Interviews

1. Arranged marriage

2. Her early life in Canada

Kimi Wakabayashi

(b.1912) Japanese Canadian Issei. Immigrated with husband to Canada in 1931

Arranged marriage

I*: Could you tell me about the experience about how the marriage was arranged?

Marriage?

I: Yeah, how was it arranged?

At that time I'm young, I don't think anything, just mother say, and just to obey, that's all. [Laughs]

I: Did you know that Tokujiro, your husband, was going to Canada and that he came from Canada to find a bride?

Yeah.

I: And did you know anything about Canada?

Oh, no, nothing. Nothing. [Laughs] But just my daddy and his daddy just arrange, you know, and married, that's all. And I didn't think anything about that time.

I: So you didn't know Tokujiro, but he was from the same village?

Yeah, same village.

I: Did you know him at all before?

Oh, no.

I: You didn't, you didn't know him at all?

No. Yeah. [Laughs]

I: Then you were married in 1931.

1931.

* "I" indicates an interviewer (Peter Wakayama).

arranged marriages families immigration marriages

Date: January 10, 2005

Location: Mississauga, Canada

Interviewer: Peter Wakayama

Contributed by: Sedai, the Japanese Canadian Legacy Project, Japanese Canadian Cultural Center

Interviewee Bio

Issei female. Born March 27, 1912, in Binmanji, Japan. Grew up and married in Japan, before immigrating with husband to Canada in 1931, eventually settling in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Raised family in Saskatoon, working in fabric store established by husband. City street named in honor of the Wakabayashi family's contributions to the city over the years. (January 10, 2005)

*The full interview is available Denshō: The Japanese American Legacy Project.