Discover Nikkei Logo

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/414/

Interviews

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.

Seiichi Tanaka
en
ja
es
pt
Seiichi Tanaka

Coming to America

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

en
ja
es
pt
Enson Inoue
en
ja
es
pt
Enson Inoue

Growing up in a Japanese American family

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

en
ja
es
pt
Enson Inoue
en
ja
es
pt
Enson Inoue

The reason for coming to Japan

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

en
ja
es
pt
Enson Inoue
en
ja
es
pt
Enson Inoue

Tracing my family crest

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

en
ja
es
pt
Toshio Inahara
en
ja
es
pt
Toshio Inahara

Family background

(b. 1921) Vascular surgeon

en
ja
es
pt
Toshio Inahara
en
ja
es
pt
Toshio Inahara

Driving 1930 Ford at age 12

(b. 1921) Vascular surgeon

en
ja
es
pt
George Katsumi Yuzawa
en
ja
es
pt
George Katsumi Yuzawa

Death of sister in October 1942

(1915 - 2011) Nisei florist who resettled in New York City after WW II. Active in Japanese American civil rights movement

en
ja
es
pt
Bill Hashizume
en
ja
es
pt
Bill Hashizume

Yobiyose system in Canada

(b. 1922) Canadian Nisei who was unable to return to Canada from Japan until 1952

en
ja
es
pt
Bill Hashizume
en
ja
es
pt
Bill Hashizume

Reason to come back to Canada in 1954

(b. 1922) Canadian Nisei who was unable to return to Canada from Japan until 1952

en
ja
es
pt
Masako Iino
en
ja
es
pt
Masako Iino

Impressions from interviews with Issei women (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

en
ja
es
pt
Masako Iino
en
ja
es
pt
Masako Iino

The differences between Japanese women who emigrated from Japan and those who did not (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

en
ja
es
pt
Masako Iino
en
ja
es
pt
Masako Iino

Interest in Japanese migration studies (Japanese)

Tsuda College President, researcher of Nikkei history

en
ja
es
pt
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
en
ja
es
pt
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

Impact of Pearl Harbor on her family

(b. 1934) Writer

en
ja
es
pt
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
en
ja
es
pt
Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

Initial impact on life at camp

(b. 1934) Writer

en
ja
es
pt
Roy Hirabayashi
en
ja
es
pt
Roy Hirabayashi

Celebrating traditional Japanese New Years with family

(b.1951) Co-founder and managing director of San Jose Taiko.

en
ja
es
pt

Discover Nikkei Updates

NIKKEI NAMES 2
Vote for Nima-kai Favorite!
Read the stories and give a star to the ones you like the most! Help select our Community Favorite.
PROJECT UPDATES
New Site Design
See exciting new changes to Discover Nikkei. Find out what’s new and what’s coming soon!
NEW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT
We’re on Instagram!
Follow us @discovernikkei for new site content, program announcements, and more!