok discusses his involvement with the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) and the importance of keeping a Japanese Canadian community.

Clip from Japanese Canadian Experience Conference: https://vimeo.com/340931310

Format
Videotape
Video File
Length of Interview
2 hr 45 min
Period
Post War
Event
World War II
Relocation
Location
Japan
Cumberland, BC
Hastings Park, Vancouver
Lemon Creek, BC
Hope, BC
Slocan City, BC
Vancouver Island, BC
Topic
family
mining
education
religion
nisei
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC)
Jewish community
Buddhism
marriage
social activity
dance
Japanese language school
social activity
baseball
martial arts
logging
employment
community
military
relocation centres
road camps
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
living conditions
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
Tokugi "Tok" Suyama, interview by Lisa Uyeda, July 20, 2010, 2010.041, Sedai: The Japanese Canadian Legacy Project Collection, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.