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Interview with Nori and Blanche Kanashiro

Title
Interview with Nori and Blanche Kanashiro
Accession number
2011.090
Interviewer
Lisa Uyeda
Videographer
Lisa Uyeda
Date of Interview
Language
English
Description

Blanche Kanashiro talks about her family history and emigration to Canada where her parents found employment in domestic work and at a cannery. Blanche grew up in Steveston, BC and she talks about her childhood there. During WWII, her father decided to go to a sugar beet farm in Lethbridge, Alberta rather than an internment camp. Blanche talks about housing in Lethbridge and her father building a Japanese bathhouse. She talks about doing chores in Lethbridge on the farm. 

Nori Kanashiro talks about his family background and history and how his grandfather and father emigrated to Lethbridge, AB from Okinawa. His father worked in coal mines before they shut down because of the Great Depression. After that, his parents moved to Ocean Falls, BC. Nori talks about growing up in Ocean Falls. During WWII, his family decided to head to back to Lethbridge instead of going to Hastings Park and then an interment camp. 

They talked about how they met and married. Nori talks about his family's religion (United Church) and continuing with their religion during WWII. Nori and Blanche becoming missionaries and Blanche talks about religion in her family, and going to Christian Sunday school. Nori talks about missionary work, relocating to Toronto and the advent of the Gospel Church. He also talks about reading articles about the Japanese Canadian Redress in The New Canadian. 

Clip from Japanese Canadian Experience Conference (Blanche): https://vimeo.com/336857303

Clip from Japanese Canadian Experience Conference (Nori): https://vimeo.com/339324800

Clip from Japanese Canadian Experience Post War Conference (Blanche): https://vimeo.com/344343773

Format
Videotape
Video File
Length of Interview
2 hr 59 min
Period
Pre War
Post War
World War II
Event
Redress
World War II
Location
Japan
Lethbridge, AB
Steveston, BC
Ocean Falls, BC
Topic
immigration
language
family
employment
canneries
travel
farming
bathhouse
discrimination
health
education
housing
Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)
mining
The Great Depression
marriage
transportation
children
religion
United Church
newspaper
food
military
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
Nori Kanashiro and Blanche Kanashiro, interview by Lisa Uyeda,March 31, 2011, 2011.090, Sedai: The Japanese Canadian Legacy Project Collection, Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.