Interview with Bob Takagi and Shirley Takagi (nee Usami)

Title
Interview with Bob Takagi and Shirley Takagi (nee Usami)
Accession number
2011.041
Interviewer
Lisa Uyeda
Videographer
Lisa Uyeda
Date of Interview
Language
English
Description

This interview is with Bob Takagi and Shirley Takagi (nee Usami). They talked about their childhood in Vancouver, BC. Bob talks about his parent's parent's immigration to Canada, his father's employment in Vancouver, languages and religion at home. He talked about schooling and his early employment at a bowling alley and then a berry farm in Mission City, BC. Bob and Shirley talk about celebrating New Years. Shirley talks about growing up in Japan town including attending Japanese Language School. Her parents worked in various employment including a barbershop, fishing, and box factory. She continues talking about social activities. During WWII, Bob was interned in New Denver Internment Camp. They talked about life in the camps. B talks about leaving New Denver and eventually going to Montreal via a former prison camp for Germans (Farnham, QC). Bob talks about his family's employment in Montreal and housing there and noted that he did not experienced discrimination there. After that, Bob relocated to Toronto and married Shirley. 

Shirley's parents were born in Victoria, BC and she talks about her maternal grandparents' immigration to Canada. Shirley's grandparents worked at a bathhouse on Powell Street in Vancouver. During WWII, Shirley was interned in Lemon Creek Internment Camp. She talks about going to Japanese language school in the ghost town. After the war, Shirley relocated to Toronto, ON and talks about discrimination she faced.

They talk about the Buddhist church being set up, their marriage in a United Church, and how they met at a dance. Bob talks about retirement while Shirley talks about her employment in Toronto until marriage, then returning to work, then retirement. She talks about how they volunteer for the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC)'s Bazaar and Caravan.

 
 
Format
Videotape
Video File
Length of Interview
1 hr 23 min
Period
Pre War
Post War
World War II
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
Event
Redress
World War II
Relocation
Forced Removal
Internment
Location
Haney, BC
Vancouver, BC
Mission, BC
Powell Street, Vancouver, BC
Toronto, ON
New Denver, BC
Lemon Creek, BC
Topic
housing
family
immigration
marriage
farming
Christianity
sports
Buddhism
discrimination
language
education
fishing
United Church
bathhouse
road camps
gardening
ghost towns
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
Bob Takagi and Shirley Takagi, interview by Lisa Uyeda, February 10, 2011, 2011.041, Sedai: The Japanese Canadian Legacy Project Collection, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.