Edmonton Japanese Community Association Vol. 32, No.3, January - February 2007 In This Issue Moshi Moshi Nishikawa Ryu Dancers from Japan Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2007 Time: Reception (cash bar) - 7:00 pm Performance - 7:30 pm Place: Timms Centre, University of Alberta 87 Avenue & 112 Street, Edmonton Admission: $25 (General) $15 (Students & Seniors) Tickets available through TicketMaster (service fees apply) • in-person outlets (including Students’ Union Bldg.) • charge by phone (780-451-8000) • on-line at ticketmaster.ca The Nishikawa-ryu style of classical Japanese Odori was established over 200 years ago in Edo when the shogun still ruled. About 60 years later, Koisaburo Nishikawa (1823- 1900), a dancer who had studied the Japanese arts of Noh and Kyogen, moved from Tokyo to Nagoya. There he combined the techniques of classical Japanese theatre to create a novel style of Japanese dance. The Nishikawa School of dance is now headed by his grandson Ukon Nishikawa. Located in a quiet neighborhood near the Yamazaki River, it serves as a home base for more than 50,000 students throughout Japan. Contact for more information: Prince Takamado Japan Centre (www.ualberta.ca/~ptjc) Tel: 780 492-1565 Lorna Arndt, Project Manager Tel: 780 492-7887 Sukiyaki Dinner Night Date: Saturday February 17, 2007 Place: EJCA Cultural Centre 6750 - 88 Street, Edmonton Time: Centre opens at 5:30 pm Dinner begins at 6:00 pm Fees: Adults: $13/member; $18/non-member Children: $10 (6-12 years) Reservations (466-8166) by February 14 Your delicious sukiyaki dinner will be prepared and served by an expertly trained community member, and he or she will prepare it just the way you like it! Please make your reservations early because seating for this event is limited to the first 100 received! Only those with reservations will be allowed to participate. For reservations, please leave a message at the Centre (tel: 466-8166 or e-mail:<office @ejca.org>) Sukiyaki Dinner............... 1, 10 (J) Nishiwaki-Ryu Dancers...... 1 EJCA Board.................... 2 Submission Deadlines....... 2 President’s Corner............ 3, 10 (J) Sukiyaki Volunteers.......... 4 New Year Party................ 5 Christmas Party............... 5 Watanabe Family............. 6, 12 (J), 17 Mochi Makers................. 7 Upcoming Events............. 8 MEJCS 30th Anniv........... 8, 16 (J) Karaoke Concert.............. 15 (J), 16 Editor’s Notes: Please note that the deadline for receiving applications for the Centre Manager position is February 12, 2007.(see page 8 for details) Due to the number and length of articles for this issue, the English articles on the Karaoke Concert & Chie Watanabe’s thank you letter can be found on pages 16- 18 following the Japanese section.
Transcript
Edmonton Japanese Community Association Vol. 32, No.3, January - February 2007
In This Issue
Moshi Moshi
Nishikawa Ryu Dancers from JapanDate: Tuesday, February 27, 2007Time: Reception (cash bar) - 7:00 pm
Performance - 7:30 pmPlace: Timms Centre, University of Alberta
$15 (Students & Seniors)Tickets available through TicketMaster (service fees apply)• in-person outlets (including Students’ Union Bldg.)• charge by phone (780-451-8000)• on-line at ticketmaster.caThe Nishikawa-ryu style of classical Japanese Odori was established over 200 years ago in Edo when the shogun still ruled. About 60 years later, Koisaburo Nishikawa (1823-1900), a dancer who had studied the Japanese arts of Noh and Kyogen, moved from Tokyo to Nagoya. There he combined the techniques of classical Japanese theatre to create a novel style of Japanese dance.
The Nishikawa School of dance is now headed by his grandson Ukon Nishikawa. Located in a quiet neighborhood near the Yamazaki River, it serves as a home base for more than 50,000 students throughout Japan.
Contact for more information:Prince Takamado Japan Centre (www.ualberta.ca/~ptjc)Tel: 780 492-1565
Lorna Arndt, Project ManagerTel: 780 492-7887
Sukiyaki Dinner Night
Date: Saturday February 17, 2007
Place: EJCA Cultural Centre6750 - 88 Street, Edmonton
Time: Centre opens at 5:30 pmDinner begins at 6:00 pm
Fees: Adults: $13/member; $18/non-memberChildren: $10 (6-12 years)Reservations (466-8166) by February 14
Your delicious sukiyaki dinner will be prepared and served by an expertly trained community member, and he or she will prepare it just the way you like it!
Please make your reservations early because seating for this event is limited to the first 100 received! Only those with reservations will be allowed to participate.
For reservations, please leave a message at the Centre(tel: 466-8166 or e-mail:<office @ejca.org>)
Please note that the deadline for receiving applications for the Centre Manager position is February 12, 2007.(see page 8 for details)
Due to the number and length of articles for this issue, the English articles on the Karaoke Concert & Chie Watanabe’s thank you letter can be found on pages 16-18 following the Japanese section.
“Moshi Moshi is a publication of the Edmonton Japanese Community Association. Its objective is to
disseminate information of interest to the Japanese community and those
interested in Japanese culture, including announcements of upcoming events.
EJCA Mission & Vision Statements
Mission
• To facilitate the development of an inclusive and vibrant Japanese Canadian Community within a multicultural Edmonton.
• To support the objectives of the National Association of Japanese Canadians by promoting respect and harmony among people of various cultures in the Edmonton area.
Vision
• A dynamic and evolving community that sustains a sense of well-being built upon awareness of Japanese heritage in Canada.
Deadline for Submissions for the Next Issue
(Vol. 32, No. 4) is March 10, 2007
Submission Deadlines for other upcoming issues:
Volume 32, No. 5 - May 10, 2007Volume 32, No. 6 - July 10, 2007Volume 33, No. 1 - September 10, 2007Volume 33, No. 2 - November 10, 2007Volume 33, No. 3 - January 10, 2008
Moshi Moshi
January - February 2007 3
Mike Murakami
Greetings everyone! It was great to see such a terrific turnout at the yummy Potluck New Years dinner! Planning for Centre upcoming events and programs are well underway. Your talented Board and organizing teams have been meeting over the last few months planning exciting programs and physical changes to the Centre.
A New Phase in LifeDue to a number of recent professional and family convergences (happy & challenging), my mother and I will be relocating to Toronto in the fall. I grew up and worked in Toronto before coming to Edmonton 30 years ago. Yikes.. time flies!! My long involvement with EJCA is a continuum of my keen interest in the evolving Japanese Canadian community. Living in Edmonton and my EJCA experience was without a doubt great fun and very enriching. I'll certainly miss my amazing family of Edmonton friends. But, of course, new and exciting challenges and renewing of old friendships and family connections and hmmm… “damp cold” Toronto winters lie ahead. My departure from Edmonton is still many months away though, and I'm looking forward to enjoying another fantastic Edmonton summer. “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” -Alan Kay
Strength in DiversityAs the first community and cultural partnership in the City of Edmonton, the Argyll Community League and Edmonton Japanese Community Association, Cultural Community Centre 18 year partnership is exceptional. EJCA has served an important role by providing a unique spectrum of intercultural programs not available in the Argyll area or elsewhere in Edmonton. And as a consequence, the Centre has become a diverse place for recreation and cultural instruction, full of women, men and youth from different cultures, and different parts of Edmonton.
An Untapped ResourceDiversity is an important EJCA focus. Through contact with different people, members and visitors gain an understanding of themselves and actively expand their intercultural awareness. We recognize the importance of intercultural programming and inclusive policies, and support outreach initiatives such as with: our award winning, annual Japanese Pavilion at the Heritage Festival, and our ever-popular Potluck New Years dinner, Sukiyaki Nite and Joint Community BBQ.
Exposure to and interaction with different people helps us learn tolerance, see common values, and even appreciate disparities. And of course, the social capital created by these opportunities helps to make healthier and happier people and neighborhoods.Yet at the Centre and in our neighboring Argyll community, people tend to cluster among those like them. As a result the diversity among EJCA's members, affiliated organizations and Argyll community is in many ways an untapped resource. Therefore, EJCA and the Argyll community need to be upfront in tackling the reality of a diverse yet 'splintered' community partnership.
Bringing It All TogetherThe Argyll Community is the smallest and one of the oldest community leagues in the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues with about 320 residences and approximately 1000 residents. Over 60% of whom have resided there 20 to 50 continuous years. In 1988, local demographics and a declining
President’s Corner
membership base contributed to the near closing of the Argyll Community Centre, as the community league could barely afford to maintain its building. So it was fortuitous for the Argyll community that EJCA was looking for a permanent location then. With the partnership, EJCA invested $540,000 over about two years (from EJCA members and Japanese Canadian Redress funds) toward the architectural design, major renovations and expansion of the aging building. While the hard won Japanese Canadian Redress Settlement funds were intended to help rebuild Japanese Canadian communities decimated by the ugly politics of racism between 1942 and 1946 -- the revitalized Centre is now helping to renew the Argyll community as a unique joint use cultural community centre. The Centre has evolved to become a great model for community building, healing and reconciliation - a living legacy to the founders of both communities.
Connecting Common Community ConcernsDemographic indicators show seniors are the fastest growing healthcare user group and are already underserved in many communities. Hence, purpose-designed seniors programs to address maintaing independence and addressing limitations imposed by the aging process appear to be timely for the Argyll community and EJCA to explore. Programs could include: seniors drop-in bridge, fitness opportunities with other seniors in a safe supervised environment, and presentations on wellness and on options available for seniors in assisted living and transportation. A seniors program coordinator is another possibility.Several Argyll seniors expressed interest recently in becoming involved in a seniors programs at the Centre. As the Centre has convenient facilities and is wheelchair friendly and eligible for City and Provincial grants to support seniors programs - it seems logical for EJCA and ACL to think about discussing a joint proposal to benefit seniors in both communities. Collaborative approaches minimize redundancy and are attractive to funders. So, as a preliminary, Sanae Ohki, Yumiko Hoyano, Cathy Tenant, myself and Satomi Yoshino (a U of A doctoral candidate with an interest in seniors issues) are exploring options for a possible needs assessment study that could involve both communities. If we don't begin to address our community's needs today, how can we met our common needs tomorrow?
The Life Blood of the CentreIn order for EJCA and ACL communities to reap the benefits of their diverse nature, there must be a concerted effort to increase social interactions beyond the familiar groupings and relationships which confirm and reinforce “us and them” perceptions. But central to maintain high quality facilities and sustain great Centre programs is a common understanding by users, ACL and EJCA communities that contributions by volunteers are the life blood of the Centre.Because the Centre is a not-for-profit community facility, EJCA and ACL are continually challenged by rising operating costs and marginal rental revenues, so volunteer help with maintenance and various committees are absolutely essential. Therefore, I encourage you to consider stepping up to the plate and volunteer on one of EJCA's ongoing committees (see committee sign-up form). Or, help with annual events like the Christmas Party, Japanese Pavilion, Centre clean-up days, and Joint Community BBQ. Or, if you have
Continued of Page 4...
Moshi Moshi
4 January - February 2007
handy skills like carpentry, gardening or plumbing etc. we would love to hear from you too. The more you join in, the more you'll feel at home and enjoy yourself!
Looking Into the FutureThe Centre's future depends on the collective contributions and input from its stakeholder groups. So, the EJCA and ACL have discussed various programs and policies, outlined below, with the aim to move the Centre in the right direction over the next year or so:• Increasing the level of interaction between ACL and EJCA
boards and affiliated EJCA groups should serve to help involve more of the community in Centre activities, stewarship and future planning. Update: Brenda Madsen (Kita No Taiko) joined the Board in September, and Stephanie Bozzer and Deryck Webb (The Edmonton Kendo & Naginata Club) have recently put their names forward for consideration Board members.
• Increasing the effectiveness of the EJCA website to connect more people to the Centre's rental facilities and great programs offered by affiliated EJCA groups should increase membership and participation. Update: ACL and EJCA recently agreed to make the website a shared communications tool. We also agreed to promote the Centre's rental facilities and cultural programs in the Edmonton Community League Newsletter.
• Upgrading the Centre interiors to attract more diverse facility renters with the eye to improve rental income. Update: ACL and EJCA are researching marketing approaches and upgrading options for floors and walls. A wireless internet set-up has been installed.
• Upgrading the Centre's Gordon Hirabayashi library to make its collection and historical documents more community accessible. Update: The Board is assessing the utilization of the library. (see EJCA Library Survey) EJCA and the Metro Edmonton Language School are exploring the possibility of a joint library initiative. I commend Sayuri Matsuba and her library volunteers for their many years of tireless work. A BIG
President’s Corner...Continued from Page 3thank you!
• Hosting arts and intercultural events at the Centre to encourage dialogue and cross-cultural understanding. Update: This spring we are planning to host the premiere launch of the children's book “Sakura Tree” (a lovely story of three sisters from Sendai, who come to Canada as picture brides (circa 1900-1924) and exhibit Karen Brownlee's delightful paintings that illustrate the story. The Kendo & Naginata and Karate Clubs will in concert with EJCA assume leadership of the Japanese Pavilion coordination at the Heritage Festival to build on the great success of last year.
• Continuing to apply Kaizen principles to improve EJCA programs and policies. This can't happen in a vacuum, so, please feel free to share your views and concerns with your EJCA Board. Our shared future depends on you!
Centre Manager UpdateEliza Wong informed us that she is obliged to resign as Centre Manager at the end of this month due to family concerns. Eliza and her husband have contracted to become a franchise operator for Grandma Lee's in Telus Centre, Edmonton. She explained that working 2 jobs (EJCA and ASSIST) involving evenings and weekends is problematic. The franchise operating hours fit better with her family.. Eliza will be available to train the new manager. Many thanks for doing such a terrific job, Eliza! We will miss you, and look forward to seeing you at EJCA events. We wish you the very best in your new endeavors! The EJCA search team (Brenda, Cathy, and Wray) organized the job posting in this Moshi Moshi, and have circulated the electronic version widely through the Community Networks Group network.
If you are reading Moshi Moshi as an introduction to EJCA, welcome. We hope that you will be inspired get involved and support your community. If you are an old friend, we thank you and we hope that you are as excited about our future as we are. Looking forward to seeing you all at the Mmmm… Yummy Sukiyaki dinner coming February 17th!
SUKIYAKI NIGHT … CALL FOR VOLUNTEERSCan you wield chopsticks, do you want to have fun, can you cook and talk at the same time, are you fearless about dish-pan hands? If you haven't been a chef before, lessons will be given prior to “taking to the tables”.Here's your chance! It's time to recruit volunteers for one of our favourite annual events SUKIYAKI NIGHT (February 17th)!In order to avoid confusion at this very busy event, we ask that all volunteers either email or call (deadline of February 11) to indicate interest in taking on one of the jobs. We will then contact you to confirm. You'll see that we need fewer assistants this year … last year the assistants were so efficient that we felt we could manage with less help in this area.Phone: Edie 484-5495Email: Cathy [email protected]
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Assistants
Program
Chefs
Clean UpSet up and Greeters
Shopping & Preparation
Number Still NeededTotal Number RequiredJob
Moshi Moshi
January - February 2007 5
Cathy Tennant
I am patient, chivalrous and honest.Difficulties are met with great fortitude; I do not retreat.
Although my temper may be quick, I dislike arguments and will try to find a constructive way to respond.
My close friends may not be many but it is said that they are fortunate
because they become friends for life and are treated with great loyalty.
I love nature and am happiest in the countryside. I am born in the year of the pig.
(1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007)On January 21st, just over 90 lucky attendees gathered to enjoy the annual New Years potluck and celebrate the “Year of the Pig”. We were welcomed into the Centre by a beautiful winter ikebana arrangement by Yumiko Hoyano and playful pigs dancing on the doors and wall.After a short social-time, we were welcomed by EJCA President, Mike Murakami, who gave the much-awaited news that the dinner could begin!
As always, we started off with ozoni, the wonderful Japanese tradition to welcome in the New Year. The delicate broth and beautiful decorations were prepared by Masako Hubbihoca, Toshiko Yamamoto, Grace Fujino, Noriko Fujino and Naomi Leroy. This year the essential ozoni mochi was made by the “Mochi Makers” (separate article).
Part of the fun of a potluck is the surprise of what will appear on the “buffet” table … will it be all desserts … will there be any entrees … will ten people bring the same dish … will there be enough to eat?? Well, no worries … there was a delicious variety
of Japanese and western dishes ranging from inarizushi, tamago yaki, nimono, kimpira, chow mein, baked salmon, thinly sliced marinated beef to o-sekihan. Many times, the buffet line slowed down as people stopped to admire the choices and explain some of the traditional Japanese dishes to fellow diners. Then, on to the “dessert table” which was set up in a separate area to let people enjoy second helpings of the dinner. This was a virtual smorgasbord of treats to satisfy even the fussiest dessert connoisseur!
Following the dinner, many hands helped transform the dining hall into “auditorium” seating for the Karaoke concert. After-dinner guests arrived to enjoy the wonderful concert that was presented by the Karaoke Club. (more details in a separate article) It was a wonderful way to end the evening and get us started in the New Year!
Without people willing to donate their time, EJCA events could not take place. Thanks to all the helpers who weren't mentioned by name but who performed important roles in setting up and decorating the tables, greeting guests at the registration desk, receiving and arranging the potluck dishes, serving the o-zoni, and cleaning up the kitchen and hall.Thanks you for contributing to the success of this New Year's tradition by attending the event, bringing potluck dishes and joining in the fun!Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu ….. Happy New Year!
New Year’s Potluck and Karaoke Concert
Good food, good company, good fun and visitors from the North Pole … everything to make the Christmas party a big success!Guests were greeted at the front door by our registration/welcome team of Gayle Tsuji, Yuri Nakano, Edie Nagata, Heidi Matsune and Liz Machida. Membership renewals were also being taken at the registration desk so many party-goers took advantage of this convenient opportunity to renew their memberships or to join the EJCA for the first time.From there, the children were all invited into the lounge to join the craft activities led by Mika Brechin, Sachiko Motoda, Rei Kondo and Noriko Kawamoto, while the adults spent some social time in the main hall.
Shortly after 5:00 p.m., everyone gathered in the hall to await the visitors from the North Pole! The arrival was met with much excitement as Mr. and Mrs. Santa handed out gifts to all the children under the age of 10.
Christmas dinner of turkey and ham with all the trimmings was prepared by this year's kitchen elves and carvers: Joyce Kiyooka, Sanae Ohki, Michiko Kawashima, Yumiko Hoyano, Eliza Wong, Cathy Tennant, Scott Sutton, Jim Hoyano and Wray Tsuji. And, growling tummies were happy to see the buffet table laid out and the call to dinner right on time at 6:00 p.m.
While we recovered from dinner and dessert, we played a “getting to know your table-mates” game and discovered that sometimes the more colourful your socks are and the curlier your hair is, the better
your chances are to win. The winning table was made up of many of our seniors while “honourable mention” was awarded to a table of about 10 young people all under the age of 12.
We were treated to a humorous and musical program led by Yuri Nakano, Ai Yamamoto and Ryan Hamilton who were joined by volunteer actors of all ages from the audience. What unexpected talent! Christmas carols were enjoyed by all and were a wonderful way to end the program.Then to end the night …. door prizes galore!
Thanks to EJCA contributions and member donations, door prize winners could enjoy Christmas poinsettias and decorative pottery, munch on tasty treats, snuggle up with a cozy blanket, indulge in Tim Horton donuts, enjoy a night at the movies, and much more!As always, the success of this event relied on many unnamed, new and long-time reliable volunteers who set up and took down tables and chairs, ran the background music, made announcements and helped wherever needed.
Domo arigatoo to all those individuals who helped make this a fun event for all of us and to everyone who came out to join the festivities!
Christmas Party - December 12, 2006
Moshi Moshi
6 January - February 2007
On July 6, 2006 a 16 year-old high school student from Kameoka, Japan arrived in Edmonton for one month of intensive English classes. Toshiki Watanabe was looking forward to experiencing life as a student in Canada during the coming year!
In August, Toshiki moved to Fort McMurray where he lived with a host-family and started student-life at a local high school. Then, on November 27th, while waiting on the sidewalk, Toshiki was struck by a car that went out of control at the intersection. The accident was sudden and Toshiki had no time to react.
His injuries, although not totally assessed, were serious and he was air-lifted to the University Hospital in Edmonton. He had sustained internal injuries, a fractured pelvis and left elbow, had lost sensation in his limbs on the left side, and remained unconscious for over a week.
Within two days, his parents, 22-year old sister (Masae) and 9-year old brother (Yushi) arrived from Japan. Toshiki's home-stay father from Fort McMurray stayed in Edmonton for 5 days to be with Toshiki, so was able to meet the family before returning home.Toshiki's father had to return after one week but it was decided that the others would stay on. Initially, the family stayed at the Campus Towers Hotel which was convenient because it was just across the street from the hospital, but it was also expensive. After about 10 days, arrangements were made to move the family to McDonald House (run by the Ronald MacDonald foundation). In this caring environment, the family was able to interact with other families who also had children in the hospital.
Although a translator had been assigned initially by the government, Yumiko Hoyano remained the constant translator and primary support for Toshiki's mother at the hospital. She was involved daily as a translator for the family and between Toshiki's mother (Chie) and the medical professionals. Keiko Oba was also consistently involved in supporting the family by taking them shopping and trying to maintain some normality, particularly for the children. Trips to West Edmonton Mall and viewing the Christmas lights in the city were welcome breaks during this stressful time. Because the family arrived with very little and certainly nothing warm enough for Edmonton's November cold-snap, Yumiko also provided some suitable winter outerwear for the family, as well as a rice cooker and some staple Japanese food items.When Toshiki regained semi-consciousness, there were indications of brain damage that would need continuing assessment over the next year. Toshiki and his specialists were faced with challenges as they attempted to perform a variety of tests that were required while he continued to experience a great deal of pain.By early December, news of the family's situation was starting to spread. A family from a foreign country, with a seriously injured family member, unable to communicate fluently in English, spending most of the day and evening at the hospital, eating unfamiliar foods and living in a hotel! Circumstances not many of us has ever had to confront.Quickly, Toshiko Yamamoto and Masako Hubbihoca responded by preparing nihon-shoku and delivering it to the hotel. Others like Michiko Kawashima, Edie Nagata and Cathy Tennant joined Toshiko and Masako's continued efforts by delivering Japanese meals over the next few weeks; and Aiko Kawawada who volunteers at the hospital gift shop thoughtfully provided Japanese snacks. The Furusato Restaurant generously donated obento dinners for the family and others showed kindness in other ways.The Japanese Christian Church invited the family to their Christmas potluck dinner … Masae soon joined a table of young people and
the usually quiet Yushi was seen chatting away with some of the other guests. Everyone welcomed them and they had the opportunity to converse freely in their native language … it was good to see the Watanabes talking and laughing in a way that they had probably not done since arriving in Canada. Aware of the escalating medical expenses, the medical team at the University hospital suggested returning Toshiki to Japan as soon as he was stable because of the cost to the family for treating him in Canada. A number of individuals on learning about the Watanabe's situation expressed a wish to assist the family financially as their expenses mounted.In a little over two weeks, concerned people contacted friends, the Japanese Language School (MEJCS) told the story, the Japanese Christian Church not only made a donation but collected individual donations (see page 14 for donor list).
Meanwhile, arrangements were made for a doctor to come to Edmonton from Japan to meet with Toshiki's specialists and to accompany Toshiki back to Japan. A private plane had to be chartered to fly Toshiki from Edmonton to Vancouver because the commercial planes were not equipped to take a stretcher. From Vancouver to Japan, they were able to take JAL which could accommodate the stretcher.Just before the family left Edmonton on December 19th, Yuri Nakano, Jim Hoyano, Yumiko Hoyano and Cathy Tennant, representing all the donors, presented the family with $2,400 and wished them a safe trip back to Japan. The high school students in Fort McMurray had already collected over $1000, so through the efforts of different “communities” focusing on a common goal, we were able assist a family in crisis. We made a difference by reaching out through many separate and collective “acts of kindness”. On a number of occasions the family expressed their amazement and appreciation to have experienced so much support being given to “strangers”.Unfortunately, in the few days before flying back to Japan, Toshiki developed a high fever and was in pain on his trip back to Japan, but did make it back safely. A letter was received by Toshiki's mother and has been translated in a separate article.
Despite the accident and future medical difficulties, Toshiki said that he wants to come back to Canada after he recovers. I know we would look forward to seeing him return!
A water fall begins with only one drop of water.Look what comes from that.
(from “Power of One”)
The Watanabe Family - Making a Difference
Masae, Yushi & Chie Watanabe
Moshi Moshi
January - February 2007 7
EJCA Seniors NewsMonthly Meetings
The EJCA Senors Club meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at the Centre beginning at 11:00 am. If you plan to attend please contact Ruby (475-7147) or Yoshiko (456-8694) one week before, so we know how many lunches to order. Cost of the lunch is $8. There is no meeing in December. Future meetings are February 28, 2007, March 28, 2007 and April 25, 2007.
Welcome to the World of SHOGI
Shogi is a Japanese board game played by two players. The object of the game is to capture the opponent's King. Shogi is played on a nine-by-nine board and each player has twenty pieces. Shogi is much like 'western' chess, but has some very interesting differences. One is that almost all pieces can promote to stronger pieces once they reach the opposite side of the board. The second very important difference is that when a piece is captured, it becomes a piece for the capturing side, and can be dropped back onto the board! This makes for a very exciting game, with an extremely low percentage of draws. Many strong Chess players have found Shogi to be a great game to play. Although played by millions in Japan, so far it is not so well known outside Japan. Recently, is seems that there might be a number of people who are interested in finding partners to have a friendly game. If you are one of these or would like to know more about the game, please email the EJCA office ([email protected]) and we'll see if we can connect you.
The EJCA Mochi Makers
“Mochi Makers” can be those wonderful convenience appliances that help to make our life easier or it can be a group of committed individuals who made dozens and dozens of mochi as an EJCA fund-raising project.
Early in the fall of 2006, Yumiiko Hoyano ordered two mochi makers for EJCA through Nishimoto Trading in Vancouver. Although the machines had to come through Los Angeles, we anticipated that with three months lead-time, they would arrive early enough to make mochi for January 1st. While we waited, Joyce Kiyooka went to Japan in September and during a visit with a friend, found that the friend had a mochi-maker that she did not use. The friend offered it to Joyce who brought it all the way back from Japan … not an easy task because it was an older and very heavy model! Thank goodness for those Kiyooka muscles and determination!After frustrating months of waiting, disappointing trips to Greyhound, mixed-up orders at the importer's end and numerous phone calls to try to track down the machines … the much anticipated mochi-makers finally arrived about a week before the Christmas Party!
During the following few weeks, a small group of dedicated “mochi-makers” met several times. Using all three machines, enough mochi was made to fill orders taken at the bazaar and by phone, and for the EJCA New Year's potluck ozoni. All together, thanks to both the “human” and “machine” mochi-makers, over 900 mochi squares were made … enough to fill orders for 62 dozen and to serve at the potluck! Quite an accomplishment!We still have a few dozen mochi that was made just before the New Year's party available, so our mochi-makers (Toshiko Yamamoto, Masako Hubbihoca, Edie Nagata, Joyce Kiyooka, Kimi Tainaka, Naomi Leroy, Aiko Kawawada, Yumiko Hoyano, Miwako Shukuda and Cathy Tennant) invite you to call the Centre to order.Thank you for supporting this fund-raising project, which we plan to continue so that newly-made mochi will be available for purchase throughout the year.
CALL TO ORDER: EJCA Centre 466-8166 (first come, first served)
WATCH FOR “Ways to Enjoy Mochi Recipes” and “What is Mochi Tsuki?” in the next issue of MOSHI MOSHI
Scenes from the New Year Potluck & Karaoke Concert - January 21, 2007
Moshi Moshi
8 January - February 2007
Calendar of Upcoming Events
February 13, 2007 EJCA Board Meeting, at the Centre beginning at 7:00 pmFebruary 17, 2007 Sukiyaki Dinner Night, at the Centre beginning at 5:30 pmFebruary 28, 2007 EJCA Seniors Club Meeting, at the Centre beginning at 11:00 amMarch 13, 2007 EJCA Board Meeting, at the Centre beginning at 7:00 pmMarch 28, 2007 EJCA Seniors Club Meeting, at the Centre beginning at 11:00 amApril 10, 2007 EJCA Board Meeting, at the Centre beginning at 7:00 pmApril 25, 2007 EJCA Seniors Club Meeting, at the Centre beginning at 11:00 am
Cultural/Community Centre Manager Position
The Edmonton Japanese Community Association (EJCA) and the Argyll Community League (ACL) are looking for a highly motivated person to manage its joint Cultural/Community Centre. This is a part-time position of approximately 20 to 25 hours a week, with the possibility of increased hours if the workload increases.
Duties To Include (but not limited to)Administering the operation of the centreManagement of the Centre rentals and fundsSupporting existing programs and participating in program developmentReporting to EJCA and ACL BoardsSome function preparation and light cleaning Overseeing Centre maintenance, major cleaning and securitySkills and Knowledge RequiredGrade 12 education or equivalent, and fluent in EnglishComputer skills for data input and generating monthly Board reportsExcellent communication and interpersonal skillsExcellent organizational and time management skillsSensitivity to cross-cultural issuesAssets Desirable But Not Required Facility/building management experienceJapanese language ability
Some training can be available for otherwise qualified candidates.For further information about the job or the Centre, visit the website at www.ejca.org or contact Wray Tsuji at (780)484-6291.
Applications to [email protected] orWray Tsuji18116 - 98th AveEdmonton, AB T5T 3H6 Deadline For Submissions: February 12, 2007Please note: Candidates must be willing to submit three references, and submit to a criminal record check.
Thirtieth Anniversary Party of the Metro-Edmonton Japanese Community School
If you were students, parents, or teachers at the Metro-Edmonton Japanese Community School, you are cordially invited to the Thirtieth Anniversary Party of the Metro-Edmonton Japanese Community School that will be held as follows (More details will be announced by the end of January 2007):Date: Evening of Saturday, March 24, 2007Place: Faculty Club, University of AlbertaParticipants: Graduates and their parents of the school, teachers, and guests; adults onlyFees: About $50 per person (to be decided)Please join us to celebrate the anniversary and see your old friends. If you want to attend the party, please contact Mrs. Sanae Ohki at 459-3862 or [email protected].
The invitation to the party is also available on the Internet at http://www.ualberta.ca/~tkin/MEJCS-index.htm
The Thirtieth Anniversary Committee of the Metro-Edmonton Japanese Community SchoolMakoto Osawa, Sanae Ohki, Kyoko Watanabe, and Naoko Takahashi
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January - February 2007 9
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On January twenty-first, the Edmonton Karaoke Club held its sixteenth New Year's karaoke concert at the Argyll-Japanese Community Centre. This year, the concert was combined with the EJCA's New Year's pot-luck dinner so that community members could enjoy both a variety of Japanese food and songs. However, we, the members of the karaoke club, had to restrain ourselves from eating too much before we sang.
We started preparing for the concert last November. We discussed a concert program again and again. What kinds of song would appeal to the audience? In what order should we present our singers? What should we do on the stage besides singing a song? It was amazing to see so many things had to be done for a 90-minute concert. Luckily, this was not the first time we held a concert. In fact, the first concert goes back to 1992. Rick Hirata, Tak Ohki, Yuko Nakano, Hiroshi and Keiko Yoshida, Mineko Sasano and George Tsuruda all sang at the first concert. Miwako Shukuda joint the second concert and Hiroko Currie the third concert. So we all had a lot of experiences but when we went on the stage we still felt tense. Besides singers, we needed Osamu Sasano for operating audio-visual equipment, Masahiro Shukuda for lighting, Peter Lee for shooting a video camera, Alder Currie for taking still pictures, Sakae Lee and Kazuko Hirata for preparing the stage, and Makoto Osawa and Sanae Ohki for preparing a slide show. It was a lot of work but full of fun. Just imagine that you can produce your own show.
The concert opened with a duet, “I Will Wait for You,” by Noriko La Salle and Yukiko Asai. They practiced the duet together at home while taking care of their small children. After listening to their practice so many times, Noriko's daughter can now sing the song. Hiroshi Yoshida's song, “Tree Rings,” was accompanied by a Japanese dance by Keiko Frueh. To our surprise, Hiroshi danced with Keiko and danced not bad at all. Next, Hyoko Baxter sang “You Ring the Bell of Hope,” a song quite appropriate for the occasion to welcome the new year with hope.Makoto Osawa organized a music group, Northern All Stars (his wife, daughter, and himself), after the popular Japanese music group, Southern All Stars, whose song “Miss Brand New Day” he
sang. His wife in a white mini-skirt playing the keyboard and his daughter joining them to dance together towards the end of the song, it was fun to watch. Mineko Sasano's song “Jay” was a ballad about a boyfriend who died young. After she finished singing “I want to see you again even as a ghost,” the audience was impressed and remained silent for a few seconds before they gave her big applause.
Takashi Ohki sang “The Bridge of Dancing Cranes.” Sure enough, a couple of white cranes, his grandchildren Mia and Kai in a crane costume, appeared on the stage. These two cranes were so mesmerizing that some people told us later that they could not pay much attention to Takashi's singing. Hideko Kucharski sang, “Snow Flakes,” a song very popular with young Japanese. Her clear voice gave a wonderful feeling of peace and serenity to the audience. Chenier La Salle sang his favorite song, “A Pilgrimage to Love,” which he first heard when he was learning Japanese at the University of Montreal. When he went to Japan, this song was the first CD he bought.
Keiko Yoshida sang a popular karaoke song, “Sleet.” She looked great with a stage makeup? Singing a song on the stage gives us an opportunity for a kind of metamorphosis. This is another attraction of karaoke singing. George Tsuruda sang “Strangers in the Night.” George was one of the founding members of the Edmonton Karaoke Club. When we started the club about twenty years ago, there was only one karaoke cassette tape player in Edmonton's Japanese-Canadian community. Henry Shimizu bought the cassette tape player in Japan and let the club use it. We played just a few karaoke tapes we had. At that time we could not find either a karaoke cassette tape player or karaoke tapes in Edmonton. Then, one day George got one boxful of karaoke cassette tapes from his friend in Japan. I still remember how excited we were.Hiroko Currie sang, “A Bamboo Dragon-Fry.” A bamboo dragon-fly is a simple Japanese toy for children. It is a small piece of bamboo that is shaped like a propeller with a short stick of bamboo in the middle. When we twist the stick by both hands, it flies out of the hands into the sky. The song says, “When we feel down, remember the days when we flew our dreams into the sky on the wings of a bamboo dragon-fly.” Hiroko chose this song because her husband, Alder, loved it. Miwako Shukuda has always managed to find a
New Year’s Karaoke Concert
Moshi Moshi
January - February 2007 17
song that just fit her beautiful voice. This year, her choice was “Radiant Love,” a popular song sung by Hibari Misora. When you watch a professional singer, you will notice that he or she is full of smiles while singing. This is very difficult to do for us armature singers. But Miwako can do so. She looked so radiant on the stage.Tatsuo Asai chose, “I Pray for Your Happiness,” an old popular song and a good fit to his soft sensitive voice. He was accompanied with back singers, Hyoko Baxter and Mineko Sasano. The colour coordination of Tatsuo's white jacket and Hyoko and Mineko's red dresses looked very good on the stage. Yuko Nakano has always chosen something challenging for the karaoke concert. This year she sang, “I Think I am Drunk,” a comical song about a woman who complained about her unfaithful boyfriend. Even though Yuko does not drink at all, she managed to mimic being drunk so well. The last singer of the concert was Rick Hirata. He always spent long hours on thinking about the song for the concert that could entertain the audience. But this year, he had an easy choice. Some
one he knew in Japan heard about the concert and sent him a dashing gold-colored kimono. So he chose a song that matched the kimono, “Mambo a la Matsuken,” a song very popular in Japan for the last couple years. His comical song and dance was assisted by some member of the Edmonton Awaodori Group who somehow danced Awaodori to the rhythm of mambo.
I re-read the above. Oops, I forgot to mention Sanae Ohki. Yes, she was the MC for the concert. This was the third time she did MC the concert. She enjoyed it because this was a very rare occasion she could wear a Japanese kimono. After the concert, someone came up to me and told me that it was a good show. That was right, I thought, a good show was what the karaoke club wanted the concert to be. Something that could be enjoyed by all people, people who prepared the concert and people who came to the concert. We all participated in the concert. That was the reason why the concert had continued more than twenty years.
Chie Watanabe (Mother of Toshiki) in Kyoto, Japan
I trust that you all are well. I would like to thank you for your very warm support while we were in Edmonton. And we appreciate the donation of funds for Toshiki’s care expenses very much. My sincere thank you to all of you.
I wanted to write a letter of thank you before we left Edmonton, but as soon as I started thinking of the accident I began to cry and was in no condition to write anything at all at that time, so I apologize for being so late in thanking you all.
I wanted to save the donated money for Toshiki to use when he resumed his studies abroad, but since I am caring for him at the hospital making going back to work not possible, and we need help for long term hospitalization, his treatment and also for the family, we have already begun using the funds. I cannot adequately express my appreciation with words, but thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
We departed the Alberta University Hospital at 8:00 am on December 19, 2006. Toshiki had a fever before, but the day we left he had 39C temperature. He was unable to talk, though he responded to our questions, so though I was very apprehensive about leaving, so I just prayed for our safe return to Japan. During our flight, the intravenous injection began flowing backward, and his face, hands and legs began to swell badly, but he was responding to our calls. The accompanying doctor and the nurse worked feverishly to keep him comfortable. It was a long 21-hour journey from Edmonton to Vancouver to Narita to Haneda to Itami to Kyoto.
My husband, my father and my sister later told me that they all thought Toshiki was not going to make it when they first saw him. Toshiki was put into the ICU and the doctors there said they could not foresee what the outcome would be. Toshiki was much worse than when he was in Canada, and while I took photographs of him starting in Canada when he was still unconscious, in Japan I could not bring myself to take any photos of him. Although he was conscious I was more sad and had a more difficult time looking at him than when he was unconscious.
In Edmonton, Yumiko (Hoyano) was always with me and translating for me, but after I returned to Japan, the doctors and nurses talked directly to me and heard things that I did not want to hear, and became more fearful because I understand everything. I never thought it would be so painful to hear directly, and I felt again how much I had been supported and helped by the people around me in Canada.
Two days after we came back, Toshiki’s temperature was down and he was able to talk a little, but he could not blink, and he would be awake for about 5 minutes and then fall back to sleep.
One week later he was fed some pudding and yogurt, and on December 28, he was fed rice gruel and all of a sudden he began to blink. He had never been able to blink after he got back to Japan and he had a scary expression with his eyes wide open, but he began to have such a calm demeanor from that day on.
However, after he began eating, his intestines must have began working, and he suffered from stomach aches. As soon as he started eating, he began saying his stomach hurt and although I was right there with him he pushed the nurse call button. He did this repeatedly and insisted that something be done to stop the pain. He could not be over medicated, so I rubbed his stomach to calm him down; it was a difficult battle for me with him.
Sometimes he began saying things which were totally strange to me and sometimes he said some very bad things. He cannot yet move but he tries to get up.
Since he got a hard blow to his head, he cannot remember anything from the day before, and cannot remember what he ate for breakfast by lunchtime. I have to repeat many, many times before he remembers. I have heard that when one gets a severe blow to the head, one’s character may change, but because we khow how gentle he was before, this was rather a big shock to us.
He had a opening on his lower back where dead tissue had fallen off due to the damage inflicted by the car, but a little bit of new skin is now growing around this wound, and the size of theopening is getting smaller. But when healing occurs it itches, and one day he must have unconsciously scratched it, because his
Thank you to the Edmonton Japanese Community!(EJCA, Japanese Christian Church, and MEJCS Members)
Moshi Moshi
18 January - February 2007
hand was covered in blood..
Toshiki is in pain in a sitting position, so his bed is raised only to a 30 degrees angle, and he eats in such an uncomfortable position. And since he cannot sit, he get rehab treatments on his legs while in bed. Even now he has no sensation in the left toes and cannot move them His toes were ice cold before but luckily they are beginning to warm up now.
On the 5th day of the New Year, he suddenly began crying after some visitors left. “Am I dreaming? Is this real? I want to go home, I do not want to be in the hospital” he said crying. This is the first time after the accident he questioned why he was in the hospital.
In Canada right after he became conscious but while he was still under sedation he said “a white car tackled me” . so I thought his memory was coming back, but he does not remember being hospitalized in Canada and he does not remember anything at all about the accident.
This was the day he questioned for the first time what happened to him, why he is back in Japan, why he is lying down there. He was crying so sadly. While explaining to him, I too could not stop crying.
The doctors and nurses were worried and from that day on I was allowed to stay with him during nights as well.
He has suffered so much and he is fighting with a lot of pain now. He forgets things immediately when he was told about what happened, and the next day he asks about his situation and suffers again. I cannot see how much he understands my explanations and how much he retains, and sometimes I become speechless. Toshiki’s suffering is immeasurable.
Toshiki is alive, he can eat, and his wounds are healing, if you see all of these, we should be rejoicing. And if people hear about that they think so too. But we do not know how much he will recover, and when I think of his unseen pain, and think of this struggle possibly continuing all his life, I am so troubled, mortified and feel deep sorrow for him.
After the accident I thought it would be better if he could cry out loud and shout. But he cannot remember crying or explanation of what happened to him, and as a mother I do not know how to explain to him and what I can do for him. He has to repeatedly think about what happened to him and suffers from it. It is so cruel.
However, three days later he calmly began asking questions such as where he was at the time of the accident, what happened to the person who hit him, if his school knows that he was hospitalized and then returned home, etc.
Since he does not remember being in the hospital in Canada, we
talked to him about all the people who came to see him, those who looked after us, and some of the pleasant experiences that the family had in Canada. We told Toshiki we spent days rejoicing his small progresses, how warm the people who surrounded us were, funny mishaps happened to the parents, Masae and Yushi. We told him what a nice country Canada was.
I also conveyed to him that all of those Japanese living in Edomton, Canada who looked after were so warm, and while I was unable to eat anything at all, how I felt full for the first time after eating rice balls offered to me by a Japanese lady who knew I was not eating much.
These talks seemed to comfort him, and then he began talking about his host family, his school, the teachers, the friends, with a smile on his face. These were a lot of pleasant things that he had never told us before.
He began saying that he wants to go back to school in Canada and play basketball again. He never said anything like this before. Before he had only responded to our questions or comments. But he began talking not about the past but his future. And I am so glad that he remembers what he has told us. He remembers what he ate for breakfast now. He does not use bad language any more, and he can talk very calmly. He is not well enough but I am surprised how quickly he improved in the last few days.
He still develops a temperature in the evening. He sweats only on his head and says his head is too hot. Whenever he says his head is too hot, the family feels our heart freezes. Now we can feel for sure that he is getting better and we totally believe he will get better. We would like to give him a lot of stimulation. I was told the best way to stimulate him is to let him do what he likes to do best and be among his friends. I began to think that if he can be at his school in Canada he might recover quickly.
Although Toshiki’s accident occured in Canada, we felt so much warmth from the people there that I sincerely think that I would like to send him there again, from the bottom of my heart.I wish you could see Toshiki’s cheerful expression when he talks about his memories of Canada.
I even once thought that Toshiki’s condition was so bad and hopeless, and knew it was going to be a long battle. But now, I am able to believe in the future and that we will endure.
I wanted to let you all know of our many recent experiences, so I apologize for being so long winded. I would like to make it our goal to see you again someday with my son.
Thank you very, very much.January 15, 2007 (Kyoto)
