Ottawa Asian Hockey Classic - National Association of Japanese

Ottawa News
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Spring 2016
Volume 40, Number 2
 Calendar of Events 
• OJCC PROGRAM COMMITTEE EVENTS AT OJCC •
Card Making Craft Worshop
March 19, 1pm to 4 pm
See page 13 of this newsletter for more information.
Kumihimo Workshop
Make and Take craft with square template
May 14, 1pm to 4pm
Spring Bazaar and Food Fair
Cooking Class with Emi Buzza
See page 13 of this newsletter for more information.
See page 9 of this newsletter for more information.
April 17, 11am to 3pm
May 29, 1pm to 3pm
• UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS •
Japan Festival
March 19, 10am to 8pm
at Carleton University,
Residence Commons Building,
Fenn Lounge, 2nd floor
organized by Carleton Univ. Japanese Assoc.
New
Dance by Minyo club,
Judo demonstration by Takahashi Dojo,
tea ceremony by Rebecca Cragg and
Shamisen by Ryoko Itabashi,
and many interesting workshops.
The film “Vancouver no Asahi” will be screened.
See page 15 of this newsletter for more information.
Ottawa Asian Hockey Classic
May 13, 14, and 15
at Carleton University Icehouse
OJCA/OJCC volunteers
appreciation BBQ Picnic
SUNDAY, June 19, 1pm to 3pm
at Britannia Park, Trolley Station
Ikebana International Exhibition
(Sogetsu) “Rhythm in Nature”
March 31 to April 13
at Canadian Museum of Nature
Ottawa Champions
June 28 - 30, 7:05 pm
at the RCGT Stadium on Coventry Road
Shikoku Island League Plus all-star baseball team
will be back in Ottawa
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Ottawa News
The Ottawa News is published four times a year by the Ottawa
Japanese Community Association Inc (OJCA) and Ottawa
Japanese Cultural Centre (OJCC) and is circulated to members
to inform of community matters of interest. The editors have
the right to accept or reject any newsletter submissions.
English Editor: Carla Ayukawa
Japanese Editor: Michiko Toyooka
Membership: Yvonne Terada
Translation: Michiko Toyooka
Advertising: Michiko Toyooka
Webmaster: Takashi Toyooka,
[email protected]
Facebook: Hugo Narumiya,
[email protected]
This is the English only edition
Thanks to the following people for their submission of articles
and photos:
Sachiko Okuda
Naomi Katsumi
Nancy Uchida
Hugo Narumiya
Brian Yamashita
Michiko Toyooka
Takashi Toyooka
Richard Takahara
Hideomi Kodama
Nora Nishikawa
Tomomi Sakajiri
Ron Shigeishi
Karen Shigeishi-Waite
Nicole Reynolds
Norman Takeuchi
Matt Miwa
Deadline for the Next Issue
The next issue of the Ottawa News will be published in
June 2016. The deadline for articles requiring translation is
the May 30th, while any English or Japanese only articles are
required by June 4th.
Advertisement Rates
The following rates are for four (4) issues per year:
Full page ad - $100.00
Half page ad - $50.00
Quarter page ad - $25.00
There is a $50.00 set-up fee for new ads if they are not
copy-ready. Translation of ads is extra. Please send email
to [email protected] regarding advertisements.
Submitting Articles and Photos
to the Ottawa News
email: [email protected] (En)
email: [email protected] (Jp)
Stay connected with OJCA-OJCC
Ottawa Japanese Community Association
& Cultural Centre (OJCA-OJCC)
@ojca_ojcc
www.ottawajapanesecommunity.ca
m
[email protected]
President’s Message
Spring 2016
A sense of belonging, partnerships with other organizations, fun…these
were the recurring themes in the Feb. 23 NAJC teleconference on recruiting
new members and volunteers. And membership and volunteer recruitment
will be a recurring theme in the Ottawa community in the coming months,
as the OJCA/OJCC moves forward with plans to extend and expand its
programs and services. As a first step, I encourage you to spread the word
and respond to our forthcoming calls for volunteers to fuel our new partnership with the Asian
Hockey Classic in May, and to help produce some of our communication materials in French
and Japanese. - Sachiko Okuda
Here’s a snapshot of the Ottawa-Gatineau community, extracted from
Statistics Canada’s most recent National Household Survey (2011)
• 1,075 reported Japanese as their ethnic origin, with an additional 2,005
reporting Japanese as one of their ethnic origins
• 1,030 reported Japanese as their mother tongue, and 420 reported Japanese
as the language spoken most often at home
• In the 5-year period between January 2006 and May 2011, 25 male and
115 female Japanese immigrants arrived in Ottawa-Gatineau
What do these numbers say about our community? At a minimum, there is a wealth
of untapped potential for volunteers and members. And the statistics do not even
reflect the many existing and potential members of our community who are not of
Japanese ethnic origin.
Your OJCA Board and its membership recruitment committee, chaired by
Karen Shigeishi-Waite, are working hard to develop outreach strategies to attract
new members and volunteers. Watch this space!
Congratulations to:
• Oto-Wa Taiko, who celebrated their 26th anniversary with a concert at
Centrepointe Theatre on February 20, cheered on by hundreds of their
devoted fans
• Matt Miwa, co-creator (with Montreal’s Julie Tamiko-Manning) of
The Tashme Project, named one of the top 10 plays in Montreal in 2015
http://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/tiny-family-drama-is-one-ofthe-mightiest-productions-of-2015
• Norman Takeuchi, whose multimedia series, A Measured Act, was recently
acquired by the Canadian War Museum
• OJLS (Ottawa Japanese Language School), who will be celebrating its
40th Anniversary in May.
Omedeto gozaimasu!
OJCA Board, 2015-2016
President: Sachiko Okuda, [email protected]
Vice-Presdient: Naomi Katsumi, [email protected]
Treasurer: Karen Shigeishi-Waite, [email protected]
Secretary: Takashi Toyooka, [email protected]
Social Media: Hugo Narumiya, [email protected]
OJCC Liaison: Brian Yamashita, [email protected]
Community Relations: Yumi Schoenhofer, [email protected]
NAJC Liaison: Lisa Schoenhofer, [email protected]
Spirit of Redress Committee: Jennifer Matsunaga, [email protected];
Matt Miwa, [email protected]
Members at large: Bryan Tomlinson, [email protected]; Sumi Aota, [email protected]
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JUDO ∙ JIU JITSU ∙ AIKIDO ∙ KENDO ∙ IAIDO ∙ JODO
CARDIO KICK-BOXING ∙ KARATE for CHILDREN and ADULTS
JAPANESE BRUSH WORK
MINYO-JAPANESE FOLK DANCING (OJCC)
Over 46 years at the same location
5 Melrose Avenue Ottawa ON K1Y 1T8 Canada
(613 ) 725-3451; [email protected]; www.takahashi-dojo.com
OTTAWA ASIAN HOCKEY CLASSIC
Are you or your children of Asian descent?
Come and join us!
May 13, 14 & 15, 2016
CARLETON UNIVERSITY ICE HOUSE
For More Information:
[email protected]
www.asianhockey.ca
Ottawa Asian Hockey Classic
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CALL FOR HOCKEY VOLUNTEERS &
OJCA-OJCC INFO BOOTH VOLUNTEERS!
Do you (or your family) like hockey? Are you a high school
student in need of volunteer credits? Think you would have fun
keeping time for a hockey game? Or talking to people about the
OJCA-OJCC? If yes, then consider helping out at the Ottawa
Asian Hockey Classic on May 13, 14 & 15, 2016 at Carleton
University Ice House. This year, the OJCA-OJCC is sponsoring
this tournament and needs several volunteers to help out for just
a few hours or for all three days!
OJCA-OJCC Info Booth:
Not really interested in hockey? We still need you! You can help out
at the OJCA-OJCC Information booth/table at the tournament. Hand
out membership recruitment material (pamphlets, forms) … help with
the sale of some merchandise (books, etc.) … and tell interested parties
all about the OJCA-OJCC activities! Better yet – help us put together
promotional material (photos, videos or anything else you can come
up with)! Have some ideas? Interested in helping? Please contact Karen
Shigeishi-Waite at [email protected] for more information.
Hockey Tournament:
If you are of high school age or older (or are a parent-child team,
if younger), you could assist by helping with registration … or be a
tournament “runner” (retrieving pucks, game sheets, etc.) … computer
assistant (entering game scores) … or game timekeeper. All necessary
training will be provided. If you are interested in volunteering or
would like more information, please contact Naomi Katsumi at info@
asianhockey.ca.
How you can help and support refugees to Ottawa
by Nicole Reynolds
The humanitarian crisis in the Middle East is reaching well beyond
that part of the world. Refugee camps in some locations including
Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon are overwhelmed with populations
fleeing the war, political and religious strife in neighboring countries
such as Syria and Iraq. Many refugees are looking for more stable
opportunities in places as far away as our country. If you find yourself
like me, a member of this Japanese community and looking for an
opportunity to help and support the refugees coming to Ottawa,
please keep reading.
Organized by the City of Ottawa, {Refugee}613 is coordinating
Ottawa’s response to the refugee crisis. The members of the steering
committee are volunteers from various community and religious
groups. {Refugee}613 has been so overwhelmed from interest in
the community that they sent out application forms to interested
volunteers, such as me, to fill out. Volunteer opportunities so far
have included volunteering to coordinate the pick-up and delivery
of used household items and clothes. {Refugee}613 is also pointing
out other organizations that locally assist refugees, such as the
YMCA-YWCA Newcomer Information Centre, Immigrant Women
Services Ottawa, and WorldSkills to note just a few. So, depending
on the skills or the amount of time that you have to volunteer, you
may be able to find an opportunity. Simply go to the {Refugee}613
website http://www.refugee613.ca/pages/help#volunteer to
find out about organizations and activities that may be right for you.
In addition to volunteering, {Refugee}613 is bringing together
sponsorship groups made up of Ottawa residents who wish to
donate funds to sponsor refugees. To be able to sponsor refugees,
you must form a group or joining a group that is committed to
helping the person or helping the family to resettle in Canada.
The financial commitment of a group includes supporting
the refugee(s) for one year after arrival in Canada. Sponsoring
refugees is not a simple process and that is part of the reason
{Refugee}613 has stepped in to bring groups together and to
assist with the facilitation of the paperwork and the knowledge
about the responsibilities of resettlement.
On a related note to the above, I work for the Government
of Canada and I recently attended a lunch and learn session
on volunteering opportunities for refugees. At the end of the
session, we received an important message from the chair: that
even if we don’t assist directly with refugees, if we do other
volunteer work that helps our community be a more vibrant
and welcoming place, we are improving the city for everyone,
refugees included, to live in. So please remember that the next
time you participate or volunteer at an OJCC / OJCA event you
are making Ottawa a better place for everyone!
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Mochitsuki 2015
“Yasuhide and Takashi always seemed so
quiet and friendly. I never expected to hear
something like this.” So said a neighbour
after being told that Yasuhide Goto, Takashi
Toyooka, and their accomplices, Sebastian,
Randy, and Greg, were being accused of
assault causing granular harm. The victims?
Innocent grains of steamed mochi gome. Said one flattened grain,
“We were just sitting there in a stainless steel bowl, minding our own
business. Then POW! this guy is either squishing us or pounding us with
this big hammer. It was terrible! Once he started, the mob mentality
kicked in and several other people joined in. People were poking at
us and flipping us in the bowl, and then hitting us again. Then these
ladies started pinching us and rolling us into little balls. My God! The
humanity! I mean, the granularity!”
What led to this chaos? It turns out that it was our very successful
Mochitsuki 2015. Over 350 people squeezed into the St. Anthony
by Brian Yamashita
Soccer Club Hall to enjoy an afternoon of mochi mayhem while
chowing down on udon, sushi, oden, daifuku, sekihan, and, of course,
mochi. Oto-Wa Taiko, Emi-no-kai, Dagaku, and Minyo-kai provided
entertainment, while other groups sold baked goods, crafts, gently
used items, T-shirts, art, and books. Door prizes were donated by Denis
Bellefeuille, Nancy Uchida, Sachiko Okuda, Nora Nishikawa, Naomi
Katsumi, Ginza Ramen on Somerset, and the Ottawa Champions
Baseball Club. Donations were collected by UNHCR for Syrian refugees,
and the JCYLC youth conference had a display. Ambassador and Mrs.
Monji were able to attend, visited with many of our volunteers, and
even joined in for odori and mochi-making.
Thank you to all of the many volunteers who made the event a great
success again. Thanks especially to Tak and Yvonne Terada, Nancy
Uchida, Alice Nakanishi, Jim Sasaki, Kyoko Tsunetomi, Hideko
Kanbayashi, Yasuhide Goto, and Shigemi Ichino who were our main
organizers. We are already looking forward to next year’s Mochitsuki,
December 4, 2016.
Thanks to the Mochitsuki Volunteers! by Nancy Uchida
photos: Nancy Uchida
The mochitsuki event was a great success thanks to
the many volunteers who participated. According
to the Treasurer’s report, it seems OJCA/OJCC
netted $5474.53. We also thank Oto-Wa Taiko,
Emi No Kai, and Minyo for the entertainment and
the generous people and businesses who donated
door prizes.
On November 28th over 20 people helped
make mochi at the Cultural Centre to freeze. On
December 5th, approximately 20 more people
helped make daifuku majnju, and udon and loaded
items for the garage sale into vehicles. Thanks
Shigemi Ichino and the kitchen staff who prepared
the udon and made lunch for the helpers.
Kitchen group – left to right Mari Wellman, Hideko
Kanbayashi, Akiko Nguyen, Sachie Gomi, Shigemi
Ichino, Yuko Sugihara
Shinnenkai Pot Luck Lunch by Nancy Uchida
photo: Nancy Uchida
photo: Nancy Uchida
Our largest turnout of seniors came to Shinnenkai at the Cultural
Centre on January 31 to feast on a delicious pot luck lunch. After lunch
the group played games organized by Ron and Dorothy Shigeishi. There
were lots of prizes for the games and also door prizes. Everyone had an
enjoyable afternoon.
Shinnenkai at the Cultural Centre
Ron Shigeishi calling out
BINGO
Nancy Sasaki, Yvone Terada and Dorothy
Shigeishi
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JKA 日本空手協会／心誠館 オタワ道場
(Ottawa Japan Karate Association - Ottawa Dojo）
師範(Shihan) :
佐伯 實 Minoru Saeki
黒帯七段 Black 7-dan
師範会メンバー Member of JKA Shihan-kai
日本空手協会 国際連盟 理事
Director of JKA International Board
Adult Class (16 and older) 日本空手協 (JKA)
 Instructor: 佐伯 實 Shihan Minoru Saeki
 Language: Japanese, English
Children/Family class (8 and older) 心誠館(Shinsei-kan)


Instructors: o 佐伯靖治 Seiji Saeki Black 2-dan
o Tsao Marco Black 4-dan
Language: Japanese, English, French
日本からの師範や指導員を迎えての合宿、セミナー、大会などの強化練習プログラム
Gasshuku and Seminars by Shihans and Instructors from the JKA Headquarters are held regularly.
日本空手協会オタワ道場としての総本部直結の本格的な指導
Maintaining the Highest Karate Tradition as the Ottawa Dojo of the JKA
日本空手協会／心誠館 オタワ道場
Japan Karate Association/Shinsei-kan Ottawa Dojo
475 Cambridge St. South, Ottawa
613-235-8089
ottawajka.com
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GINGERBREAD CAKE & LEMON GLAZE
From AllRecipes.com with modifications by Nora Nishikawa
Add wet mixture to dry ingredients and whisk/stir until
just combined.
Add 1/2 cup of boiling water and whisk/stir until cake
batter is smooth.
photo: Nora Nishikawa
Pour batter into a greased or parchment lined 9 x 9 inch
baking pan.
1) Dry ingredients sift together in large bowl
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp ground ginger (I used fresh ginger 1TBSP finely
grated w/microplane)
1/4 tsp Chinese 5 spice powder or substitute allspice
(if you don’t have either use 1/4 tsp ground cloves &
1/4 tsp extra ginger)
Smooth batter to edges of pan.
Tap on counter to remove air bubbles in batter.
Bake at 350F for about 30-35 min until a toothpick
comes out clean.
(Hint: cake should not look “wet” in centre. Middle will
sink if undercooked)
Remove from oven. While still hot, pour on lemon glaze
spreading evenly over cake top with spatula knife.
3) Lemon glaze
2) Whisk wet ingredients together in small bowl
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup molasses (used fancy dark)
1/2 cup vegetable oil (used canola)
1 large egg beaten
Combine & stir to dissolve sugar:
1 cup icing sugar (sift to get lumps out)
Grated rind and 1/4 cup juice from one fresh lemon
(about 1 TBSP rind)
Cool till lemon glaze hardens and store tightly covered
before serving.
Contact:Japan
on Rogers 22
Japanese Cooking Class with Emi Buzza
by Sachiko Okuda
Location: Ottawa Japanese Cultural Centre, 2285 St. Laurent Blvd. Unit B16
Date: Sunday, May 29, 2016
Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Fee: Members $25, Non-Members $35 (Reserve your spot early as space is limited).
Cancellations should be made by May 25 at the latest so we can accommodate all requests. If you do not cancel your reservation and do not attend, payment will be expected.
Contact:Japan, the monthly local Japanese
community TV, continues its season on
Rogers 22, on the second Sunday of the month
at 9:00 a.m., and the following Saturday, also
at 9:00 a.m. Recent guests have included Aki
Watanabe and Tomomi Sakajiri of Oto-Wa
Taiko) and Carleton journalism student Nadiah
Sakurai, who spoke on seijin shiki (coming-ofage day).
For more information and to propose story
ideas, contact Sachiko Okuda (sachiko_okuda@
sympatico.ca)
by Nancy Uchida
Menu:
• Futomaki-sushi (egg omelette, shiitake mushrooms, cucumber, pickled ginger, etc...
are rolled in sushi rice)
• Kenchin-jiru (Tofu and vegetables in dashi soup)
• Tori no miso-yaki (Oven-baked chicken with miso)
• Ingen no goma-ae (Green beans with sesame dressing)
• Coconut jelly with mango and pineapple sauce (Asian dessert with coconut milk)
To pre-register contact Nancy Uchida at 613-828-9939 or email [email protected].
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Oto-Wa Taiko’s 26th Anniversary Concert by Tomomi Sakajiri
photo: Shuin Okada
Our artistic directors Yurika Murakami and Yuki Okada pushed us to try
new arrangements for pieces we have been playing for a long time. Many
of you have seen us at different events and you might think you have seen
it all from us. Presenting something new was very important for us. We
don’t want to be the same old taiko group! Also, two of our members,
Yuki and Takashi Toyooka composed new taiko pieces for this concert,
and I hope these too, will evolve in different shapes as we play them for
years to come. Yurika’s creativity was apparent everywhere, especially
with the comical theatrical piece she presented.
Having a guest performer playing a non-taiko instrument in an anniversary
concert was something we had never
tried before. The sound of shamisen
added great musicality to our concert.
We were very privileged to premier
Hisho, a shamisen/taiko collaboration
piece Ryoko composed for this occasion.
Personally, that was one of my favourite
pieces in the program. It was beautiful
and powerful at the same time. When
I was playing the piece, there was this
one particular moment when I heard the
sound of our hits on the taiko, together as
one, echoing throughout the otherwise
silent theatre. This is the kind of
moment a taiko player cherishes forever.
I sincerely hope that we will have more
Ryoko Itabashi playing the
occasions to perform this piece and
Shamisen
others like it with her.
The concert was also a great occasion for Dagaku to mark its 10th
anniversary. Since last year, Dagaku has been offering its classes in
partnership with Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s Japanese
Language Program. This has been a great collaboration. Students now
have the opportunity to learn more than the Japanese language on
Saturday mornings. Dagaku instructors have opportunities to share
their love of taiko with many children and are strongly supported from
the teachers and parents at school. The children practiced very hard for
the past four months to learn three pieces for this concert. Three of the
Dagaku members played solo in a piece, which can be nerve-wracking
even for adult performers. I am very proud of what all of the children
accomplished in such a short time. And as a “Taiko mom” of two Dagaku
members, I feel very fortunate to be able to share my passion for taiko
with my children.
Japanese folk dancing and taiko go hand in hand at festivals in Japan.
Thanks to the five enthusiastic dancers from the Japanese community
(Kyoko Tsunetomi, Hugo Narumiya, Mami Sasaki, Mina Hiroha and
Chieko Hooper), we were able to create this festival atmosphere
on stage. Having grown up in Japan, dancing to the sound of taiko
is something I feel nostalgic about and I truly enjoy. I would love to
collaborate again with these fantastic dancers and many more dance
lovers in the community.
I would like to thank all who made the concert a successful “Iwai”
occasion: my fellow Oto-Wa members, Ryoko (as a guest performer
and a Dagaku instructor), the dancers, the Oto-Wa and Centrepointe
volunteers, Dagaku children and parents, and those who attended
the concert. I believe that Oto-Wa Taiko will keep evolving. We will
continue to challenge ourselves to do something new and different.
We will continue to collaborate with local Japanese music and dance
talents. I am looking forward to all of this and being part of the future of
Oto-Wa Taiko. Thank you once again for your support over the years
and in the years to come!
photo: Shuin Okada
Oto-Wa Taiko’s 26th Anniversary Concert, “Iwai (Celebration)”, which
took place on February 20 at Centrepointe Theatre, presented the group’s
new artistic direction. The integration of Japanese music and dance was
a focal point for this concert, and these were scenes we wanted to add
to the National Capital Region. With new arrangements of old favorites
and newly composed taiko pieces, with a local Shamisen player Ryoko
Itabashi as guest performer, with the children’s taiko group Dagaku
representing the continuity of taiko culture in Ottawa, and with local
dance enthusiasts showcasing two folk dances, the audience enjoyed the
variety of Japanese musical elements. I was very fortunate to have been
involved in this concert in different capacities: as an Oto-Wa member, as a
Dagaku instructor, as a mother of two Dagaku members, and as a dancer.
Oto-Wa Taiko members
Japanese Pro Baseball
Returns in Ottawa in 2016
by Sachiko Okuda
Mark your calendars: on June 28, 29, and 30, the Shikoku Island
League Plus all-star baseball team will be back in Ottawa to take on the
Ottawa Champions at the RCGT Stadium on Coventry Road.
Those of us who participated in
the colourful and coordinated
Japanese community cheer
section will remember the
dancing, chanting, drumming, and generalized fun at the first of last
season’s two scheduled games (unfortunately the second game was
called due to rain). According to Jun Kitakomi, the Shikoku general
manager, the SIL+ players truly appreciated our community’s support.
This year the all-star team is scheduled to play three consecutive evening
games, the final one on the eve of Canada Day.
Watch for more information from the OJCA/OJCC on how you, your
family and friends from the National Capital Region, Montreal, Toronto
and points in-between, can join in to welcome these Shikoku “boys
of summer”.
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My Life of Taiko by Takashi Toyooka
I advanced through the Oto-Wa Taiko training
class and became a performer. I composed my
first piece, called “Saru Asobi”, or “Monkey Play”,
which perhaps reflected my newfound art
with its childlike enthusiasm and energy.
Eventually, Oto-Wa Taiko would have a joint
concert with Kamo Tsunamura Daiko of
Sendai, Japan; and a few years later, we would
travel to Japan to perform there, making for
possibly one of the most notable concerts we
have ever given. And a few years after that,
the tragic events of the Tohoku earthquake
disaster brought the taiko group together with
the rest of the Ottawa Japanese community,
to send aid to Sendai and the stricken area.
I soon settled into a kind of rhythm, so to
speak, with taiko drumming. I was enjoying
leading workshops to introduce taiko to
newcomers, and teaching students in the
training classes, but I couldn’t help feel, again,
it was time for something new. And although I
didn’t know what I was searching for, yet, I left
taiko.
photo: Shuin Okada
I had been exploring various visual arts, but
never fully connected with any of them,
when I was asked to return to taiko for a big
anniversaryconcert. It took a great deal of
thought, but I agreed, with the understanding
that it would be temporary, until the concert.
Oto-Wa Taiko at 40th Annivesary celebration
performance
group Dagaku, the Minyo dance group, and
shamisen player Ryoko Itabashi, the show was
a great community effort, and featured a wide
variety of performances and styles.
I was very pleased that the concert featured
many new pieces and collaborations. With
contributions from the children’s taiko
photo: Shuin Okada
I came from a background of clarinet with
various concert bands, but I was drawn to the
dynamism and dance-like choreography of
taiko. I was also seeking more connection with
the Japanese community and Japanese culture.
And I thought it was time for something new.
Oto-Wa Taiko at 40th Annivesary celebration
performance
Among the new pieces was mine, entitled “En”,
or “Circles”. In contrast to “Saru Asobi”, this was
soft and contemplative, melancholy, even, like
a second goodbye. And while it’s ostentatious
to say this, it might have been partially inspired
by the cycle of life reflected in my taiko career.
Have a Happy Spring!
State Farm, Aurora, ON
1211999CN
11
Report of Book Donations (December 2014 – February 2016) by Hideomi Kodama
For 14 months stated above, the Reading Club has received a number of
books. I have listed below names of the donors. Please accept my apology
if I missed anyone. On behalf of the Club, I would like to express our sincere
thanks to these donors:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Michiko Toyooka for 33 books.
Kazue Furuya for 24 books.
Naoko Yoshida for 18 books.
Koichi Ide for 16 books.
Anonym (1) (brought by Ron Shigeishi) for 70 books.
Masayo Gardner for 33 books.
Kazue Furuya for 15 books.
Koichi Abe for 23 books, and a special memorial set of cassette tapes
which is tribute to rakugo-ka, Sanyutei Enshō
(三遊亭円生).
Anonym (2) for 28 magazines.
Liana Van der Bellen for 10 art related books including “Woodblock Kuchi-e –
Prints Reflections of Meiji Culture” by Helen Merritt and Nanako Yamada, with
7 fine-art exhibition catalogues.
Akemi Morishita for 3 books and a magazine.
Ted Shimizu for 10 classic books including “The Autobiography of Fukuzawa
Yukichi” and several biographies by Setsuko Sugimoto.
Yoshio Tsuchiya for 7 books.
Hideomi Kodama for 10 books.
Kyoko Kosaki for 15 books.
Noriko Davy for 16 books.
Kahoko Lie for 163 books and 177 magazines, many related to haiku.
Among those books donated above, six titles (stated below) were
selected for the OJCA Library, which is located on the 2nd floor of
the OJCC.
• [The Autobiography of Fukuzawa Yukichi] (translated by Eiichi
Kiyooka, published by Hokuseido, 1934)
• [Kaempfer’s Japan – Tokugawa Culture Observed by Engelbert
Kaempfer] (edited, translated, annotated by Beatrice M.
Bodart-Bailey, published Univ. Hawai’I Press, 1999)
• [A Daughter of The Narikin] by Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto
(published by Paternoster Library, 1937)
• [A Daughter of The Samurai] by Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto
(published by Paternoster Library, 1937)
• [A Daughter of The Nohfu] by Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto
(published by Doubleday, Doran & Co., 1937)
• [Grandmother O Kyo] by Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto
(published by Doubleday, Doran & Co., 1940)
The remaining books will appear at the Book Sale at the annual
Mochitsuki Festival in December. Otherwise they will be placed in
the Book Exchange Corner on the 1st floor of the OJCC. I thank all
donors for their generous contributions in supporting book recycling
and improving the OJCA Library as Japanese community activities.
12
Card Making Craft Workshop by Nancy Uchida
We hope you will come to the Ottawa Japanese Cultural Centre
with your friends to enjoy a relaxing afternoon making glamourous
ladies on cards using felt with beads, feathers and various other
embellishments. Kits will be provided to make it easy for you to
make this new card. Of course you can also use your imagination to
create your own style.
Date: March 19, 2016
Time: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Location: Ottawa Japanese Cultural Centre,
2285 St. Laurent Blvd Unit B16
Please bring the following supplies if you have
them: a glue stick, mini glue gun, tweezers,
ruler,
and any trimmings you think would enhance
the cards (see sample attached). We have a few
extra mini glue guns so people can share.
Refreshments will be provided. Registration is
not required for this workshop.
If you need more information, contact Nancy
Uchida 613-828-9939 or [email protected]
OJCC Food Fair and Spring Bazaar Fundraiser by Nancy Uchida
Please help support the Ottawa Japanese Cultural Centre by attending our
Spring Bazaar and Food Fair. Our annual operating expenses at the Centre are
over $10,000 and the Bazaar is one of our major fundraisers to help cover costs.
Your support would be appreciated.
Location: Ottawa Japanese Cultural Centre, 2285 St. Laurent Blvd. Unit B16
Date: Sunday, April 17, 2016
Time: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Main Floor: Chirashi-zushi, inari-zushi and tamago-maki
We would appreciate baking and miscellaneous food items for
sale such as jams, preserves, tsukemono, pickles, denba zuke,
sauces and snacks.
Silent Auction: Donations would be appreciated
A limited number of tables will be available for rent for Members $20,
Non Members $30
Upstairs: Bazaar and Craft Sale
Donations of bazaar items would be greatly appreciated. The
Cultural Centre will be open on Saturday, April 16th to receive
bazaar and auction items for sale from 11:00 to 2:00. If you would
prefer to make other arrangements to drop off items for sale,
please phone or email Nancy Uchida (see below)
Suggestions: Asian gifts, knickknacks, dishes, vases, kitchenware,
useful items (gently used), small toys in good condition,
electronics and small electrical appliances in good condition.
Please – no old clothing or books as space is limited.
If you need more information, contact Nancy Uchida 613-8289939 or [email protected]
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CALL FOR
VOLUNTEERS!
Volunteering is a wonderful way to meet new people and become
actively involved in a community-based group – while at the same
time, providing much needed help. The OJCA-OJCC is a volunteerbased organization, and needs your support … for a couple of hours
to a couple of days. Any time that you can give would be greatly
appreciated.
Volunteers are currently required for the following:
• NEWSLETTER ASSISTANT(S):
We are looking for one or two people for the duties as outlined
below depending on ability and interest.
1. Duties include: purchasing envelopes, labels and stamps;
printing labels, getting both newsletters printed, picking them up
and bringing them to mail-out; maintaining newsletter email list
spreadsheet and emailing e-newsletters; helping to stuff and put
labels and stamps on envelopes on mailing day, done four times
a year.
Number of hours: 1-2 hours on mailing day.
For more information, please contact Sakie Kodama at skodama@
cogeco.ca
2. Duties include Japanese to English translation
Number of hours: up to 2-3 hours per issue, most issues none
For more information, please contact Michiko Toyooka at
[email protected]
• JAPANESE TRANSLATOR
Required to translate our new membership pamphlet (one page)
from English to Japanese.
For more information, please contact Karen Shigeishi-Waite at
[email protected] or 613-297-6653.
Christmas Ornament Workshop
February Card Workshop
by Nancy Uchida
On February 20th Nora Nishikawa taught an enjoyable card workshop
using embellishments on cut-out squares and other different shapes.
The fifteen volunteers all seemed to enjoy making the cards using
their own imagination and creativity. We sold $91 worth of cards that
afternoon.
Thank you Nora for taking the time to prepare the variety of interesting
material for the workshop.
Thanks Giselle Holloway for the delicious snacks as well as: Shigemi
Ichino, Hideko Kanbayashi, Helene Vigeant, Mona Forzley, Mary
Alice Vermij, Jane Hayami and Lillian Lee. We had such a delicious
variety of goodies.
Program Committee
The Program Committee
consists of Nancy Uchida
(co-ordinator),
Sakie
Kodama, Nora Nishikawa
and Giselle Holloway. Every
year we set out the program
of activities for the year
such as our craft workshops,
bazaar and cooking classes.
We would like to thank the volunteers who come to the events at
the Japanese Cultural Centre to participate or work together for
fundraisers. Many new friendships were made at our workshops.
We thank the following volunteers for their donations of craft material
and for making crafts at home:
by Nancy Uchida
On November 21, 2015 fourteen volunteers
attended a Christmas ornament workshop
at the Japanese Cultural Centre. This craft
was taught by Sakie Kodama and Nora
Nishikawa. Many of these ornaments were
sold at the workshop and at Mochitsuki.
Thanks to the following for their
contribution to the delicious refreshments:
Dorothy Shigeishi, Karen Watanabe, Fred
Weatherbee, Shigemi Ichino, Lillian Lee and
Nora Nishikawa
Liz Fujimoto made extra pressed flower cards and sold them to friends
and donated the proceeds to the Cultural Centre.
Yoko Sugihara donated a large bag of beautifully made kumihimo
decorations that will be very handy for our craft workshops.
Flo Hamel made over 80 Emperor and Empress dolls out of film
cartridges.
Mona Forzley, Mary Alice Vermij and Penny Davis helped cut out
material for the March workshop at Nancy’s home. Mona donated
and cut out cardstock for the workshop.
14
Donations
You’re invited to a new public festival:
JAPAN FESTIVAL
The Carleton University Japanese Association (CUJA),
with support from the Embassy of Japan and the OJCA/
OJCC, presents JAPAN FESTIVAL. This free public event
takes over from the former Japan Day at the former
Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Date: March 19, 2016;
Location: Fenn Lounge, 2nd floor, Residence Commons Bldg,
Carleton University
Stage performances: Tea ceremony, shamisen, kendo
demonstration, Minyo-kai folk dancing
Afternoon of workshops: Japanese games, calligraphy, tea
ceremony, haiku contest... and much, much more
Special feature film showing: “Vancouver no Asahi”
Admission: FREE;
Parking: $4.00, also accessible by OC Transpo
For more info: http://www.cujapan.ca
 
SCHEDULE
TIME
12:30 PM
1:00 PM
1:15 PM
1:35 PM
1:55 PM
2:15 PM
2:35 PM
3:40 PM
3:50 PM
4:15 PM
EVENT NAME
Door Opens
Opening Ceremony
Tea Ceremony by Rebecca Cragg
Shamisen Performance by Ryoko Itabashi
Minyo Dance by Japanese Folk Dance Group
Kendo Demonstration by Carleton Kendo Club
Workshop Announcements by Kenji Misawa
• Japanese Food Demonstration
• Origami
• Calligraphy
• Tea Ceremony
• Japanese Toys
• Karuta
• JET & JETAA Booth
• OJCA Booth
• Kendo Workshop
• Flower for Fukushima
Announcement of Haiku Contest Winners
Closing Ceremony
Movie Screening: The Vancouver Asahi
(Vancouver no Asahi) (running time 2:20)
The OJCC thanks the following for their generous donations and
continuing support.
General Donations
Debbie Fujimoto
Carole Fujimoto
Lillian Lee
Naoko Hawkins
Jane Ebata
Stan Hirose and Mary Meek
Norman and Marion Takeuchi
Tak and Yvonne Terada
Wendy and Brian Bird
Sachiko Okuda and Bruce Rayfuse
Denis and Pearl Bellefeuille
Ken and Coral Sato
Nora Nishikawa
Lori Ishii
Jim and Bea Tanaka
Yaeko Stogiannos
Tak Fujiwara
Barry Donnelly
John & Pauline Murakami
Liz and Yasuo Fujimoto
Henry & Nachiko Shibata
Gabrielle Forsyth
Giselle Holloway
In Memory of Mrs. K. Inaba
Len and Janet Matsukubo
Lillian Lee
Jane and Hiro Hayami
Sakie Kodama
Generous Donation received by OJCC
Caroline Ishii recently made a generous and very much appreciated
donation to the Ottawa Japanese Cultural Centre. Among the
donated treasures were: 64 matching lacquer soup bowls, a lacquer
3-tired box, teapots, crockery, some lovely ceramic bowls, hashi and
other miscellaneous items.
Several years ago Caroline Ishii and David Loan opened ZenKitchen,
an acclaimed vegan restaurant where many of us in the community
enjoyed her amazing meals. Caroline has since left that venture and
did a lot of travelling all over the world and is a trained teacher of yoga
and meditation. She is well known for her amazing truffles which were
sold locally.
Watch for Caroline’s book “The Accidental Chef”, a memoir with
recipes, which is scheduled to launch in May!
We wish Caroline best wishes in her move to Toronto. You will be
missed by your many friends in Ottawa. Thank you Caroline.
Nancy Uchida
15
Canadian War Museum acquires internment-themed work
The Canadian War Museum is pleased to announce the acquisition
of A Measured Act, a stunning multimedia series by Japanese Canadian
artist Norman Takeuchi. The work reflects on the experiences of22,000
Canadians of Japanese ancestry — including the artist and his family —
who were forcibly relocated to isolated communities and internment
camps during the Second World War.
“This powerful work of art movingly illustrates the implications of the
Japanese Canadian experience during a difficult period in our history,”
says Stephen Quick, Director General of the Canadian War Museum. “A
Measured Act will help us tell this story from a very personal perspective,
revealing how this important aspect of Canada’s home-front experience
in the 1940s affected Japanese Canadians.”
The kimonos are juxtaposed with six small Conté crayon drawings.
Mounted on canvas and displayed on two wooden shelves, they depict
some of the few everyday items that families like Takeuchi’s would have
been allowed to take with them to the camps in British Columbia’s
isolated interior. Takeuchi’s simple but richly textured renditions of these
objects — a teapot, a bowl with chopsticks, a small bottle of soy sauce,
a ball and glove, a towel, a pair of boots — evoke hardship and loss
but also intimacy and reverence. Detainees were forced to give up their
homes and most of their possessions, so these few household items
connected them with their old lives and with their cultural heritage.
Takeuchi, born in Vancouver in 1937 and a long-time resident of
Ottawa, is known for his hybrid style that blends traditional Japanese
iconography with abstract shapes and images of contemporary Canada.
A Measured Act was originally created for a 2006 group exhibition, Without
a Passport, curated by Maureen Korp and shown at the Karsh-Masson
Gallery. The work has since been exhibited in museums across Canada
and the United States, including the Japanese Canadian National
Museum in Burnaby, B.C. and the Military Museums in Calgary, Alberta.
Ottawa Buddhist Fellowship
Norman Takeuchi
A Measured Act (detail)
CWM 20140167, Canadian War Museum
photo: Norman Takeuchi
The individual pieces in A Measured Act include five life-sized, shaped
paper kimonos that incorporate photo transfers, acrylic painting,
and Conté and oil pastel drawings. Kimonos are an iconic emblem
of Japan, where the wide-sleeved garments have a long history as
cultural artifacts, fashion items and works of art. Takeuchi’s paper
versions combine dark, abstract forms with text and photo transfers
of historical images and documents related to the internment of
Japanese-Canadians, persecuted because of Japan’s role as an
aggressor in the Second World War.
The first Buddhist (Ottawa Jodo Shinshu fellowship) service
for 2016 was held on January 23rd at the OJCC. The service was
officiated by Bishop T. Aoki from Vancouver B.C., on his first ever
visit to Ottawa area. During his Dharma talk, Bishop Aoki defined
Buddhism in simple terms: “be good” and “don’t be bad”.
People should strive to be compassionate and wise, as opposed
to insolent and ignorant. Bishop Aoki explained that there are
countless Buddhist teachings, and he encouraged participants to
“Listen to the teaching and if you agree with it, take it to your
heart; if not, just throw it away.” He also led participants through
a short meditation practice.
photo: Richard Takahara
photo: Norman Takeuchi
by Richard Takahara
Bishop Aoki (left) and participants
Sad news: On December 4th, Reverend Michael Hayashi of
the Manitoba Buddhist Temple passed away from untreatable
abdominal cancer.
The Ottawa Jodo Shinshu fellowship services are held periodically
throughout the year. The next one is scheduled for May 21st
at the OJCC from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., with a short workshop to
precede the service. Everyone is welcome; bring your friends.
For information, please contact Richard Takahara,
[email protected], (613) 831-1064.
16
Stories from our Ottawa community: the OJCA Public History Project
by Sachiko Okuda and Matt Miwa
As you may remember, last August the OJCA received a grant from
the Department of Canadian Heritage’s World War Commemorations
Community Fund to conduct a public history project. The first phase
of the project involved a how-to workshop on conducting oral-history
interviews. Sixteen people participated in the half-day session on
December 12, led by oral-history practitioner Josh Labove, of Ryerson
University and the Landscapes of Injustice Project.
The project has now moved into its next phase: collecting stories
from our Ottawa community members. To those of you who have
volunteered to be interviewed, thank you so much for your patience.
We have run into some minor delays in obtaining the recording
equipment but are now back on track and will set up our interviews in
the coming month!
To those who have not yet expressed their interest, we offer the
following reflection upon the future, the past, and what can be done
in the present to build a bridge between the two. First off, we wish to
say that no matter who you are, or where you come from – Japan;
the Coast; the Island; the Prairies; Brazil! – the story of how you got
here - your story - is of enormous importance to who we are as a
community, and what our community will become in the future. A big
misconception that floats about town is that your stories are best left
photo: Hugo Narumiya
What is the scope of our community?
Where will wisdom be found?
How-to workshop on conducting oral-history
in the past or have little value. But please remember, many of us do not
know the places you have come from; they remain places of myth in our
imagination and in our sense of history. When you tell us about these
places, the simple act of hearing your stories grounds us, expands our
minds, and grants us a very real and missing sense of peace in our lives.
Yours’ are stories that we will carry on, until we are as old as you! We are
all Japanese in some form or other and your stories help to define this
cherished identity!
So please, it would be our great pleasure to hear from you and
to hear about you! Contact us for an interview; we are ready
and willing.
The final product will be educational materials, including a presentation,
based on first-person narratives.
Matt Miwa ([email protected])
Sachiko Okuda ([email protected])
Kimono portrait
Family portrait
Pet photography
and more.
Enjoy your private
session at my home studio.
Contact:
www.corgimarkphotography.com
613-825-9310 (Kyoko)
17
Application:
 New membership
 Renewal
Membership: (Please choose only one)




Membership ending August 31, 20_____
NOTE: Maximum of 2 years payment in advance.
Family (1 household)
Single (1 adult)
Senior (up to 2 adults, 65+)
Student (1 full-time student)
$30/year
$25/year
$20/year
$15/year
Membership: $ _________
Newsletter: (Choose any number)
 English copy - via Email
 English paper copy - via Canada Post
 Japanese copy - via Email  Japanese paper copy - via Canada Post
Extra Fee: $
NOTE: If you choose to receive both English & Japanese paper
copy, there is an extra fee of $10 due to the extra mailing cost.
(if applicable)
Donation:
________
Donation: $ __________
We would greatly appreciate any donations to help support our
programs and events. Donations will go to the OJCC, and you
will receive a charitable tax receipt. Thank you for your support!
Total: $ __________
Member Information:
Name #1:
_________________
Name #2:
Address: _________
_________________
City: ________________________________ Province:________ Postal Code: _______
___
Phone:________________________Email: ____________________________________________
Photographs:
We often take photographs at OJCA-OJCC sponsored events and post them on our website, our
Facebook page or other media sites. If you do not wish to have your (or your family’s) photo posted,
please let us know at [email protected].
Submission and Payment: (Please check one box)
 Mail: Please mail this completed membership form along with a cheque payable to “OJCA”.
OJCA Membership
61 Evanshen Cres.
Kanata K2K 2Z7
 Electronic: a) Please process an Internet e-transfer payment for the total amount to:
[email protected]. b) Scan or take a photo of the completed membership form
and email to: [email protected] (or mail to the above postal address).
Office Use Only:
 Cheque: $___________ / Date _____________________
Total: $________________ :
Membership: $ ____________
 Cash: $_________________
Donation: $_______________
Other: $_______________
Revised: Aug 2015
18