Interview with George Nakamura

Title
Interview with George Nakamura
Accession number
2011.049
Interviewer
Lisa Uyeda
Videographer
Lisa Uyeda
Date of Interview
Language
English
Description

George Nakamura grew up on Salt Spring Island in BC. He talks about the Japanese Canadian community there. George describes his family home that had a Japanese bath and their laundry and woodcutting business. His father was a merchant marine in the US and emigrated to Canada in the late 19th century. He went from Hammond, BC, relocated to Haney and then to Strawberry Hill. He talks about his mother's family in Japan and that they fell on hard times. His mother was in Korea at the time and was told she had marry. After his parents married, his parents moved to Salt Spring Island. He talks about his father getting cancer and leaving Canada to Japan where he passed away. After that, they moved to Victoria, BC. While in Salt Spring Island, George talks about not facing discrimination but when he lived in Victoria, George talks about his experience there. He talks about learning about the bombing of Pearl Harbour through a radio. He remembers being forced to leave school. His family were first removed to Hastings Park in Vancouver. After that, they were removed to Slocan, BC. He talks about what life was like there. After that, George moved to Chatham, ON to work on a farm. His sisters moved to Toronto to work as domestic help. George would also move to Toronto after the end of WWII. He talks about his employments and starting a business. He talks about his involvement with the beginning of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC). 

Format
Videotape
Video File
Length of Interview
3 hr 19 min
Period
Pre War
Post War
World War II
Event
Redress
Attack on Pearl Harbour
Location
Salt Spring Island, BC
Vancouver Island, BC
USA
Victoria, BC
Chatham, ON
Hastings Park, Vancouver
Powell Street, Vancouver, BC
Slocan City, BC
Popoff, BC
Topic
employment
bathhouse
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC)
family
housing
immigration
health
sports
martial arts
travel
transportation
language
marriage
food
farming
Anglicanism
United Church
discrimination
radio
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
George Nakamura, interview by Lisa Uyeda, February 16, 2011, 2011.049, Sedai: The Japanese Canadian Legacy Project Collection, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.