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Joy Kogawa story in Vancouver Sun's “Raise a Reader” supplement

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Joy Kogawa story in Vancouver Sun's “Raise a Reader” supplement

Rebecca Wigod wrote a short story about Joy Kogawa in Thursday's
Septemeber 29th, Vancouve Sun, page A23c.  with a small picture.

On the road of learning with Joy Kogawa
by Rebecca Wigod

Joy Kogawa, the 70-year-old author of Obasan, is a
venerable Canadian writer – so venerable that in Vancouver, Nov. 6 is
Joy Kogawa Day.

She's a Member of the Order of Canad, but she's not
able helping children in southeast Vancouver with their reading.

In fact, she's only too happy to help.

On a sunny summer afternnon, Kogawa went to the
Fraserview branch of the Vancouver public library and shared her
children's book Naomi's Road, with the young folk in its Readalong
program.

Many of them had South or East Asian backgrounds.

A diminuitive gifure in a long blue denim jumper,
she gathered the kids around her and asked: “Sixty years ago in August,
a terrible , terrible thing happend.  I was 10 years old. 
Does anybody know what happened?”

“A war?” asked one of the children.

Happy to recieve such an answer from children too
young to know anything of the Secod World War, she nodded
vigorously.  Then she told them something of her own history.

At one point, she produced a figurine and showed it
to the Readalong group.  It depicted Ninomiya Kinjiro, a great
19th-century Japanese landowner who began life in a poor peasant family.

He is seen as a symbol of hard work, and perseverence.

“His special road was the road of learning.  He
taught himself to read because he was too poor to go to school and he
beacme the greatest teacher in all of Japan.  When I was young, my
parents said, 'Be like Ninomiya Kinjiro.'”

Children in the Readalong program visit the library
twice a week during the summer for stories and help with their
reading.  Kogawa made the task palatable by handing out origami
paper and teaching them songs.

Her classic novel, Obasan, is the centrepiece of the library's One Book One Vancouver program this year.
   

Please sign the petition to preserve the Kogawa Homestead. Click on the white banner – this will forward you to an on-line petition.

Donations can be made in care of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation

Naomi's Road: Vancouver Opera premiere of Joy Kogawa's children's book based on novel Obasan

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Naomi's Road: Vancouver Opera premiere of Joy Kogawa's children's book based on nove Obasan

Click here for the Review of the Oct 1, Saturday Matinee performance.


 		   
Vancouver Opera
September
30, October 1 & 2 , 2005

Evening performance 7:30 pm, Matinees 3:00
pm

Norman Rothstein Theatre

Naomi's Road
is a new opera for young audiences. It is composed by Ramona Luengen, with libretto by Ann Hodges. It is based on Joy
Kogawa's novel Naomi's Road
which tells the story of a young girl named Naomi and her brother
Stephen as they meet the challenges created by the internment of
Japanese-Canadians during World War 2.

Check out the Vancouver Opera Naomi's Road press release

I have seen performances of highlights from the Opera both at the Chan
Centre for Roy Miki's June 27th lecture for the Laurier Institution titled, Redress: Dealing with Past Injustices, and also at the Vancouver Arts Awards
last week.  Both times, the performances were captivating and
featured singer Jessica Cheung in the role of Naomi.

This is a milestone for Asian Canadian art and literature for a
successful children's story to be turned into an opera, that will be
touring schools throughout BC, as part of the Vancouver Opera in the Schools program. 
It is important to share the story about an ugly chapter in Canada's
history – yet teaching children how to move beyond racism and hatred.

Kogawa Homestead Committee meeting: Friday Sept 29th 4pm

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The “Save the Kogawa Homestead” Committee is meeting:

Friday, September 30th, 4pm
Sylvia Hotel
1154 Gilford @ Beach Avenue
Vancouver, BC

This will be the first meeting in person of the reconstituted
committee.  It is important for us to meet in person and
strategize how to best save the house where author Joy Kogawa had so
many happy childhood memories and was raised until the internment of
Japanese-Canadians forced the Kogawa family to Slocan BC.

For the history of the committee: see www.kogawa.homestead.com

Several strategies will be discussed, and we will also discuss key
meetings with movers and shakers in our literary community + political
community.

Worst case scenario:  Kogawa House is demolished.
Best case scenario:  Kogawa House is saved and preserved on original site.
Alternative scenario: Kogawa House is saved but moved to another
site.  But this could be similar to the displacement faced by the
Japanese Canadians who were interned!

Good people are needed for this committee!
Please step forward and make yourself known.

Please sign the petition to preserve the Kogawa Homestead. Click on the white banner – this will forward you to an on-line petition.

Donations can be made in care of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation

Vancouver Courier story on Joy Kogawa: Literary icons home faces wrecker's ball

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Vancouver Courier story on Joy Kogawa:


Literary icon's home faces wrecker's ball
By Sandra Thomas-Staff writer
http://www.vancourier.com/issues05/094205/news/094205nn11.html

Last
November city council passed a motion to plant a cherry tree propagated
from one growing in the backyard of the former home of author Joy
Kogawa.

But if a demolition application recently filed at the
city by the owner is approved, that tree could soon be one of the last
remaining tangible symbols of the home on West 64th Avenue.

Kogawa
lived there until she was six years old, when her Japanese-Canadian
family was interned in the Slocan Valley during the Second World War.
The Marpole house was then auctioned off at a bargain price by the
government's “Custodian of Enemy Alien Property” program. Her 1983
autobiographical work Obasan, named one of the most influential novels
of the 20th century by Quill and Quire, a monthly magazine of the
Canadian book trade, tells the story of the internment camp through the
eyes of a child.

Kogawa, who keeps small apartments in both
Vancouver and Toronto, noted the irony of receiving the bad news while
being honoured at several events across the city.

“It is how life operates,” said Kogawa from her children's home in Surrey. “It is the yin and yang of the world.”

Kogawa
was honoured last weekend at a One Book, One Vancouver event for her
novel Naomi's Road, the children's version of Obasan, at Vancouver
Public Library, and at a dinner for Ricepaper Magazine, during the Word
on the Street Book and Magazine Fair, and at the premiere of Naomi's
Road performed by Vancouver Opera.

Kogawa, who was named to
the Order of Canada for her writing and work with the Japanese-Canadian
redress movement, said she was “dumbfounded” by the news the home is in
danger. Two years ago Kogawa discovered the property was for sale and a
committee was formed in an attempt to purchase it. The home was
eventually bought by private owners. In December 2004 when the owners
started renovations without a permit, the Joy Kogawa Homestead
Foundation contacted both the city and the media to increase pressure
on the federal and provincial governments to save the home as a
historical and cultural icon.

The city issued a stop-work
order which the new owners followed. They also donated the three doors
and 12 windows they had removed to the city for safe keeping. The
owners, who have no messaging service, did not answer several phone
calls from the Courier.

“I don't want to be aggressive, I don't want to fight,” Kogawa said. “We'll see what friendship can do.”

Jim
Green, a city councillor and mayoral candidate for Vision Vancouver,
said he was at the house with Kogawa recently to look at the cherry
tree.

“This is too sad,” he said. “This is a historical place in Canada and it should be preserved.”

Green sits on the city's heritage committee but admits the city can do little to save the home.

“There
is very little we can do with the powers we have,” he said. “It will be
up to the will of council because I expect it to come before the
development permit board because it would have a significant impact
historically on Vancouver.”

Green said he and Kogawa expect to plant the cherry tree on the grounds of city hall within the next couple of weeks.

For more updates on the Kogawa Homestead status, please see:
www.kogawa.homestead.com
For more updates, articles on Kogawa Homestead and Joy Kogawa on this web site, please see:
Joy Kogawa's Obasan and Homestead

Media stories about Kogawa Homestead: 2004 to Sept 2005

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Here's a 2004 story about the Kogawa Homestead from the Vancouver Sun by Kim Pemberton.


Historical home is Joy's dream
Novelist envisions writers' retreat in childhood home seized during Second World War

Since 2004, the house has again risen in value.  But today there
are the tell tale signs that something is happening.  Paing
markings on the sidewalk mark city services to the house, and
surveyor's tape criss-cross the yard.  Earlier this week an
inquiry was made by an architect to apply for demolition.

Saturday's Globe and Mail featured a “This Just In” by Alexanda Gill
(September 24, p. R6)national Globe edition:

 “Vancouver: The wrecker's ball could wipe out a Canadian literary
landmark. The owner of Joy Kogawa's childhood home, a house that
figured prominently in her award winning novel Obasan, applied to the
city of Vancouver for a demolition permit this week, just as the author
is about to be celebrated. In 1942, under the War Measures Act, Kogawa,
her parents and brother, were removed from the bungalow. Obasan,
published in 1981, recalls this episode in Canadian history. This
weekend, the author is scheduled to read a passage from Obasan at
Vancouver's Word on the Street festival.”

Please sign the petition to preserve the Kogawa Homestead. 
Click on the white banner - this will forward you to an on-line petition.
Donations can be made in care of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation


Rice Paper 10th Anniversary: featuring Joy Kogawa, Scott McIntyre & Gim Wong

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Ricepaper 10th Anniversary Celebrations: featuring Joy Kogawa, Scott McIntyre & Gim Wong


Ricepaper staffers greet guests at the door – photo Meena Wong

It was a love-fest as former editors and writers, + many featured
authors and performers + our favourite city councillors and community
organizers, all attended the celebration.  The Buzz about the Rice Paper Magazine 10th Anniversary Party,
organized by Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop, picked up speed late in
the week.  Numbers confirmed on Thursday night practically doubled
by Saturday night, as attendees “borrowed” extra chairs and tables from
the Tinseltown Food Court.

Writers Fiona Lam and
Lydia Kwa sat at a table next to Faye Leung, Vancouver Librarian Ross
Bliss stated “I want to meet writers!” and was quickly introduced to
lots.  UBC professor Glenn Deere and wife Faye sat at the Joy
Kogawa table.  Writer and Artist Janice Wong, along with Capilano
College instructor and writer Crawford Killian joined friends at Scott
McIntyre's table. Citizenship Court Judge (and former City Councillor)
Sandra Wilking sat nearby Opera singer Grace Chan, and across from
writer SKY Lee. City councillor Ellen Woodsworth chatted with SFU
writer-in-residence Daphne Marlatt. City Councillor Anne Roberts
brought her mother Barbara.  Kelly Ip chatted with Lt. Col. Howe
Lee.  Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre
producer Joy Lam hung out with CBC writer Charlie Cho, and scripting
partner Grace Chin.



Elwin Xie (ACWW Director) and Joyce Lam (VACT producer) share a smile and long friendship – photo Meena Wong


Joy Kogawa signs a book for one of the many event guests – photo Meena Wong

Whoops of joy were heard as it was announced that Vancouver city
councillor Sam Sullivan had secured his mayoralty bid to represent the
NPA party, as he made a surprise appearance fresh from the NPA
counting.  Even COPE city councillors Anne Roberts and Ellen
Woodsworth rushed to give him heartfelt congratulations.

And in the middle of this sat our featured guests: Joy Kogawa, Scott
McIntyre and Gim Wong.  Host and ACWW Vice President Don
Montgomery introduced each starting with Kogawa.  Joy said that
this year started off with the surprise of having Obasan selected for
the Vancouver Public Library's One Book One Vancouver program, and
described how wonderful the republishing of new versions of Emily Kato
(Itsutka) and Naomi's Road have been plus the delight of seeing Emily's
Road transformed into an opera by the Vancouver Opera.


Joy Kogawa holds
her ACWW Community Builders Award while Todd Wong (ACWW vice-president)
speaks about efforts to save the Kogawa Homestead – Event host Don
Mongomery (ACWW vice-president) looks on – photo Meena Wong

Joy called on me to speak about the developments of the previous 60
hours, as she had learned about the planned demolition of the Kogawa
Homestead and the efforts mobilized to save it.  I described the
seemingly impossible contradiction that while this week when Joy is
being celebrated at the Rice Paper Anniversary Dinner, Word On The
Street, Vancouver Public Library and Vancouver Opera… the proposed
demolition represents polar opposites that create a dynamic tension,
giving even greater emphasis on both positive and negative
aspects.  But it is because of her being celebrated, that reaction
to the proposed demolition, is even more sharply responded to – witness
the way that the Globe & Mail picked up on the story, that it was
announced and spoken about at the Vancouver Arts Awards by both Mayor
Larry Campbell and city councillor Jim Green.  And by the evening,
Scott McIntyre was volunteering his influence and suggestions to help
save the house. “One Million Dollars should be easy to raise,” he told
me.


Scott McIntyre
tells the audience about the pionneering nature of the books by Paul
Yee, SKY Lee and Jim Wong-Chu that he has published – photo Meena Wong

Scott McIntyre was jovial in his speech.  He spoke about the
achivements of Douglas McIntyre Publishing, in putting out Salt water
City by Paul Yee, Disappearing Moon Cafe by SKY Lee, and Many Mouthed
Birds edited by by Jim Wong-Chu and Bennett Lee – each the first of
their genres, pioneers in Asian Canadian literature.  Then Scott
said, “We haven't done enough.”  He talked about the fact that we
are all one family – no longer separated by clan or race
distinctions.  Chinese-Canadian literature and Japanese-Canadian
literature is all Canadian literature – We are all the same family, as
he spoke about how his own daughter-in-law is Asian, and they are all
one family.  I was so moved by his talk, that at the end of the
evening, I invited him to speak the same words for the 2006 Gung Haggis
Fat Choy dinner in January.  “I'd be delighted,” was his reply.


Gim Wong recalls
the sacrifices he made and the discrimination that he faced by choosing
to enter Canada's armed forces in WW2 – photo Meena Wong

Gim Wong, stood up shakily, his 82 years betraying his youthful heart
and still innocent demeanor.  Honest in his gratitude, and
eloquent in his politeness, Gim talked about how proud he is to be a
Canadian, and how he came to enlist and train in the Canadian armed
forces, when nobody wanted Chinese in the army, airforce or navy. 
“We couldn't even vote,” he exclaimed.  He described his unselfish
attitude, willing to make the supreme sacrifice for the country of his
birth, and how he has continued to sacrifice his time unselfishly to
champion for redress, for the Chinese head tax. “They told me it
couldn't be done,” he said of his motorcyle “Ride for Redress” from
Victoria's Mile 0, to Ottawa and Montreal.  His bravado had
revealed itself when he had threatened to ride his Harley up the steps
of Parliament to confront Prime Minister Paul Martin.  His son
Jefferey had accompanied him on the ride, and looked after him. 
This week, the Georgia Straight's “Best of Vancouver” selected Gim Wong
for the “Gutsiest Ride against Racism.”  I had talked with Gim
many times throughout the evening, and knew that he was both humbled
and tired by the evening's celebration.  The applause touched him
deeply.

Great appreciation to all the ACWW directors, Rice Paper staff and
volunteers for putting on such a grand event.  Special thanks to
organizers Jim Wong-Chu, Don Montgomery, Michelle Sui, and Jenny Uechi.
 

Terry Fox Run on BCIT TV on Shaw… interview with Todd Wong – cancer survivor… Sunday Sep 25th

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BCIT broadcast journalism students covered the Port Coquitlam
“Hometown” Terry Fox Run on Sept 18, attended by 13,000 people. 
One of those students was camera person Alex Rawnsley.

Alex and his reporter partner interviewed me in my role as a Terry's
Team Member – cancer survivors who demonstrate that cancer research
does make a difference.

Their story about the Terry Fox Run is the lead story, and part of the interview with me, made the final cut – Yippee!!!

Watch the SHAW tv on Sunday 1:30pm.

Hi Todd

My name is Alex Rawnsley, I was the shooter at the Terry Fox Run and also the commentator at the Taiwanese Dragon Boat Festival.

BCIT Magazine will air Sunday at 1.30pm on Shaw TV. It may be
repeated, however I don't know when. The story made the show and is
actually the lead story which is fantastic. Part of your interview made
the final cut.

Thanks for stopping and I hope the rest of the run went well for you

Alex

Joy Kogawa creates a presence at the Vancouver Arts Awards… and she's not even nominated or attending…

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Joy Kogawa creates a presence at the Vancouver Arts Awards... 
and she's not even nominated or attending...

I attended the 2005 Vancouver Arts Awards Friday night, and the ripples 
of Joy Kogawa were felt throughout the evening.
I spoke to both Councillor Jim Green and Mayor Larry Campbell, and 
told them about the demolition for application of the Kogawa homestead.
A house acknowledged with heritage designation. They were both surprised 
and concerned, saying "Council had just passed resolution to save the 
cherry trees on Tuesday".
I spoke with City Librarian Paul Whitney, and briefly discussed the idea 
of creating a purpose for the Kogawa Homestead, as a residence/office 
for the Writer in Residence Program for the Vancouver Public Library
- of course we would have to develop this idea, and have the aggreement 
of VPL to proceed, which currently we do not.  But certainly an idea to 
propose the Homestead as a writers' retreat in general has been previously 
discussed in the media, and by the Homestead Committee 2 years ago.
(I just love the idea of saying... Obasan was the One Book One Vancouver
book for 2005 - the City of Vancouver loved the book so much - they bought 
the house!)
Mayor Larry Campbell told the audience that council on Tuesday passed 
the motion to preserve the cherry trees from the Kogawa Homestead 
and that a one year old graft from the tree would be planted at City Hall 
in October, in recognition of the the novel Obasan, and the significance 
of the Japanese Canadian internments.
Bill Richardson, MC for the evening, told the audience that he talked 
with Joy Kogawa earlier this week with regards to One Book One Vancouver 
and Naomi's Road opera, and then introduced Ramona Luengen, who
wrote the music for Naomi's Road opera.  Ramona is the recipient of the 
2004 Emerging Artist Grant from last year's Vancouver Art Awards.  The  
Vancouver Opera Touring Ensemble performed a duet from Naomi's Road.

Councillor Jim Green told the audience, prior to his introducing an award, 
that the Kogawa Homestead was in danger.  He talked about the significance 
of the One Book One Vancouver program, Naomi's Road, and of Obasan... 
and the importance of recognizing the Japananese Canadian experience 
in Vancouver.
And a little bird - who said to me "I didn't tell you this" told me that we could 
propose to buy the house for $1, and have it moved, off the Marpole property. 
The city has property all over town, we could ask to store it there or on a 
private lot, until the time is right to do something with the house.  Which 
could be to find a private or city property to set it up on, or to integrate it 
into a city park or other feature.
This latest suggestion is very timely as the City of Vancouver is planning 
a park in the Marpole area as a dedication and tribute to the remembrance 
of the Japanese-Canadian Internment saga of Vancouver's history.  The cherry
tree graft from the Kogawa homestead WILL be planted there.  Imagine that 
the Kogawa Homestead will be planted there too... What a wonderful home for
a storied house - featured in the books Obasan, and Naomi's Road.
This proposal is so wonderfully simple - it could be a win-win-win situation 
for all involved.  
1 - The home and property owner gets rid of the house, and builds a new 
     single home on the property.
2 - The Committe gets to save the home, and create a new role for it for the 
     Arts community, on a new park complete with cherry trees.
3 - The city of Vancouver, gets to preserve one of its historic and cultural 
     treasure and pay tribute and rememberance to a historically significant
     time of its history.
So an important question is this... what is more important, keeping the house 
on the property... or finding a way to have the house safe, but on a different 
piece of property where iw would be safer.

Please sign the petition to preserve the Kogawa Homestead. 
Click on the white banner - this will forward you to an on-line petition.
Donations can be made in care of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation


Gim Wong: Gutsiest Ride Against Facism – in the Best of Vancouver

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Gim Wong: Gutsiest Ride Against Facism – in the Best of Vancouver

Our Rice Paper Magazine 10th Anniversary Dinner is HOT!

Gim Wong makes this week's Georgia Straight “Best of Vancouver.”

Joy Kogawa was interviewed today by Alexandra Gill for the Globe & Mail

Can we pick'em or what?

Best of
Vancouver – Georgia Straight, September 22,
2005

imageimageimage 

Gutsiest
ride against racism

In a city
saturated with bubble-tea houses and conversations in Cantonese, it’s easy to
overlook the fact that this country once employed legislated discrimination
against Asians. But what’s even more surprising is the lack of resolution to
the Chinese head-tax issue. It’s particularly unjust for a country that invited
more than 10,000 Chinese immigrants to help build the Canadian Pacific
railroad, and then, when the project was completed, turned around and slapped a
$50 head tax on all Chinese Canadians. The tax was subsequently raised to $100
in 1900, then $500 in 1903. As if that wasn’t enough, the Chinese Immigration
(Exclusion) Act came into effect from 1923 to 1947. The act restricted the flow
of Chinese immigrants, thereby stifling the growth of Chinese Canadian
communities, fracturing families, and creating economic and emotional hardships.

The
Chinese Canadian National Council has fought for redress for more than 20 years
and garnered support from the likes of Pierre Burton and United Nations special
rapporteur on racism and xenophobia Doudou Diene. Yet while Japanese Canadians
interned during the Second World War received redress in 1988 and even
Ukrainian Canadians interned during the First World War received theirs on
August 24 of this year, Chinese Canadian head-tax payers, of which only a
handful are still living, remain uncompensated.

Enter
83-year-old Vancouverite Gim Wong, a Second World War Air Force veteran and
Canadian-born son of two Chinese head-tax payers. Last year on July 1, Wong did
a trial run on his motorcycle to Craigellachie, B.C. This year, he left Mile 0
at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria in June on a cross-country ride to raise
awareness, promote support, and take a petition asking Ottawa to compensate
Chinese-Canadians for the $23 million collected from head-tax payers by paying
$21,000 to each survivor and by starting a compensation negotiation process for
descendents. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Paul Martin has not responded to
requests from the CCNC to discuss the issue. Nevertheless, the tenacious Wong
did complete his long journey in Montreal on July 5, and will be honoured at
the tenth anniversary party for Asian Canadian magazine Rice Paper here in
Vancouver on September 24.

Kogawa Homestead threatened by Demolition Permit Application- same week as Joy Kogawa is celebrated throughout Vancouver

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Kogawa Homestead threatened by Demolition Permit Application- same week as Joy Kogawa is celebrated throughout Vancouver

http://www.mhc.ab.ca/library/oboc/readersguide.htm

This week, notice was received that an inquiry for application for demolition was made to Vancouver City Hall by the owner of the Kogawa homestead.  It is a house celebrated by the award winning novel Obasan, and the childhood home of famed writer Joy Kogawa, who describes the house in both the novel Obasan and the children's story Naomi's Road.
Kogawa's reaction has been of shock and dispair, as she knew that efforts were being made to save the beloved cherry tree in the back yard which figures prominently in the novel. COPE mayoral candidate Jim Green is a founding member of the “Save the Kogawa Homestead” committee.

This is a weekend when Joy Kogawa is being celebrated all across Vancouver… at the Vancouver Public Library for One Book One Vancouver, at the ACWW Sep 24th dinnner for Rice Paper Magazine's 10th Anniversary Celebration, on Sunday for the Word on the Street Book and Magazine Fair, and next week for the Vancouver Opera Premiere for “Naomi's Road.”
A movement to buy the house, and to apply for heritage designation was aborted 2 years ago because of high costs to buy the house and resistance from the new owner to sell. The owner at the time said that she liked the house and did not intend to demolish it.

Now more than ever, it is important to preserve this house for the cultural heritage of Vancouver. There is not another house in Vancouver that is recognized for being confiscated during a dark time in Canada's history.

No other house in Vancouver could be turned into a bright spot on our cultural landscape as a writer's retreat, celebrating the work of a writer which has been called the most influential Canadian novel of the past 20 years. There is no other writer whose work helped fuel the Japanese-Canadian Redress movement, and has also received the Order of Canada.

In May, the Vancouver Public Library selected Obasan as the book chosen for all Vancouverites to read, as part of their award winning “city wide book club.” Earlier this summer, during One Book One Vancouver events Joy Kogawa held up a graft of the cherry tree that held such a revered place in the novel Obasan – studied by so many Canadians in high schools and universities across Canada. Both the novel and the homestead have a proven place in Vancouver’s literary history.

Please sign the petition to preserve the Kogawa Homestead. Click on the white banner – this will forward you to an on-line petition.

Donations can be made in care of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation