At the Kimono-Ya/First Person
Japanese summer festival usually involve the yukata or the summer kimono. I first noticed it at Senshu Daigaku when the exchange students and the locals were getting their yukatas togerher in time for the summer festivals and hanabi taikai or fireworks. So when my co-worker Emi suggested that we get dressed up in yukatas to attend the Obon dance festival at Dojoji Temple, I was game. I dragged fellow ALT Sarah from the neighbouring town along for the ride.
Emi navigated the narrow streets of Gobo City passing by an elderly man hunched over but still out for his late afternoon stroll. Arriving at the kimono shop, we were greeted by the owner and she knew all about me and Sarah. She greeted us by name and city due to that day's newspaper articling introducing the new ALTs in town. After that surprising meeting, she showed us the 5 yukatas that we could be dressed in and Sarah and Emi got all dolled up for the festival. I amused myself by taking a video of how to tie the obi. I was especially impressed wtih fake obis that are being sold these days. How totally convenient since it can be hard to tie an obi if you are by yourself. Emi bought hers for when she was travelling overseas. Since we were in a very traditional space, Emi's mom taught me some new words for some tatmi room items like the fireplace (irori) and the bell (furin).
Towards the end of our visit, the lady of the shop suddenly announces that her husband's father is Canadian. I reply with a "hontoo ni" or "really?" She goes onto explain that his grandfather emigrated to Canada from this part of Wakayama and that his father was born in Canada. I ask for the family name which is Tamaki. Then, she drops the bomb, this man's grandfather is the first immigrant to Canada from Japan and he is called the "First Person" I can not believe my luck. It is my fourth day in the area and I have already found the history lesson I was looking for. I am dying to ask questions especially since the name is different from the first known immigrant on the record books, Gihei Khuo.
Aside: Growing up in Steveston, BC, you hear a lot about Wakayama and all fo the emigrants who came from this part of Japan to work and live in Canada. Some returned back after a while and others before and after the internment camps. In fact some of the people who returned back to the Hidaka-gun area, even went so far as to rebuild homes in a western style. This is now a tourist attraction and historical site called "Amerika Mura" in Mihama-cho. Personally, I know that the influence of the Japanese-Canadians in Steveston is of great importance as they helped to build up many industries and shops in this part of Richmond. I have definitely been influenced and encouraged to pursue my interests in Japanese language and culture from growing up in that area.
Before I know it, out comes this wonderful mochi dessert, and some cold tea and we are chatting about this Canada connection. The chatting continues to the point were we are running late for the dinner and festival. After asking a few moree questions, I am told that Tamaki-san's father is around and would come out to meet me. All of sudden the same old man walking down the narrow street only a hour prior emerges and starts to tell me his story. He is 93 and was born in New Westminster but moved back to Japan around the age of 3. He told me that he is forgetting his English and that there is an organization of Canadian emigrants in Gobo. I am entrigued by this history unfolding around me. I often meet people with a Richmond/Steveston connection in this prefecture and I get to expereince their area for a while. I hope that when I go back to Richmond, I can educate some the people there about this important connection across the Pacific. I still can't believe this meeting stemmed from a trip to Emi's family friends' kimono shop.
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