Sally Ito

Ito writes a memoir of her family that emigrated to Canada from Japan in the early 20th Century. Over the years, the family members built successful businesses fishing for salmon, canning the catch and farming strawberries. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, drastic changes occurred when the Canadian Government confiscated their boats, vehicles, land and homes eventually moving them into the interior of British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba. In most cases they lived in poorly maintained accommodation in a cold climate and deprived of services such as education & medical care that is the right of every Canadian citizen.

After the war, the Japanese Canadians were offered a paid trip back to Japan or they could stay in Canada but would not have their possessions returned to them. This is the story of how one man decided he wanted to return to Japan despite the advice of his brothers and more importantly the protestations of his wife. He could not have picked a worst time to return as Japan had just lost the war and it was a mess. Cities destroyed, lack of food and employment and resentment towards people moving back from Canada which had recently been celebrating at being a victor. This decision to move back to Japan upset many lives and made many members of the family unhappy both in Canada and Japan.

Not a particularly satisfying read as she chose a method where she quotes from her grandfather's memoirs in one text style but her personal trips to Japan in search of the family history is in another style. There are many names of aunts and uncles to keep straight and a map of where she went in Japan would have helpful. It is another view of the culture of Japan and its focus and ancestors and family. Her uncle's view is the we owe everything to our ancestors and must honour them.… (altro)