text:
Appendix 5 and 10 of Suspicious Japanese Report
Following is the information so far received on the career and character of Etsuji MORII. Detailed reports on Morii and the Evacuation scheme are included, as they throw
light on Morii's position among the Japanese, and also contain some useful data for reference. A
list of persons who receive passports illegally through Morii and his associates is also appended for reference.
It is earnestly hoped that further information concerning Morii, and his connections with the Japanese hemispheric underground organization, as well as further information concerning Japanese plans and activities, may be
got from the grilling of suspects recommended in the report.
Mr. E. Morii lives at 639 E. Cordova St.
Vancouver, B.C.
. He is the powerful leader of the Japanese underworld. He owned the Shower Club, a Japanese gambling establishment in the 300 block, Powell St., Vancouver
He was involved in a manslaughter case about ten years ago and in a murder case about
seven or eight years ago. He was arrested but afterwards released.
It seems that sometime in 1938 there was a general check up on Japanese Immigration in British Columbia and those who had entered illegally and had no passports were deported. (See NOTE
below). The four people who were involved in issuing faked passports were as follows:
Mr. E. Morii, 639 E. Cordova St., Vancouver.
Mr. S. Sasaki, 357 Powell St.,Vancouver.
Mrs. H. Nagami, 423 Powell St., Vancouver.
Mr. Morii seems to hold a strong position in the Japanese community. Some time ago, Mr.Morii had a fight with Mr.Yasuzo SHOJI, a Japanese farmer who lives at Whonnock, B.C. Mr.Shoji
is a veteran of the last war, having fought in the Canadian Army. He is President of the Japanese Veterans' Association. The fight was over who should be recommended for the position of Japanese Censor in the Post Office at Vancouver. Mr.Shoji wanted to have some say in the matter, or thought that the Veteran's Association should. From this it would appear that Mr. Morii had something to do with recommending a Japanese for the position of Censor at the
Post Office, Vancouver.
A.H. Young, who is half-Japanese and Morii's solicitor, gives the following information concerning Morii.
Morii, according to Young, is well-known as the big in Japanese town and is looked upon with considerable suspicion as being the representative of the
Black Dragon Society in B.C.
Young arrives at this conclusion by a process of elimination, as he says. He explained
that the Society is a secret society in Japan under the control of Mitsuru Toyama and that it has tentacles in every important country throughout the world. He stated
that it is a well known fact among the Japanese that the majority of the population
are peace-loving but that the Black Dragon Society controls the military clique. He stated that its headquarters in various countries
are known among the Japanese to be the larger gambling establishments and its representative
is usually the owner or chief gambler in the community who has a control over the
people. According to him its chief representatives are either gamblers or jujitsu experts. Therefore,
in Vancouver, the chief gambler being Mr. Morii and the chief jujitsu expert being Mr. Sasaki, Mr. Morii's right hand man, Mr. Young arrives at his conclusion. It is interesting to note here that Mr. Sasaki has the confidence of the police and is their jijitsu instructor, while Mr. Morii is admitted to be one of their paid agents.
Young says that Morii has lots of money and he either got it from the Japanese Government or collected it here through corruption or bribes. Young says that he personally handled every deportation case for the last ten years and
that they all come to him through Mr. Morii. He claims that Morii collected on each illegal entry as a slush fund to pay lawyer's fees but the fees
did not amount to nearly this amount, and Mr. Morii has kept the fund.
He says there is a lot of hard feeling among the Japanese concerning Morii and he feels Morii made a mistake in not following strictly along the lines of the Commission and the
police, but tried to work some of his own schemes, and collected bribes. He says that
Morii's status was rather low in the community at one time, and in order that he could
meet on a social footing with important Japanese from Japan, other important Japanese here put sufficient money to start the Nippon Club as a front for him. He says that it is freely talked about that Morii's picture appeared in the Black Dragon paper in Japan along with the picture of a Japanese in the States.
Certain statements concerning Mr. Morii made by a Mr. Thornton, attached to the Japanese Consulate in Vancouver until the Spring of 1940, were investigated and found correct. The statements were to the effect that a Mr.
Hosaki had been detained by the Immigration authorities and that after a bribe of was paid
by Mrs. Hosaki to Morii, by delivery to him of a box of chocolates, her husband was released. Mr. Hosaki stated that he was picked up and taken to the Immigration Shed
because of some question about his passport and the fact that he is sometimes known
as Sotaro, as well as Shokichi Hosaki. He stated that owing to a fire he lost his papers and the Immigration authorities
were checking on whether or not he was guilty of illegal entry. Mr. Hosaki said he was not in touch with his wife by telephone, but his wife stated she was
greatly disturbed over the matter, and a friend whom she would not name, told her
to get in touch with Mr. Morii who could, no doubt, assist he insofar as her husband was concerned. She was very
reluctant to talk about any chocolates but she admitted she did purchase a two pound
box of chocolates at a corner store operated by one of her relatives, whose name she
did not wish to disclose, and she did put some money in the box, the amount of which
she would not state, and she did take the chocolates and the money to Mr. Morii's home on Cordova Street. When she arrived there, Mr.Morii was out but she says that the man who is always there was there and she gave him
the box for Mr.Morii. Subsequently he husband was released. (His release had nothing to do with the bribe,
but Mr. and Mrs. Hosaki did not know this).
Mrs. Shichitaro Nagata, whose husband was interned at the outbreak of the war with Japan, was approached by Morii who asked for $300.00 from her for some organizational work.
In the Spring of 1939, Mr. Kiyoshi Nakai was beaten up by some of Morii's men. The reason given is that he said he was a naturalized citizen and refused
to pay tribute money to the Japanese Consulate.
A Canadian-born Japanese source said "If the Japanese started to invade Canada, Morii and Sasaki would turn against the whites". He also said that he had heard these two men talking
before the war and that they are definitely pro-Japanese.
The Manager of the Sun Life Insurance, Vancouver, is reported as saying that one of his best salesmen among the Japanese, Kazuo Kobayashi, who took an active part in the Victory Loan Campaign in February, told him he was
going to ask to be interned as he refused to be pushed around by a man like Morii who was a chief liaison officer between the Japanese community and the British Columbia Security Commission and the R.C.M.P.
In connection with the evacuation of Japanese from the British Columbia Coast, Mr. Morii has been the chief Liaison officer between the B.C. Security Commission handling the evacuation on the one hand and the Japanese community on the other.
Some of the following information has been given by Mr Eiji YATABE, who is a Canadian-born Japanese and a graduate of the University of British Columbia. He lives at 2818 Yew St., Vancouver
. He is one the staff of the "New Canadian", also prominent in the Japanese Canadian Citizens League. He is a member of the Executive of the Japanese Alumni Association. He is not given to wild talking and this lends to more weight to the information
which comes through him.
There has been some feeling between the Canadian-born Japanese and the nationals.
The Canadian-born Japanese felt that, seeing they were also included in the total
evacuation plan, they should have more say in what was going on, and also that the
older Japanese had been to bossy so far as they were concerned. At the beginning of
the evacuation scheme, a meeting of 100 Japanese was held and from this gathering
a committee between the Japanese community and the British Columbia Security Commission.
Up to then, Morii had been acting for the Japanese but the people felt that now the
whole community was included in the evacuation plan, they should all be represented.
Morii resented this and with the exception of two close friends, Toragoro Nimi (see Appendix 10, No. 11), a druggist in Vancouver and Asajiro Nishiguchi, from New Westminster, (see Appendix 10, No. 10) he refused to see any of the other Japanese leaders for
four days. One of the reasons given is that he objected to the Canadian-born Japanese
having a place on the committee, and another that he wanted to keep control in his
own hands.
Twenty-three persons out of twenty-five were elected to this committee by a meeting
of 100 Japanese. The meeting was called by the Japanese Canadian Association and the Japanese Canadian Citizens League. Their names are as follows:
Mr. E. Morii
Mr. Asajiro Nishiguchi, New Westminster, B.C. and intimate friend of Mr. Morii
Mr. Itsuhei Nishio, a merchant, Granville St., Vancouver.
Mr. Bunji Hisaoka, President of the Japanese Canadian Association, and reported to be very anti-Canadian.
Mr. Eikichi Kagetsu
Mr. Toragoro Nimi, druggist, Vancouver, and intimate friend of Morii.
Mr. Takejiro Ode, connected with the Herring Fishing. An interesting note on Mr. Ode is that he is a naturalized Canadian but has spent
the last four years in Japan and returned to Canadafrom Japan by the last boat coming from Japan last fall. He is retired.
Mr. Yoshio Kochi, also on the Japanese Executive at Steveston.
Mr. Tadasa Ide, Vancouver. Interpreter, reported to have been intimate with the Japanese Consuls, and sort of a straw boss at fishing meetings.
Rev. Kosaburo Shimizu, minister at 500 Powell St.,
Mr. Hanshichi Marubashi, grocery man, Vancouver.
Mr. Iwakichi Sugiyama, fish dealer in Vancouver
The above fifteen men were chosen from the Japanese Canadian Association. The remaining names from Japanese Canadian Citizens League, the younger men and Nisei.
Mr. Akiro Ishihara, former President of the Japanese Canadian Citizens League. Dentist.
Mr. Hajime Suzuki, President of the Japanese Canadian Citizens League.
Mr. Hideo Fukuyama, salesman for the Ucluelet Fish Co.
Mr. R. Tsuji.
Now this committee has been enlarged and there is a committee of 150 from among the
Japanese nationals and naturalized ones, and 35 from among the Canadian-born Japanese.
There is a master comittee of six, three from the older Japanese and three from among
the Canadian-born Japanese. They are as follows:
Mr. Yatabe seemed willing to give this information because he felt that the 150 members
of the committee from among the older Japanese were not fair to the Canadian-born
Japanese, and he said they did not have the welfare of the community at heart by were
thinking of their own selfish ends. He said there was a clique running the whole affair
and that they were charging a fee to those whose names were chosen to act on this
committee of 150. The reason Japanese were willing to pay a fee to be put on this
committee of 150 is that they hoped to have the time of their evacuation deferred.
The following is a list of 140 of this Advisory Council. The first 70 men are largely from Vancouver. Numbers 42 to 70 are younger men who have all had training in jujitsu and are a
sort of bodyguard to Morii. Numbers 71 to 140 are from various parts of British Columbia.
1. Etsuji Morii
7. Kiyomi Yano
8. Ko Nishikawa
10. Toshiaki Sumi
11. Hayato Kawano
12. Kosaburo Shimizu
13. Taju Sakuma
14. Saburo Shinobu
15. Eppei Nishio
17. Toragoro Nimi
18. Kenroku Uchiyama
19. Bunji Hisaoka
20. Ukon Higuchi
22. Kishizo Kimura
23. Sen Kanno
24. Kojiro Shoji
25. Etsuji Kariya
26. Sakuzo Uyemura
27. Tokichi Takeuchi
30. Ihachi Uyeda
31. Bunji Uyeda
33. Saisuke Kudo
39. Takejiro Ode
40. Sawaji Tashiro
41. Shigetaka Sasaki
42. Akitaka Tsuji
46. Hajime Suzuki
47. Zojiro Okahara
48. Shigeo Shiraishi
49. Sadao Maikawa
50. Suyeki Yamamura
51. Kazuo Sato
52. Masato Ishibashi
53. Tadao Omori
54. Noboru Tsuchii
55. Yataro Kimura
56. Tetsu Umezu
57. Yoshitomo Mukai
58. Yasuo Kanno
59. Masatoshi Umezu
60. Ben Sumi
61. Masao Kawasaki
62. Kunji Kuramoto
63. Minoru Hatashita
64. Yoshito Uwate
65. Eikichi Kondo
66. Tayoki Uyeda
67. Ei Kawano
68. Takeo Kawasaki
69. Rintaro Nakayama
70. Satoru Tamoto
71. Soichi Fuda
72. Sentaro Suzuki
73. Shinsei Ikuta
74. tsuruji Suda
75. Tatsuji Mizuno
76. Okisaburo Sato
77. Asamatsu Uno
78. Kaichi Hikida
79. Fusamatsu Tamaki
80. Shojiro Iwata
81. Fusajiro Takeda
82. Kuchi Kinoshita
83. Sadao Yamamoto
84. Masao Miki
85. Minoru Kudo
86. Teizo Nakashima
89. Zentaro Shin
90. Teizo Hidaka
92. Shiro Koga
93. Tamotsu Mitami
95. Keo Takahashi
96. Katsuji Ito
97. Senjuro Saito
98. Rizuo Kaita
99. Uhei Watanabe
100. Tomoyoshi Date
101. Haruichi Honda
102. Gen Sumitani
103. Kosaburo Takahashi
104. Shinpei Watanabe
105. Otokichi Onishi
106. Kensuke Kitagawa
107. Toemon Urabe
108. Matsujiro Yamada
109. Mankichi Inouye
110. Otoma su Inamoto
111. Toichi Koyama
112. Yonekichi Nakazu
113. Hidenori Miyagi
114. Kazuo Ota
115. Shigezo Fukusaka
116. Taro Nishimura
117. Kamekichi Tsujiuchi
118. Hideo Fukuyama
119. Haruo Kimoto
120. Heijiro Hisaoka
121. Kenkichi Inouye
122. Tsurutaro Kagetsu
123. Masao Terakita
124. Kinosuke Uyeda
125. Matsugoro Iwasa
126. Yoshio Ono
127. Tatsuichi Yoneda
128. Kuranosuke Hasimoto
129. Yoshio Kochi
130. Unosuke Sakamoto
131. Genji Otsu
133. Kunimatsu Sayomoto
134. Iwaichi Yamamoto
135. Tomoaki Doi
136. Ukichi Nishimoto
137. Otohachi Koyanagi
138. Eiji Sasaki
139. Kiichiro Adachi
140. Yosuke Ozeki
These men are all leaders in their various communities and under the influence of
Mr. Morii, and potentially dangerous. Those acting in an advisory for the Canadian-born
Japanese are as follows. Selected to the Council of thirty by a nominating committee
1. E.C. Banno
5. T. Tsuji
7. Seiji Homma
8. Hajime Shiga
10. Eiji Yatabe
11. Hajime Suzuki
12. H. Kuwabara
13. Thomas Shoyama, Vancouver
14. Kanao Naruse
15. Kaoru Atagi, Steveston
16. Tadashi Saito, Mission, B.C.
17. Hideo Onotera
18. Tatsuo Suzuki, New Westminster
Women members
19. Hide Hyodo
20. Chitose Uchida
21. Kazuko Kagawa
22. Kazuko Hidaka
23. Masako Iguchi
24. Kiyoshi Kato
25. Aya Suzuki
26. Nora Fujita
27. Myea Okamura
28. E. Kitagawa
29. M. Maikawa
30. Kay Oda, Steveston.
Members added to the Council to secure wider representation included:
31. Hiromu Fujiki, Surrey
32. Shogo Omura, Haney
33. Bert Murakami
Two other names are unknown.
The head of the clique referred to as collecting money from the Japanese Nationals
and naturalized, in return for their names being put on this committee was, of course,
Mr. Morii.
Those who are reported to have received passports through Morii and his associates
are as follows:
S. NAGAMI, a Japanese national about 39 or 40 years of age. He has been in Canada about ten
years and entered on a merchant's Japanese passport which was limited to a period
of one year or thereabouts. This could have been renewed from time to time at the
discretion of the authorities. By 1938, he had no passport at all. It would appear
that the reason he did not renew the passport was that he was not engaged as a merchant
but was working at a mill, Sprout Mill, near Port Alberni on Vancouver Island. At the time of the passport check he went to Sasaki and Mrs. Nagami and asked if something could be done. They in turn went to Morii who is reported
to have contacted Ogawa and had a passport arranged.
Mr.Yoshimitsu YASUDA
, is a Japanese national about thirty years of age. He came to Canada about six or
seven years ago without a passport and jumped off a Japanese boat at the Terminal wharf in Vancouver. He used to work at a mill in Chemainus on Vancouver Island but is now staying with his father-in-law, Mr. S. Kamino, 1952 Fourth Ave. W., Vancouver
. The report is that he was able to obtain a Japanese passport in the same was as
Mr. Nagami.
Mr. Toku Hamada
, a Japanese national about 34 or 35 years of age came to Canada about eight years
ago on a merchant's Japanese passport. He used to be a gardener while living in Vancouver and found himself without a proper passport. When the check up came he went to this
group of people for assistance who, in turn, fixed him up with a passport. He is one
of those who have already left for a road camp and is said to be just on the other
side of Red Pass Junction.
Yoshikuni ADACHI, is a Japanese national about 42 or 43 years of age. He entered Canada at Port Alice on Vancouver Island about fifteen years ago, without a passport. He has been living at 1767 W. end Avenue, Vancouver
and working as a carpenter. He used to work at the Powell Lumber Co., Powell St., Vancouver
. His name originally was MATSUMOTO but after coming to Canada he was adopted by
the Adachi family , took their name and married one of the Adachi girls. At the time
of the check up he went to Mrs. Nagami, as he came from Tottori Ken, Japan, the same prefecture as Mrs. Nagami.
Masao MATSUMOTO, is a Japanese national around fifty years of age. He is an older brother of Yoshikuni Adachi and came to this country about twelve years ago, and used to live a little beyond
Squamish on the Pacific Great Eastern Railway. He worked there building saw-mills. He entered
the country on a merchant's Japanese passport which had run out and got fixed up with
a Japanese passport, at the time of the check.
Tadayoshi YONEYAMA, is a Japanese national about 37 or 38 years of age. He has been residing at 1642 W. 2nd St., at an apartment run by Mrs. O. Sumi. He is reported to have arrived in Canada without a passport and worked in a saw mill in Vancouver.
Yasuzo NAGAMI, is a Japanese national about fifty years of age. He has been residing in Vancouver, at 1677 2nd Ave. W., just opposite the apartment house mentioned above. He came to Canada about ten years
ago on a merchant's Japanese passport. He had a motorcycle and worked as a gardener
having had steady customers among the white people. This passport had run out so the
same group fixed him up with one.
Masao Sasaki, is a Japanese national about 33 to 34 years of age. He stammers a little. He came
to Canada about ten years ago on a merchant's Japanese passport. He has been working
at a saw mill at Chemainus on Vancouver Island for the last three years. He found himself without a proper passport at the time
of the check up and was able to secure one through this group. Recently he left for
a road camp just a little beyond Red Pass Junction.
Taka YASUDA
, is a Japanese national about 40 years of age. He arrived in Canada about 20 years
ago without a passport, and got off the boat at Port Alice. He came from the same village in Japan as Yoshimitsu Yasuda. He worked for a while at Port Alice in a pulp mill. Then he came to Vancouver and worked in a saw mill, the Powell Lumber Co. He went to Mrs. Nagami and the same group fixed him up with a Japanese passport. He left with a group for
a road camp on March 7th.
, is a Japanese national about 34 or 35 years of age and came to Canada with a merchant's
Japanese passport about ten years ago. He has been working at the B.C. Pulp and Paper Co. at Wood Fibre, B.C. He was able to secure a "proper" passport through this same group.
It is reported that there was another Japanese by the name of S. SUMI who had entered Canada without a passport. He used to work for T. KAWASE, R.R. No. 2, Steveston. At the time he was deported, he was working at Coquitlam. When the check was being made, Sumi was approached on behalf of Morii by two Steveston men. The names of the Steveston men are K. Hashimoto, and Noguchi, secretary of the Japanese fishermen at Steveston (see Appendix 10, Nos. 32 and 7). They asked him for $300.00 to have a passport fixed,
but he refused to give it, and not having any passport at all was deported. This information
could be substantiated by Mr. T. Kawase.
Class A
1. Etsuji MORII. See Appendix 5 and Report pages 9 and 10.
Eikichi KAGETSU is a wealthy Japanese who has been engaged in the lumber business.
He resides at 2867 W. 37th St., Vancouver, B.C. He is a naturalized Canadian
Mr. Kagetsu was President of the Canadian-Japanese Association for four to five years previous to 1941. The Canadian-Japanese Association, which is noted for its pro-Japanese outlook, has a large membership. During his
term as President, this association was engaged in propaganda work among the Japanese in Canada. On
October 1, 1937, the Canadian Japanese Association distributed thousands of pamphlets called 'Sino-Japanese Conflict Elucidated', and
in 1938 another propaganda pamphlet called the 'China Incident'. These pamphlets were printed
in Japan and were nothing but Japanese Government propaganda on the war with China. Copies of the Tokyo Gazette giving Japan's viewpoint on the China Incident were also kept at the Canadian Japanese Association. While Mr. Kagetsu was President, the Canadian Japanese Association collected money and sent it to Japan to aid in fighting China.
The Publisher of the Canada Daily News, a Japanese newspaper in Vancouver - Mr. Juzo Suzuki
, who was interned at the outbreak of the war - owes Mr. Kagetsu the sum of $2,000.00
In 1939, there was trouble between the Continental Daily News and the Canada Daily News, two Japanese newspapers in Vancouver. The Japanese Foreign Office ordered the Japanese Consul, in Vancouver, to amalgamate these two papers but he was not able to effect a settlement of the
dispute. Mr. Kagetsu was called in to iron out the difficulties and was able to bring
about some kind of settlement. Immediately afterwards, Mr. Kagetsu took the President and Chief Editor of the Canada Daily News (Suzuki, now interned on a trip to Manchuria and Japan, and paid the expenses.
Mr. Kagetsu was invited to Japan by the Japanese Government to take par tin the 2600 Anniversary celebrations in 1940 and received a medal or token of merit at that time.
Before the war, he talked along the line that the China Incident was a Holy War, and
that the Japanese in Canada must assist Japan by contributing money and by sending
comfort bags to the Japanese Soldiers. He said that Britain and the United States
forced Japan to join the Axis, because they were assisting China, boycotted Japan,
and terminated the Commercial Treaty.
On a Sunday night about two weeks before the outbreak of war with Japan, Mr. Kagetsu
called a meeting which was attended by seventy Japanese. This meeting was held in
the Buddhist Temple, Vancouver. Mr. Kagetsu began by saying that in the event of war he was likely to be the first
interned. He then told each of the seventy men what part they were to play in a crisis.
Mr. Kagetsu has a son, Hajime, attending the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He was spokesman for the Japanese students attending the University and voiced their objections when
debarred from military training in the C.O.T.C.
It has been reported that when the Premier of Japanwas in British Columbia a few years ago, Mr. Kagetsu was his chief aide. When he walks down the street in
the Japanese District, the Japanese bow to him, the report being that he is considered a Baron.
Many of the Japanese are indebted to him. He represented the Mitsui interests in Vancouver for a number of years.
Mr. Kagetsu was closely associated with Dr. Chikao Hari, a medical doctor with numerous American degrees, who has been interned. It is interesting
to note that several Japanese subjects in close touch with Kagetsu have been interned
while he himself is at liberty, apparently on the sole ground that he happens to be
Another internee who owes Mr. Kagetsu money is Kotaro Nakagawa, a drug store clerk, 301 Powell St.
Vancouver, B.C.
A Buddhist Temple in Vancouver owes Mr. Kagetsu $5,000.00. This seems very suspicious in view of the fact that Mr.
Kagetsu is a Christian, and also that Buddhist Temples are noted for their loyalty
to Japan. This loan would seem to have been made on national rather than religious
This man has left Canada, but the following report is included for the record, as
interrogation of other suspects would probably reveal connections with Noritake.
Teigo NORITAKE is a naturalized Japanese of Vancouver, B.C. He came to Canada in 1912. Mr. Noritake, along with Mr. Kodama, was the head of T. TAMURA &CO., shippers of lumber and flour. These two men used to go to Japan alternately, remaining
for six months at a time, while the other handled business here. They often wen to
Seattle on business. Kodama was in Japan when the war broke out. Noritake and Kodama are related. Noritake's
wife is a daughter of T. Tamura.
Noritake was in Seattle when the war with Japan broke out but subsequently returned to Vancouver. The way he obtained his freedom is shown in the following letter written to Mr.
Noritake by H.S. Keenleyside, Counsellor for the Department of External Affairs
, Ottawa.
Dear Mr. Noritake:
I was very sorry to learn from your telegram that you had run into difficulties on
the boundary at Blaine. Immediately on receiving your communication, I asked our Legation in Washington to take the matter up with the State Department and I subsequently heard that you had
Mr.Thornton who worked at the Japanese Consulate up to the end of 1939 says he believes Mr. Noritake was contact man between the Japanese Foreign Office and the Japanese Consulate in Vancouver. If any important people from Japan visited Vancouver, Noritake took charge of them.
During the first week of March, 1942, Mr. Noritake said to a Japanese "we must all help Japan." In the New Canadian - a paper published by second generation Japanese - Mr. Noritake is mentioned as
one of five Japanese acting on a committee to raise funds for the Victory Loan Drive.
The paper says, "Japanese Canadians in British Columbia will make an all out effort for the second Victory Loan Drive which will start Monday,
February 16th." This, in view of his past and subsequent activities, cannot be take as a proof
of his loyalty to Canada but rather a cover for his real attitude.
Mr. Noritake was contacted by Mr. Morii, a class A suspect. to act on the Advisory Council working on the evacuation of Japanese from the Coast.
Teigo Noritake was one of those whom the Japanese Government requested to be returned to Japan on an exchange. In spite of the fact that he had
his freedom around Vancouver ever since the beginning of the war, he left Vancouver on the exchange basis with the Consular staff on the evening of May 4th. When asked why he was going to Japan, he stated that the Japanese Government might want to know what is going on here. He is considered the most dangerous of
all the Japanese since he is highly intelligent and must have full information concerning
almost any matter he cared to interest himself in since December 7th.
On May 4, 1942, the Japanese nationals of official and non-official status left Vancouver, B.C., there being eight of the latter, but the number was increased to eleven by the addition
of Isamu Ono, his wife and child, at Kamloops, B.C.
Teigo Noritake was one of the original eight from Vancouver and the party arrived at Montreal on May 8th. Baggage of non-officials was subject to inspection. The following is an excerpt
from report of Inspector
Wilson who was in charge of the party.
During the course of the examination of the baggage of Teigo Noritake by ourselves
and the U.S. Customs, the following were removed from his baggage.
1. Book called 'Across Canada', being a descriptive guide with maps and photographs,
given to all visiting newspaper men during the Royal Visit. This book had been given
to Noritake by Dr. Keenleyside of the Department of External Affairs who, according to Noritake, is a close friend of his. "I promised Noritake that the
book would be kept by the Custodian until the conclusion of hostilities when he, no doubt, would be able to get it back."
2. Road Maps of the States of Oregon and Washington and the cities of Portland, Seattle, and Tacoma.
3. Booklet called "The Monetary Times."
4. Booklet called "Canada" - descriptive Atlas.
5. Booklet - Foreign Exchange Control Board Bulletin No. 4.
6. Booklet - Regulations re Trading with the Enemy.
7. Report by the Special Committee on Orientals in B.C.
A receipt was given Noritake for the above, copy of same being kept on file here.
These booklets were handed to Mr. Gates on May 9, together with a copy of the receipt I had given Noritake. (The Mr. Gates referred
to is the Mr. Frank Gates of the firm P.S. Ross and Sons, Agents of the Custodian of Enemy Property, Royal Bank Building, Montreal).
The party left Montreal on the evening of May 8, crossing the border at St. Armand, P.Q., for Washington, D.C. first destination White Sulphur Springs.
It is interesting to note that Teigo Noritake, a naturalized Canadian should be exchanged
for a Canadian in Japan. His return was on request of the Japanese Government and Noritake does not appear to attach much importance to his Canadian citizenship.
Another point to be noted is that the Japanese Consular party he was travelling with was exempt from search. All Japanese in Vancouver were free to communicate with the Consul's wife or any other member of the Japanese Consulate staff, except the Japanese Consul
himself. It would be quite easy for Noritake to give the Japanese Consul beforehand
any documents he wished to carried to Japan.
This man is a prominent Japanese who lives at 763 E. Cordova St.
, and has been engaged in the fishing business. He came to Canada in 1909, is naturalized and has a son (by a first marriage) living in Japan. His wife and
daughter left for Japan in February 1941 on a one way ticket - his wife being in ill health and he admitting that she wanted
to go to Japan to die. She died in Japan in December 1941 and his father died a few days later in Japan. He is alone in Canada, with two children
in Japan. He is reported by those who know him well to be the smartest of the whole
fishing crowd. Nakamura's banker states that he was relatively poor until 1938 or 1939. He accounts for this by claiming that he went to Japan in 1939, as he did almost every year, and saw his father whom he convinced to divide his
estate and give him his inheritance so that he could build boats for the fishing trade
in Canada. He claims his father was a very wealthy man, and he must have been, since
Nakamura brought back to Canada up to December 1939 about $25,000.00 cash. He says his father gave him Japanese Yen which he took to
the Government Exchange in Yokohama, (he varied this story late and said he took the money to various hotels where tourists
congregate), where he purchased Canadian and U.S. bills to the extent of $25,000.00.
He says the money was brought into Japan in 1939 by tourists, though there was very little traffic from the United States or Canada
at that time. The Income Tax people believe he made the money in Canada but others
that he brought the money out of Japan with the connivance of the Japanese Government on the understanding that if they would let him have the money he would build the
two high powered fishing boats 'Arushio' and 'Kurushio' (valued at $42,000.00). while
they could supply Japanese naval officers as fishermen to work on the coast. He admits
that part of his crew came from Japan, fished for a short time and then returned,
and that he paid the, in Japan with Japanese Government bonds.
A new cannery, the North Shore Packers Ltd., started in 1941 by white people, depended entirely on Nakamura's fishing fleet to supply them with
fish. It is suspected that Nakamura's fishing fleet to supply the, with fish. It is
suspected that Nakamura, contrary to B.C. provincial law, has an interest in the operation of the cannery.
Nakamura buys the enture catch of fish obtained by a wild bunch of Finnish Fishermen
living at Sointula. Though the white people have offered these Finnish people a higher price than they
get from Nakamura, they refuse to sell to anyone but him. Nakamura seems to have some
power over these Finnish Fishermen. (See Appendix 11).
Some time before the war with Japan, Nakamura ordered two engines from the Atlas Engine Company, Vancouver. He placed deposits for these engines and said he was having two fishing boats made.
A couple of day after the outbreak of the war wiht Japan, Nakamura went to the Atlas Engine Company and explained that the engines and boats were not actually for himself, but that
he was acting for a Mr. Hjlman Tarkanan, a Finnish man who lives at Sointula, and for a Mr. Myers (described by those who know him as a loyal Canadian). The boats were being built
by the Union Boat Works, Vancouver. Information comes from Seattle that the North Shore Packers in Vancouver have bought Nakamura's fleet of ten boats and were negotiating insurance for them
with a company in Seattle. THe North Shore Packers are reliably reported to be in no position financially to purchase these boats so
the question arise whether this deal is a fake one to help Nakamura over the present
situation and evade the law that no Japanese fishing boats are allowed out under Japanese
In February, Nakamura was toastmaster at a wedding ceremony held at the Buddhist Temple in Mission, B.C., one of the Buddhist priests being a brother of the groom. He is then closely associated
with Buddhists whose patriotism for Japan is well known.
Masao KASHINO was born in Hokkaido, Japan and came to Canada when he was young. He is now living at 2525 Oxford St., Vancouver, B.C.
He worked for a while as office helper at The Canada Daily News, a Japanese language newspaper in Vancouver. After that, he worked for Matsuyama & Ode Co. Mr. Matsuyama is now in Japan.
He started out as a poor boy but has considerable money now. Mr. Kashino was a close
friend and associate of one, Tommy ONAMI, a sales agent for the Ucluelet Trollers living at Ucluelet, and as such worked all along the coast. Onami, who was regarded as a suspicious
character, gave up his job suddenly and said he was going to Borneo. Mr. Kashino is regarded as a tricky individual by those who know him well, and unscrupulous
in business. He owned a number of boats engaged in fishing on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Two or three years ago a prominent Canadian, owner of a fishing company, was on a
trip with an executive of a fish company. They had to tie up at Barkley Sound because of fog. Knowing Mr. Kashino, they walked unannounced into his living room,
as would appear to be the custom in those parts. There were two strangers seated with
Mr. Kashino around the table peering over large charts and making marks with blue
and red pencils. They looked startled. The two strangers rolled up the charts hurriedly
and went out. After the visitors had an hour or more of general conversation with
Mr. Kashino, one of the strangers came back. He was introduced as the manager of a
floating cannery here on tour. These two men did not have the appearance of fishermen
and did not see, to know a great deal about the fishing business. Later these two
men went to Vancouver, visited the Japanese Consulate, and gave an address to the Japanese people. Afterwards they returned to Japan. These
evidently important men were studying the coast of British Columbia and Mr. Kashino was assisting them.
Bunji HISAOKA is a naturalized Canadian. He is President of the Canadian Japanese Association which is noted for its pro-Japanese outlook and has carried on propaganda work among
the Japanese in Canada. (see report No. 2 on Eikichi Kagetsu).
When the China Incident broke out, the Canadian Japanese Association formed a "Crisis Committee", the members of which were Mr. Bunji Hisaoka, Mr. E. Morii, and Mr. T. Ogawa, Japanese Vice-Consul in Vancouver. These three men are reported to have travelled a great deal among the various Japanese
communities doing propaganda work, saying that it was very difficult for Japan, as
Britain and the United States were helping China. They are reported to have collected
$30,000.00 in this way to aid Japan fight China.
Mr. Hisaoka is quite prominent in the Japanese community, and a Canadian-born Japanese
said there was a good deal of consultation between the Steveston and Vancouver Japanese Associations and that Mr. Hisaoka was advising them. Mr. Hisaoka has always
been closely associated with Japanese Consuls. He is reported by Japanese sources as being very pro-Japanese. Mr. Thornton who worked at the Japanese Consulate in Vancouver until the end of 1939 said that Mr. Hisaoka was the confidential man of T. Ogawa of the Japanese Consulate.
Key Japanese men fromall over the province used to make periodical visits to the Japanese Consulate bringing in a report which was stamped by the Treasurer and left sums of money which
appeared to be some sort of tribute money. These reports for Vancouver were made by Mr. Hasaoka and he took the money collected in Vancouver to the Japanese Consulate at frequent intervals. This money was separate from that donated to Japan through
the Canadian Japanese Association to aid in fighting China.
Mr. Hisaoka stated on several occasions that he was an officer in the Japanese Navy. He told this to his white partner and also to a British Government Steamboat Inspector. When Canadian troops march by the plant, he makes derogatory remarks concerning
Mitsujiro NOGUCHI is a Japanese national about fifty-five years of age. He came to
Canada about twenty-four years ago and then worked for T. Tamura & Co. (This is the company managed by Teigo Noritake, who is No. 3 in this list). His first association with Japanese in Canada, then,
was with those who are outstandingly pro-Japanese.
Later on he worked for Tabata and Co., a fishing company. This company went bankrupt about ten years ago. After than he
worked for Reizaburo Uchida, (see No. 88), also noted for his pro-Japanese outlook. Later on Noguchi went to
Steveston, B.C., as Secretary of the Fishermen's Association. He took his instructions from the Japanese Consul and was at the Consulate a great deal.
Noguchi has been closely associated with all the Japanese Consuls in Vancouver but was specifically intimate with Mr. Nakauchi. Noguchi was closely associated with Tsugue MINEOKA, secretary of the River Fish Company, Steveston. Mineoka was interned immediately after the outbreak of the war. Noguchi is described
by Japanese sources as being pro-Japanese. He contributed to the find raised to help
Japan fight China.
In 1938 there was a general check up on Japanese Immigration in British Columbia and those who had entered illegally and had no passports were deported. It is reported
that at that time Mr. E. Morii (see No. 1 on this list) was involved in a racket providing passports for those who
had none. At that time there was a Mr. S. Sumi living at Steveston who had entered Canada without a passport. He used to work for Mr. T. Kawase, R.R. No.2, Steveston. Mr. Sumi was approached on behalf of Mr. Morii by Mr. M. Noguchi and Mr. Hashimoto of Steveston. They offered to provide Mr. Sumi with a passport on payment of $300.00. Mr. Sumi
refused and not having a passport was deported.
Mr. Noguchi seemed to be a straw boss at fishermen's meetings and seemed to have a
definite official capacity as a representative of the Japanese fishermen. After the
regulation prohibiting the Japanese fishermen asking thel whether they would be willing
to give the cannery first chance to buy. About thirty were will but later on the Japanese Association, of which Noguchi is secretary, phoned them and told them not to sign.
When the two men from Japan who were studying charts of the British Columbia coast with Mr. M. Kashino (see No. 5 on this list) visited Steveston, Mr. Noguchi was their official host.
A Canadian-born Japanese source said: "I don't know why they don't pick Noguchi up".
He was too frightened to go into details.
Rokuhei KONISHI is a Japanese, fifty-five years of age, living at P.O. Box 67, Steveston,B.C.
. He was a fisherman, having worked for the Pheonix Cannery, Steveston, B.C. until 1938. Since his return from Japan in 1939, he has been a Physio-Therapy and Massage Practitioner.
He has two children now in Japan, Tashiaki, age eleven, and Sachiko, age nine.
He was ordered to return to Japan by the Japanese Government in 1938 for six months military training. The complete picture is given in the letter of
his employer, Lord, to the Chief Supervisor of Fisheries, Mr. J.A. Motherwell, and Mr. Motherwell's two letters in reply. They are as follows:
J.A. Motherwell, Chief Supervisor of Fisheries, Vancouver, B.C.
Steveston, B.C.
March 4, 1939
Dear Sir:
One of our Japanese fishermen, Rokuhei Konishi, who fished for Pheonix for the past five seasons, made application last November to transfer his license
to his son, Yoshiaki Konishi. I recommended this transfer in the usual manner as the son was born in B.C. and the father was returning to Japan. This son Yoshiaki, now has a 1939 gill net
license $1279 for the Fraser River.
Before leaving for Japan, Rokuhei told me that he was going to Japan because orders
came from Japan for him to return there for six months traning in the Japanese Army. He said that his son or any Japanese born in B.C. did not have to go, but Japanese of military age born in Japan had to go when called
The son approached me yesterday asking for an advance of $300.00 at the request of
his father in Japan who required this money to return to Canada in May. Needless to
say, this advance is not forthcoming.
It is quite evident this man intends to return to B.C. although he now has neither a gill net license nor a boat puller's license, and I
understand there is no license being held for him. His only occupation in B.C. has been that of a fisherman. He has no wife here to return to as she died three
years ago in Japan.
It does not look right for a Japanese, possessiong Canadian naturalization papers,
to be subject to the call of the Japanese Government for military or any other purposes and then be permitted to return to this country
after having served the purpose of the Japanese Government, particularly in veiw of the fact that the man now has no visible means of support
in this country. I do not think that this man is a desirable type of citizen.
Not being familiar with the manner in which such matters are handled, I am passing
this information along to you, knowing that if all is not well in this case you will
place it in the hands of those who should know of such conditions.
Yours truly,
(signed) Ross Lord
Vancouver, B.C.
March 18, 1939
Dear Mr. Lord
With further reference to your letter of the 4th instant, regarding Rokuhei Konishi,
you will be interested in the following precis of a letter under date of the 14th
instant received from the District Superintendent of the Immigration Branch, Vancouver:
"Our records show that this Japanese registered out at this office under Certificate
No. 4800, December 6, 1938. The registration also indicates that he was naturalized in Canada June 6, 1908. Therefore, by virtue of this registration this man can return to Canada any time
within a period of one year. Actually, if he saw fit to register with the British Consul in Japan he could protect his right of domicile in Canada for a period of five years
and under these circumstances return without being the subject of our regulations."
"I quite appreciate the feeling as indivated in Mr. Lord's letter but nevertheless,
in view of existing regulations you will appreciate the fact that very little can
be done under present cicumstances to prevent this man's return to Canada."
I can assure you, however, that care will be taken to see that he is properly examined
on his subsequent return to this country to ascertain that he fully complies with
all existing regulations."
Yours truly, J.A. Motherwell, CHIEF SUPERVISOR OF FISHERIES
W. Ross Lord, Esq., Pheonix Cannery, Steveston, B.C.
VANCOUVER, B.C., March 7, 1939
Dear Sir,
I have passed on to the District Superintendent of the Immigration Branch, Department of Mines and Resources, the contents of your letter of the 4th instant, regarding Rokuhei Konishi, but have
asked him to not use your name as it might have some effect on your future negotiations
with fishermen of Japanese origin.
Yours truly,
J.A. Motherwell, CHIEF SUPERVISOR OF FISHERIES
9. Kitaro NITTA
Mr. Kitaro NITTA was born in Canada and is about forty years of age. He went to Japan when a small
boy and was educated there. After returning to Canada he had a Salt Herring Plant
on Mayne Island but went bankrupt. Later on he worked as a collector for the Canadian Fishing Co. at Haysport in the Skeena River District.
He owned a fishing boat called "Kanamoto" which was not registered in his own name
but in that of a friend F. Kanamoto, Steveston, B.C.
Nitta has been hoping to get a permit to go to Kamloops, B.C. Kamloops is outside the defence area and if such permission were granted, he would
not need to go to one of the road camps. He felt sure he would be able to secure this
permit as he had been able to arrange one for a friend.
During the summer of 1941, Nitta did a lot of talking to the North American Indians on the Reserve at Port Simpson. Nitta was heard telling the Indias to get behind the Nazis. He told them the Japanese would be in the war by the late fall that they would win
the war, and that the Indians would then be able to live like kings.
The manager of a cannery in the Prince Rupert District who has known Nitta for seven or eight years considers him a very slippery fellow.
Druggist, of Vancouver, an intimate friend of Etsuji MORII.
12. Shigetaka SASAKI
Shigetaka SASAKI is a jujitsu teacher and is also a cake maker, having a store at
357 Powell St., Vancouver
. He is about 36 or 37 years of age.
13. Kunito SHOYAMA
Tom SHOYAMA is a Canadian-born Japanese. He lives at 396 Powell St., Vancouver
. He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, a B.A. in 1938 and a B. Comm. in 1938. He is the Editor of "The New Canadian" and one of the most dangerous influences among the Japanese in British Columbia.
"The New Canadian" was organized in 1938. At that time there was trouble between the two Japanese language newspapers in Vancouver - the "Continental Daily News" and "The Canada Daily News". After some sort of a settlement had been effected, in order to prevent any further
trouble, the Japanese Consul
Nemichi recommended the establishment of "The New Canadian". The man who was put in charge of "The New Canadian" was Shinobu HIGASHI. He was the first editor. He had his office at the Japanese Consulate for five or six months and everything published in "The New Canadian" was first submitted by him to the Japanese Consul before publication. All the deficits of this paper were paid for by the Consul. Later on, Shinobu HIGASHI was sent to Manchuria to work on "The Manchuria Daily News". The Japanese Foreign Office wanted a man for that job and Higashi was recommended by Nemichi, the Japanese Consul in Vancouver. When Higashi left for Manchuria, Tom SHOYAMA became editor.
On the evening of February 27th, 1942, a friend had dinner with Shoyama. Shoyama was phoning to Yoshimitsu Higashi, (see No. 14), business manager of "The New Canadian". Higashi said he didn't think the R.C.M.P. would enforce the Curfew Law the first night. Shoyama and the others seemed to doubt that it would be enforced at once. Shoyama said that the curfew and evacuation of all people of Japanese origin was certainly
a surpise. He said that the Ottawa Government was helpful but the people in Vancouver were to blame.
With reference to whether the "New Canadian" would put out an extra announcing the Curfew and total evacuation, he said, as if
his campaign to keep the Japanese from having to leave the defence area had not brought
results - "Oh, what the hell."
To the same friend he said that he didn't, until now, believe that the Government would even remove the 1700 alien Japanese of military age from the coast. He said
he was dumbfounded over the total evacuation. Referring to the Vancouver people he said, "Christ Almighty, what are those bloody people afraid of anyway."
Shoyama is a close friend of Iwasaki who was in the diplomatic service of the Japanese Government, working at the Japanese Legation in Ottawa. Shoyama had just received a letter from Iwasaki. The letter was about family affairs,
etc., but it is hard to understand why a Japanese who was with the Japanese Legation,
and is now under detention, should be allowed to write letters to people outside.
During the course of the conversation, Shoyama was very bitter agains the "Vancouver Sun". He said it was a dirty paper and prejudiced against the yellow race. He said
he "would like to smack the 'Vancouver Sun' people in the eye." He was extremely bitter
about the total evacuation and seizure of Japanese cars. He said "what about legal
He suggested that it would be a good time for the Chinese to ask for the vote now
because of being allies. He seemed to be trying to agitate in all directions. He said,
in comparing the problems of Japanese and Chinese living in Canada, that the Japanese
were worse off now because of the international situation. In future, he thinks the
boundary lines will not be on present lines but according to colour.
In 1940, about May or June, there was a special issue of "The New Canadian" printed in Japanese to celebrate the 2600th Anniversay. There were articles in the
paper by influential Japanese including the Japanese Consul and K. Shimizu (see No. 33). In April, 1940, the New Canadian printed anti-Chinese news. They recognized the Wang Ching Wei puppet regime and in
the paper tried to show how strong Wang's Government was. In January 1942, a friend was visiting the office of the New Canadian. There was a Japanese boy by the name of Frank busily engaged in tracing from an
old map and making a new one of the Fraser Valley. When Y. Higashi, the business manager, was showing this friend around and saw the boy making the
map, Higashi laughed it off and said strangers would think they were fifth columnists.
Some excerpts from The New Canadian show more clearly than anything else ehte attitude of Shoyama, and Yoshimitsu Higashi,
his business manager. An article "Shanghai Crossroad" in the New Canadian of January 16, 1942, seems to have been written with the intention of giving the idea that the white
man's time in China was over.
"Came the morning when the squat, bandy-legged little ochre men from the Island Empire tramped in a civtory march up Bubbling Well Road and from across Garden Bridge. Eyes straight ahead, they clanked past the rows of empty buildings on the Bund. The glowing Asiatic sun was melting into the mountains on the far horizon. The P. & O. Liner, Ranpura, several kilometers downstream on the Whanpoo gave a mournful toot. A glass slipped from the fingers of the bar boy and crashed on the floor. Except for a long figure, the bar was deserted."Farewell, let there be no moaning at the bar, gentlemen.""Corporal Takahashi sounded his bugle.""Oh, where is that day we house-boated down the Grand Canal to Soo Chow, with the liquid sunshine and the cicadas singing in the bamboo?""Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet, till Earth and Sky stand presently, at God's great Judgment Seat."
The following is part of an article from The New Canadian of January 26, 1942, under the caption "Young Second Generation Eye the Eastward Trek".
"In all the conflicting reports of British Columbia's own twentieth century 'expulsion of the Acadians' there only two distinct official pronouncements. These are:1. That Japanese nationals are to be removed from protected areas, except under special permit from the R.C.M.P.2. That a voluntary civilian corps will be formed for naturalized or Canadian-born Japanese, and that the corps will be put to work on projects of national value."Under the circumstances, the logaical attitude which the majority of people are holding is simply to 'sit tight' and wait for further details. Whatever those details are, they will be accepted willingly and in good faith if they are reasonable and just."There are indications, however, that among the younger generation who are not held down by family responsibilities a new movement may be under way to strike out on their own hook. Thus a few second generation fishermen are anxiously waiting to dispose of their boats, so as to finance a voluntary trip to eastern Canada in search of a 'square deal'."No restraint has been imposed on any voluntary movement eastward for citizens. Enemy aliens, however, must report regularly and receive permits to travel."Others at present employed are seeking further information on the civilian corps, so that they may volunteer without further delay. One case reported was that of a worker in the city on holidays who is undecided now whether or not to return to work. There is no one, however, who welcomes the suggestion that they go to work in the Okanaga under military guard, and on the understanding that they will not be permitted to settle there as citizens if they so desire. Obviously work under such conditions is equivalent to sugar-coated slavery."
The following is from an article in the New Canadian of July 1, 1940.
"Monroe Doctrine..... In Canada we have always looked with favour upon the Monroe Doctrine, thinking that it protects our bloaded selves from the hunger of less fortunate fellow beings in other less abundant portions of the globe. And liking the idea of protection, we have closed our eyes to any imperialist expansion carried out by our southern neighbour under the cloak of the doctrine, even when the folds of the aforesaid cloak reached out three thousand miles to the Phillipines."But we look with fear and suspicion upon the possible application of a Japanese Monroe Doctrine to the Orient, because we still cling to that uplifting and soul-inspiring belief in the "white man's burden," outworn and discredited though it may be."For months now, Japan has been bending every effort to bring the hostilities in China to a close, hoping from there to establish a firm basis for international peace in the Far East. But our local press, viewing the possibility of losing chances of bloating ourselves as much as formerly because of the application of such a doctrine, raises the sensational headlines that result only in creating needless fear and suspicion. Such war-mongering will do little to keep the Pacific pacific; if anything it will have only the opposite effect. And it is childish prattle for Canadians to talk of guarding a Far Eastern Colonial empire, when the heart of the Empire itself is threatened with extinction. We would be much better advised if we concentrated upon saving the head from being severed completely."
The following is a letter written by Nellie McClung, well known Canadian authoress, to the New Canadian which was published in the August 7, 1940 edition.
"I am reader of your publication, and have been pleased with the spirit of your editorials, but I feel I must, as a friend, protest against a paragraph in your paper of July 31st, in which you speak of the law examinations, and your regret that Japanese students are not allowed to practise law in this province."Your threat that this may produce a Japanese Hitler who will wreak vengeance on the Canadians in the years to come, is a foolish and dangerous thing for you to spread abroad among young people.""I have always been an advocate of the extension of the franchise to all citizens in Canada, irrespective of race, color or creed. But I will admit this piece of propaganda, with its clear threat of retaliation has given me an unpleasant shock."At this moment our relations are badly strained, and all men and women of goodwill must do all in their power to prevent the spread of hatred. But you have struck out a sort of blind fury, which will, I am afraid, have a bad effect, you have certainly embarrassed us, who are your friends."The British people are fighting this terrible war to free the world, the whole world, from the threat of force now. I hope you will do what you can to wipe out this unfortunate remark."
The evacuation of the Japanese from the British Columbia coastal areas was described in The New Canadian in February 1942 as being parallel to the expulsion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia in 1755.
In the New Canadian of February 11, 1942, appeared the following editorial:
"Several months ago we attended a motion picture, acclaimed in our country as one of the year's best. It's title was "The Great Dictator"."One of the many scenes that remain in our memory rises up today. It is that scene where a band of Nazi storm troopers smash and plunder their way through the Jewish ghetto, while a terrified people stand by, helpless, despairing, heartsick. They drive away in a truck, pelting a young girl with the goods they have plundered from the Jewish stores. Savagely they strike her down into the street, bruised and sobbing."The scene comes back today with the report of the new move in the Vancouver City Council, not only to refuse to issue new licenses to those of Japanese origin, but even to cancel those already issued. The fee, where already paid, it is said, will be refunded."We are left wondering, on first impression, if the move in City Council does not suggest some of Hitler's Gestapo methods which is even more far-reaching in its results that the Nazi tactics revealed in the moving pictures. We wonder if the denial of our legal right to operate a business or to practise a trade - and thus earn a livelihood - does not strike even more deeply than would the mere plundering of a portion of our goods."We cannot believe that this actually can be the attitude of our own City Fathers. There is within it something so frightening, so undreamed of, that we are left even more shaken that these words have suggested."And yet, if it is so, then we can only turn from them to several thousand Japanese residents, men and women, young and old, who are a little heartsick themselves with the news today. And for them we should like to recall another scene today from the same film."It is another picture now of the same young girl, who was left sobbing in the street. It is a picture of her rising from the ground, silhouetted against the flaming splendour of a sunset, straining upwards, shining face uplifted. There is triumphant music, and the ringing voice of the innocent, harmless little Jewish barber, His is an appeal to right and justice, to gentleness, goodwill and tolerance among all mankind. And the swelling music, the flaming sunset, are his own triumph."
In February 1942, under a signed editorial in the New Canadian, appeared the following:
"A Question of Justice""It is not without considerable deliberation that The New Canadian ventures to raise an issue of some importance to all Canadians who are interested not only in the defeat of our enemies but also in the safeguarding of the essential principles which are embodied in our democracy.""It has to do with those former residents of various Japanese Canadian communities in British Columbia who have been detained by the government under the Defence of Canada regulations. An undisclosed number were taken into custody immediately at the outbreak of the war. For two months they have been held in custody by the authorities, but the reasons for their detention have not been disclosed to them nor anyone else."It is not the purpose of this editorial to dispute the heavy responsibility that lies upon the proper authorities to safeguard national security against internal threats, nor to the question the efficiency of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who are charged with the enforcement of very necessary regulations. On the contrary, we recognize that internal threats must be eliminated swiftly and surely, and that the issue should properly be left in the hands of those whose job it is to attend to it."Nevertheless, it remains true that to hold any individual for an indefinite length of time, without a hearing of some kind, is a very drastic and far-reaching step. Certainly, it is not in accord with basic principles of justice, even in time of war. Indeed, it may not even be in accord with reason and common sense."We feel this is true, because we have been close observers of the Japanese community, and are intimately acquainted with the trends of thought and action in the Japanese community, as well as with a number of those individuals who have been detained. On the surface at least, some of these have been well known as leaders of the most progressive and loyal movements in the community. Possibly there are grounds for suspicion, but we do not hesitate to say that we find it difficult to imagine what these can be."We do believe, and we submit this for earnest consideration, that we may look to the American scene for a reasonable procedure in cases of this nature. Aliens who have been detained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been granted a prompt hearing before an impartial Enemy Alien Hearing Board. The hearings are not held in secret, witnesses are called, and the Board determines, not if the defendant is actually guilty, but if there are reasonable grounds for suspicion. If such are found, the individual is promptly interned. If not, he is set free on parole, in the same manner as other aliens."A similar procedure might well be adopted in the local situation, for it provides an adequate safeguard against subversive activity, but at the same time helps to reduce to a minimum the injustice that may easily arise from human error. Certainly a much less reasonable course is following in the Axis countries. But if we do believe that our way of life is immeasurably superior to theirs, it is scarcely conceivable that we should turn so far from it in this issue as to adopt the same sort of thing that has made the word Nazi a symbol of injustice and cruelty in the eyes of all decent men.THOMAS SHOYAMA
In February, 1942, in an editorial, "Hold Fast to the Future", there is a threat that the Canadian-born
Japanese might openly side with the nationals:
In the Japanese community today there are growing signs that the continued vicious attacks, the unceasing insults and epithets, the continued expressions of malice and ill-will are giving rise to the most unhappy and leaast desirable of reactions. There are indications that the full-running tide of hatred. that threatens every one of us born of Japanese parentage is beginning to make some of us wonder if our faith in Canada is rightly placed. Especially true is this, when that wave of hate is centred apparently in a leading public organ in British Columbia, that declares there is no place for us now in this province that we have all known as our home. Deadliest of all is the suggestion by that same organ, that there is to be no place for us here, or anywhere in Canada even when the war, in which we had no part, is ended."
The article "Branded Potentially Dangerous" in The New Canadian of February 18, 1942, is calculated to stir up the Japanese rather than help the situation.
The New Canadian, February 16, 1942, in translating into Japanese the government regulations regarding evacuation, added
a sentence which gave the impression that it might not be necessary for them to leave.
The immediate result of this, which would seem to be a deliberate attempt to sabotage
the government's plan to have the Japanese removed from the coast, is clear from this
announcement in the Vancouver News Herald of February 19th.
"For the second time in two weeks, plans for removal of 100 Japanese nationals out of Pacific Coast defence zones failed of realization last Wednesday night. A group scheduled to leave for roadwork west of Jasper by Canadian National did not board the 7.15 train that left the Vancouver depot. Official comment was not available."
"Grounds for Questioning", in The New Canadian, March 4, 1942, shows the type of propaganda carried on by second generation Japanese under the leadership of Shoyama, and their boldness:
"Government policy to deal with the possibility of fifth column activities among the Japanese Canadian communities along the Pacific Coast has moved, it would seem, from one of moderate and necessary controls to one that is vastly more drastic than even the most pessimistic of us would have believed possible in the early days of the war."The first steps taken -- immobilization of fishing boats, special registration, parole permits, and detention of certain individuals -- were accepted, on the whole, as obviously necessary in war-time."More drastic steps emerging from the Ottawa conference in January -- the removal of alien nationals and the banning of short-wave radios and cameras -- were likewise accepted. In spite of the fact that almost a quarter of its gainfully employed were affected by the removal order, the whole community was prepared to recognize that the government authorities were forced to draw some line between citizens and non-citizens in guarding against the most probable source of danger."But tremendous public pressure - arising in the first place from very sorry sources indeed -- was brough to bear upon the government. In quick order, a whole series of repressive measures, unlike anything before in the history of the nation, have been authorized. In effect, the new orders uproot completely without regard some 20,000 men, women, and children; brand every person of Japanese origin as disloyal and traitorous; and reduce to nothing the concept and value of Canadian citizenship."No reasonable individual can deny that there are gounds enough here for several thousand people, whose only crime is their race, to feel bitter and betrayed. There is ample sorry evidence to suggest that they are being harried and hounded, less for reasons of national safety and defence, than for fear, for hate, and for selfish gain. There have been all to few sincere public declarations by unbiased citizens that these drastic impositions are necessary as war-time emergency measures, rather than simply an easy and attractive means of giving vent to a smouldering racial prejudice."If the total evacuation of men, women and children is deemed necessary from a military standpoint -- and while we cannot share that belief, certainly we can understand that point of view -- then the people are ready to go wherever a suitable place can be found for the,. Yet they surely have a right to just and reasonable treatment, for citizen or alien, they have not been guilty of any disloyal or criminal act. Austin C. Taylor's plea for a human understanding of the situation is deeply appreciated."But pending that evacuation, we have yet to have explained to us how an attempt to keep every single person of Japanese origin bottled up at night will effectively stop sabotage by any individual, of whatever race, if he is seriously intent upon it. We cannot see how the possession and use of ordinary cameras and radio receivers is likely to prejudice the nation's war effort. We are at a loss to understand why a warning of an impending attack on this coast would not be received well in advance so that motor vehicles in our hands could be immobilized in good time if deemed necessary. And we should like to point out that these restrictions only hinder the evacuation policy and get the people worked up."Finally, apart altogether from these details, we should like to know if our Canadian citizenship actually stands for something of value. Or have we of The New Canadian who have been preaching and working for loyalty and Canadianism, been nothing but false and foolish prophets?"
About six months before Pearl Harbour, Mr. Thornton was talking to Shoyama and discussing the situation. Mr. Thornton made the remark
that perhaps before war were actually to come, the Japanese might be sent back to
Japan. Shoyama said in reply "Well, if that ever happens, I will come back with a
(See also No. 13). Yoshimitsu HIGASHI has been business manager of The New Canadian, a paper published in English by second generation Japanese in Vancouver, B.C. His brother, Shinobu Higashi was the first editor of The New Canadian and his office was in the Japanese Consulate. Later Shinobu Higashi was given a position on The Manchuria Daily News, a bitterly anti-British, Japanese Government controlled paper in Hsinking, Manchuria. According to Yoshimitsu Higashi, his brother may now be in the Japanese army.
Yoshimitsu Higashi was born in Japan when his parents were there on a visit but spent
practically all his time in Canada. He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia having obtained his B.A. in 1938. He was secretary of the Japanese Alumni Association for a number of years. As business manager of The New Canadian, he was the right hand man of Tom Shoyama and partly responsible for what appeared in that paper.
Having been born in Japan, Yoshimitsu Higashi was sent quite early in the evacuation
plan to a road camp. In writing of his experiences to The New Canadian, the first paragraph is revealing. It is as follows:
"Red Pass Junction... where the ribbon of steel of the Canadian National Railway streaking northward meets the line from Prince Rupert... in the cradle of the might Fraser... land of Bondage?"
While it is true that there is a question mark after "land of bondage", when related to a previous article in The New Canadian which referred to the labour battalions as "sugar-coated slavery", there would seem
to be more in this remark than appears on the surface.
15. Tsutae SATO
Tsutae SATO was a teacher in the Japanese language School on Alexander Street, Vancouver. His wife also taught school and as they have no family, he has been able to save
up some money. Mr. Sato is a Japanese national, about fifty years of age. All his
other relatives are in Japan. He has been in Canada about twenty years. A Japanese
source says that Sato is disloyal to Canada and should be interned. He spent his vacation
either last summer or the summer before last in Japan. Mr. Sato believes in the Divine
Right of Kings. He is pro-Japanese and nationalistic and believes it is his duty to
promote the interests of Japan. He doesn't recognize King George as his Sovereign
but recognizes the Japanese Emperor. Japanese source says the cardinal point in the
language schools is to bring up the Japanese children as citizens of Japan through
the use of nationalistic propaganda in the Japanese Language schools. This propaganda
is 'dangerous thought' from the point of view of the democracies.
Capt. U. Nishikawa lives at 758 Powell Street. He has a confectionery store at 341 Powell St., Vancouver
. He is a naturalized citizen of about sixty years of age. He came here from Japan
about 25 or 30 years ago. He has also been engaged in fishing, being captain of a
fishing boat. He studied navigation when in Japan before coming here and obtained
his captain's papers in Japan. A Japanese soure was not able to say whether he had served in the Navy or not but said that
having his captain's papers, he would automatically belong to the Navy Reserve.
Some time ago he wrote a pamphlet for the Japanese fishermen showing them how to use
the compass, etc., a guide to elementary navigation. He used to fish around Rivers Inlet. No other fishermena had his technical knowledge and if any charting or sounding
was done, he would certainly be one of those who did it. This man is considered dangerous.
18. Kenroku UCHIYAMA
Kenroku UCHIYAMA lives at Royston, B.C. He is a Japanese national about sixty years of age and came to Canada about 35 years
ago. He was secretary of the Japanese Association years ago at Royston. Three years ago he visited Japan. His daughter is in Japan
and married to a professor in the Kyushu University at Fukuoka. A Japanese was talking to him in January, having been on the same boat coming across
from Nanaimo. Mr. Uchiyama was coming to see Mr. Morii at the time, as Mr. Uchiyama is an influential man in the Union Bay and Comox districts. He talked along the line that Japan would win the war in about six months.
His idea was that the decisive battle would be fought between Germany and Russia and
that Japan has to help Germany.
Tsuruji TAKAHASHI is a Japanese national, about 58 years of age, who has lived in
Canada for 25 years. His residence is 2215 McGill St., Vancouver
. He has fished in the Skeena River district and used to live at Port Essington. He has had military training, and it is believed he is an officer. A year ago he
opened a private Japanese language school to teach Japanese to the Nisei. He is very
pro-Japanese. Just recently he said "We will win the war" meaning Japan. He was a close friend of Mr. Matsuyama, now in Japan and mentioned elsewhere as a strong supporter of Japan. Another friend
is Mr. J. Kasho also in Japan though his business is here. Takahashi used to work for Matsuyama at
Otter Bay on Pender Island. Another close friend is M. Kashino, previously mentioned as the one who was entertaining two prominent men from Japan
who were studying charts at Barkley Sound (see No. 5).
20. Shimsei IKUTA
Shimsei IKUTA is a Buddhist priest at New Westminster. He is a national slightly over 40 years of age. He has been in Canada about eight
years. He gave an address at the Buddhist Temple in Vancouver just after Japan joined the Axis. He lauded the Axis and talked on relations between Germany and Japan. He has a large
following among the Japanese at New Westminster. A close associate and friend is A. Nishiguchi (see No. 10). He is a merchand and has been mentioned before as working in the office
of Mr. Morii on the evacuation question.
21. Takeyuki ABE
Takeyuki ABE is a Japanese national of 52 years, who lived at 2009 Victoria Street, Vancouver
, and has been in Canada for 30 years. He used to fish in the Skeena River District and was secretary of the Skeena River Japanese Fishermen's Association. He worked at Port Essignton. He is pro-Japanese and said "I'm going to the road camp soon but it won't be for
long. The war will soon be over." Mr. Abe has been talking to the Japanese fishermen
in Vancouver urging them to be loyal to Japan and leading them along the lines of Japanese thought.
He collected money for Japan during the China Incident. He has had contacts with the
half-breed suspect, Ambrose Reed (see Appendix 8).
Masuichi SHIRAGAWA, a Japanese national, about sixty, has been in Canada thirty years.
He is reported to be a disciple of Morii and used to supervise Morii;s gambling establishment. He was a member of a small
group known as the TEISHIKAI, a so-called terrorism group to punish anyone who said anything against Morii. He
believes Japan will win the war and that it will soon be over.
K. MURAKAWA, a Japanese barber, lives at Alert Bay, B.C. He has always entertained officers from Japanese freighters at his place and it has
been a rendez-vous for Japanese and Japanese visitors to Alert Bay.
TACHIUCHI, president of the Trollers Association, lives at Ucluelet. Rumoured to be a former Japanese naval man. His fishing boat confirms this, as it
is kep in fine shape. He has a son now living at Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, who was born and educated in Japan, and who had military training. They live near
the air base. This man is either the former naval attache at Ottawa, or his brother.
25. Genzo KITAGAWA
Genzo KITAGAWA is a leader among the Japanese at Prince Rupert, B.C. He runs the Yokohama Barber shop there. Four years ago when two Japanese training
ships visited Prince Rupert, there was a banquet with over 200 guests. The man who
was at the head of this entertainment work was Genzo KITAGAWA. It seems rather an
odd position for a barber to hold in a community, and somewhat similar to the case
of Murakawa who has the barber shop at Alert Bay. (see No.23).
S. NISHII lives in Steveston, B.C. and is connected with a cannery as buyer. He has lived here for some thirty years
and was a house boy in Seattle when he was young. For twenty years he has had a buying station at Ucluelet, a strategic base on the west coast of Vancouver Island. He ships a lot of things there but never seems to get anything back. He says it
does not pay but he operates it to give his brother-in-law a job. During the ten years
his employer has known him, Nishii has gone back to Japan every year for long periods.
His story was that he went back to sell salt salmon and salt eggs. He has six children
mostly born in Canada. His boys were sent back to Japan in 1938-9 as she was to get married to the son of an aeroplane manufacturer but something went
wrong and the wedding did not come off. Mr. Nishii bought his daughter a house in
Tokyo and she still resides there. The wife of his employer was born in Australia and seemed
rather worried about the situation lest Australia be bombed. But Nishii said "We won't
bomb Australia". He said that the talk about bombing Manila was just newspaper talk,
and added "WE never bombed Manila". By the use of the word WE, he identifies himself
with Japan. Nishii is an ex-naval man, having taken part in the Russo-Japanese war
and claims to be one of two Japanese residing in Canada who won medals at that time.
The other Japanese is a close friend, Mr. R. Ikari, also living at Steveston.
27. Ippei NISHIO
Ippei NISHIO lives at 2416 12th Ave., W. Vancouver
. He and Sokichi Ito (see No. 28) are partners in the Import and Domestic Silk Company, operating on Granville Street. As a successful business man, Mr. Nishio was invited to Japan to attend the 2600
Anniversary celebrations in 1940 and received some kind of medal at that time from the Japanese Government.
Nishio's company is connected with Nikko Shokai of Japan and Mr. Nishio is married to a daughter of Mitsui.
His idea about the war is that it will not last long and that the Axis will win because
of a shortage of materials on the part of the United Nations.
Ippei Nishio and his family (Hama, Tomitaru, Kazuyazu, Rei, and Norikazu Nishio) were requested to be returned to Japan on an exchange, but the Nishio family decided
to remain in Canada. The request and refusal to go may have been arranged to improve
his reputation here.
Nishio has been working very closely with Morii on the evacuation scheme, acting as liason officers with the British Columbia Security Commission and the R.C.M.P. (see No. 1).
The fact that the Japanese Government requested his return to Japan seems to put him in the dangerous class.
28. Sokichi ITO
Sokichi Ito is a partner with Ippei Nishio (see No. 27) in the Import and Domestic Silk Company, Granville Street, Vancouver. The Japanese government requested that he and his family (Misao, Makato and June
Ito) to be returned to Japan on an exchange basis but Ito, like Ippei Nishio, decided
to remain in Canada.
The fact that the Japanese Government singled him out in this way would seem to put Sokichi Ito in the dangerous class.
29. Eizo KITAGAWA
Eizo KITAGAWA is the manager of the Omiya General Merchandise and Grocery Store, 86 Moncton Road, Steveston, B.C. He is strongly pro-Japanese. He is a bootlegger. When the Japanese army took Nanking,
he decorated his store with Japanese flags. He also hung a banner up in his store
on which were written in Japanese the words "Heaven King Ten Thousand Years", referring
to the Japanese Emperor. The Kitagawa brothers were very much in the confidence of
the Japanese Consul and were often closeted with him for 2 or 3 hours at a time.
30. Naoyuki OZEKI
Naoyuki OZEKI lives at Ocean Falls, B.C. He is Japanese foreman at the Pacific Mills - a pulp and paper mill. About 5 years ago when operations started at Ocean Falls,
Ozeki received one dollar a month from every Japanese working in the mill. This was
to ensure them of a job since he was foreman. A Canadian-born Japanese and graduate
of the University of B.C. said that the Japanese at Ocean Falls have no confidence in Ozeki. He is believed
to hold some Japanese title. This Canadian-born Japanese informer thinks Ozeki is
a Japanese agent.
31. Masanori YAMADA
Masanori YAMADA, who is regarded as a suspicious character, came to Canada in 1907. For a time he was a Real Estate and Employment agent. He later went to California and joined the Salvation Army and was trained in that field. He returned to Vancouver and took up Salvation Army work among the Japanese. He has a following of about 60 members in Vancouver. Mr. Yamada has been going up the British Columbia coast every summer as far as the Skeena River, calling at all fishing villages.
He is married and has five sons. He is apparently low in funds. He is disliked by
many Japanese. He is not considered honest.
It is reported that Mr. Yamada earns some money by interpreting and charges considerably
for small services. A Japanese said one should be careful of Masanori Yamada as he
would double cross anybody, and take money from both sides in a business deal. He
had the confidence of Takataro Hamoka, who left hurriedly for Japan and who appeared to be of a soldierly type.
32. K. Hashimoto
K. HASHIMOTO is prominent in the fishing business and lives near the Gulf of Georgia Cannery at Steveston, B.C. The Steveston Japanese contributed money to assist Japan in the war against China and Hashimoto
carried the Steveston contribution to Japan when he went there in 1940 at the time of the 2600th Anniversary celebrartions. He has taken a prominent part
in the life of the Japanese community in Steveston. Mr. Hashimoto is reported as believing that japan will win the war. He came back
from Japan last year. His parents live in Japan.
Hashimoto is a past President of the Steveston Japanese Association. He has made frequent trips to Japan, having spent four months there during the winter
of 1932-1933 and four months during the winter of 1938-1939. He claimed that he went back to have his daughter examined by doctors there. He
owns considerable property in Miyo, Wakayama Prefecture in Japan. Before the war, Hashimoto said several times that the Fascist system was
the best in dealing with workmen. When R. Naruo left hurriedly for Japan, on the last boat, he sent Hashimoto a wire and phone call
before his boat sailed. Hashimoto has two half brothers living in Steveston, T. Kando and Y. Kariya, who looked after his interests while he was away in Japan. They each operate one
of Hashimoto's boats. The Shoji family and the Sakata family, Steveston, are related to Hashimoto. Hashimoto, through the Japanese Consul, loaned $20,000 to the Japanese Fishermen's Association, Steveston and Prince Rupert. This money was still owing him when the Consul Nemichi went to Japan in 1940. Hashimoto went to Japan later on in 1940. The fishermen promised to pay him but Hashimotofound himself in Japan without funds,
had to stay for several weeks at the home of Nemichi in Japan, and Nemichi lent him
the money to return to Canada.
A Chinese source who knows him says he is very pro-Japanese. The Chinese and Hashimoto
have argued a great deal about the war between China and Japan. The Chinese claims
that Hashimoto threatened him.
Hashimoto had nine men working under him. They are all naturalized, all made frequent
visits to Japan. They are under his influence. Their names are:
33. Kosaburo SHIMIZU
Rev. K. SHIMIZU is the minister of the Japanese United Church, 500 Powell Street, Vancouver
, and a prominent member of the Japanese community. Many of the Japanese students
attending the University of B.C. give 500 Powell St. as their forwarding address. They are -
Hideo Iwasaki, of the Japanese Legation, Ottawa, and Vernon Koga, Japanese Consul General, Hsinking, Manchuria.
Shimizu is a graduate of University of B.C., B.A. (1918) M.A. (1924) and member of the Japanese Alumni Association (see Appendix 4, and Report p. 9).
KIMURA is the Japanese member of the Committee re disposal of Japanese Fishing Fleet.
Kimura is a Canadian Naturalized Japanese and quite a power in Vancouver among the Japanese. He is a very polished gentleman, speaks excellent English and
as late as March, 1941, visited Japan and Manchuria toghether with the Editor of the Canada Daily News, and it is reported, paid all the expenses. He is regarded as a suspicious character
and would be a dangerous influence.
35. Fujikazu TANAKA
Fujikazu TANAKA of 415 Powell Street, Vancouver
. B.A. (1936) Member of Japanese Alumni Association. Leader of the Nisei Mass Evacuation Group, and agitator, his work resulting in the Vancouver riot which caused the internment of 125 Nisei (see appendix 7). He himself has not
been interned, presumably because at the time of the riot he had not received his
call to got to a work camp and was not at the Immigration Building when the riot took
place. A report on him reads in part as follows:
"In January the reaction of Mr. Tanaka of the Tanaka Insurance Agency, 415 Powell St., Vancouver, B.C. , to the proposal to move Japanese from the coast was one of anger. His face got red. He said he didn't think the Government meant business and said "This is a lot of baloney. There's nothing to it." F. Tanaka is a Canadian-born Japanese and agraduate of the University of British Columbia. His residence is 2568 Wall St., Vancouver . On March 27, 1942, he said that the Government could not move the Candian-born Japanese out of British Columbia, that he himself is a Canadian citizen and doesn't have to leave. He said "Oh, the law is hooey". With reference to the impounding of the cars belonging to Japanese, he said, "Oh, that's all right. We'll sue the Government for damages if the cars depreciate."
Note. The addresses of most persons listed in this Appendix have been changed since
evacuation took place. Present addresses are known by the British Columbia Security Commission.
36. Mrs. H. NAGAMI
Mrs. H. NAGAMI (mother-in-law of Shigetaka SASAKI: see No. 12) Involved in the illegal issuance of passports (see report, page 10,
and Appendix 5).
37. Saburo SHINOBU
Saburo Shinobu is a Japanese national about 51 or 52 years of age. He lives at 136 Garden Drive, Vancouver
, and is an insurance salesman. He has also worked for Mr. Morii as an interpreter or adviser. He frequents the Nippon Club. He was at one time an executive of the Canadian Japanese Association. He is pro-Japanese in his outlook. One time he said that Britain and the United
States were behind China and that was the reason for the prolongation of the war between
Japan and China.
His son, a graduate of the University of British Columbia, a B.Sc., went to Japan after graduation last year and is still there. The son is
reported as being mechanically minded and is in some kind of war work now, in a munitions
or aeroplane factory.
Kosaburo TAKAHASHI lives at 42 George Rd., Victoria, B.C.
He has a cleaners and pressing business, He is a national about 54 years of age.
He has been president of the Japanese Association in Victoria. A close friend and associate in the work of the Japanese Association
there is Mr. Otokichi ONISHI, also in the cleaning and pressing business. One time Takahashi made a collection
of money from among the Japanese in Victoria to be sent to Japan to assist in the war against China. It is believed that the Japanese
student from Victoria, Saburo Takahashi, is his son. Mr. Takahashi has a younger brother in Japan.
39. Takejiro ODE
Takejiro ODE is a Japanese about 58 years of age. He is naturalized. He came back
from Japan on the Hikawa Maru last fall, the last boat to arrive here from Japan.
He was in Japan four years as representative of the Salt Fishery Association. He went back to Japan to sell salmon eggs and salt salmon. He owns a house and property
in Japan, in Wakayama Ken. His wife is in Japan. The beginning of March, 1942, he was in a Chinese Resturant talking to a group of second generation Japanese urging
them to be loyal and help Japan.
40. Yoriki IWASAKI
Yoriki IWASAKI was managing director and chief editor of the Continental Daily News, the president of that paper, Mr. Yamazaki, having resided in Japan for the last ten years. Iwasaki's daughter is married to
a nephew or some relative of Mr. Yamazaki. He in a national of about 52 and is strongly
nationalistic. He wrote sensationally in his paper regarding Japanese triumphs in
China. He, like the other Japanese nationals, hopes Japan wins the war and thinks
she will. He has always had close connections with Japan and the president of the
paper has been living there recently.
Tomijiro NISHIKAWA is a former president of the Canadian Japanese Association. (See Appendix 4). He is a Japanese national, about 55 years of age, and has been
in Canada about 25 years. He resides at 833 W. 7th St., Vancouver
, and is a boss in a saw mill. He went to Victoria to meet Prince Chichibu when he was on his visit here a few years ago. Later he gave
a talk in Vancouver on the every day life of the Prince. He was very proud of the fact that he went to
meet hom and had talked with him. He has frequented the Nippon Club. His idea is that the naturalized and Canadian-born Japanese should be treated differently
from the nationals. He is opposed to the government's method of handling the evacuation
situation. He has talked along the line that he wants Japan to win the war. He thinks the war will be over in six months with Japan winning. He helped to collect
money for Japan during the Sino-Japanese conflict.
42. Shigeo FURUKAWA
Shigeo FURUKAWA was formerly secretary of the Canadian Japanese Association in Vancouver until five years ago. He went to Japan at that time and after remaining in Japan
for several years returned to Vancouver two years ago. He is now secretary of the Merchants Association in Vancouver. He used to write articles to the Continental Daily News while in Japan. In his articles he was sympathetic towards Japan, was jubilant over
the capture of Hankow and Nanking by the Japanese, thus showing his sympathies. His wife is still in Japan.
43. Kaizo TSUYUKI
Kaizo TSUYUKI is a Japanese national about 40 years of age. He has been in Canada
about fifteen years. He lived at 336 E. Cordova St., Vancouver
. He has been back to Japan two or three times. He travelled about the country with
moving pictures going as far north as Prince Rupert. He brought pictures from Japan showing Japanese life and also showed moving pictures
of the war in China, thus doing propaganda work among the Japanese here. He is very
loyal to Japan.
Kiyomitsu KAWASAKI was editor of the Continental Daily News. He is a Japanese national, about 38 years of age, and has been in Canada about fifiteen
years. Pro-Japanese articles have always appeared in his paper and he reported victories
in China sensationally. He was heard talking in a Japanese bath house a short time
ago along the line that Japan had conquered vast territories in a very short time.
He was jubilant and thinks Japan will win the war.
45. Tadasu IDE
Tadasu IDE is interpreter for the city police, Vancouver. He is naturalized, about 58 years of age and has resided in Canada for about 33 years. He used to be an officer in the Canadian Japanese Association. He was secretary to the amalgamated Fishermen's Association. Was prominent during
the issue of fishing licences reduction. Just recetly Ide said teh war will soon be
over. A decisive battle wil lbe fought in Russia, and he thinks Germany will win.
He believes a new order will prevail, with Germany assisted by Italy in control of
Europe, Japan in control of Asia, Canada annexed to the United States, and the American
continent isolated.
46. Kiyohara Momose
Kiyohara MOMOSE is a Japanese national about 53 years of age. Came to Canada around
thirty years ago. For some time he had an art shop and then a soda water manufacturing
plant. Of late he has been a stock broker. He made considerable profits for selling
Japanese government bonds held here by French concerns. They sold their their Japanese
bods after the collapse of France. He is a former vice-president of the Canadian Japanese Association which is noted for its pro-Japanese spirit. He claims the war would probably be over
mid-summer with the Axis winning. He contributed moneey to Japan during the China
Incident period of the conflict.
47. Ukon HIGUCHI
Ukon HIGUCHI is a Japanese national of 50 years. Has been in Canada 27 years. He is
treasurer of the Morii committee working on the evacuation. He is pro-Japanese and
contributed money for Japan during the Sino-Japanese incident. Has been closely connected
with Japan as his store contained mostly Japanese goods. He visited Japan three years
48. Taju SAKUMA
Taju SAKUMA is a Japanese national of 59 years and has been in Canada about thirty
years. He has had a rooming house in the 200 block Powell Street, Vancouver
. A night he worked in the library of the Japanese language school. He is pro-Japanese
and thinks the war will soon be over with the Axis winning.
Kurahachi YOSHINO is a Japanese national about 63 years of age who has been in Canada
about 33 years. He is a farmer living at Haney, B.C.. He visited Japan in 1940 attending the Japanese 2600th celebrations and received a medal or testimonial of
merit for being a most successful farmer. He talks a good deal in public - is for
Japan and thinks Japan will win. He collected money to be sent to Japan to help in
the war against China.
Mr. Yoshino was a close friend of Chiyokichi Ariga. Mr. Ariga was interned at the outbreak of war. He lived at R.R. No. 1 Haney, B.C.
Ten years previously he lived in Vancouver and preached at the Seikokai. He was a Japanese Language School teacher at Haney. About twenty years ago he worked in Manchuria doing some investigating
for the military authorities. He met Yasushi Yamasaki in Manchuria and induced him to come to Canada and for a while worked as a reported
on the Continental Daily News. Shortly before the outbreak of war with Japan he was communicating with the Japanese Legation in Ottawa. Mr. Yoshino visited Ariga at the Immigration Office after he was detained.
50. Yasuichiro NAKAI
Yasuichiro NAKAI, naturalized Japanese of 53 years, has been in Canada thirty years.
He used to be a cannery contractor in the Skeena River District but of late has been the proprietor of the Yoshino Restaurant at 362 Alexander St., Vancouver
. This was a high class Japanese Sukiyaki Restaurant and patronized by the Consular
staff and high class Japanese. He has been back to Japan once or twice. He had a step-son,
Tameo NODA, born in Canada, who returned to Japan, joined the Japanese army, and was killed
in action. He believes Japan will win the war.
51. Seitaro YAMAOKA
Seitaro YAMAOKA is a naturalized Japanese about sixty years of age, and has been in
Canada for 35 years. He is manager of the Powell Lumber Co., 1355 Powell St., Vancouver
. He is reported to have contributed $300 towards helping Japan in the war against
China. He is decidely pro-Japanese, and after the fall of Hong Kong invited the workers at the mill to celebrate the Japanese victory at the Fuji Chop Suey House. (see also No. 139-147).
G. TAKAHASHI is ex-secretary of the Japanese Association. He used to carry a map of China in his pocket. His son is a Science student at the
University of B.C. He planned on going to the Lockheed plant at Los Angeles to study Aerial dynamics, and then proceed to Japan to work in an aeroplane factory
managed by either his uncle or cousin in Japan. Mr. Takahashi made regular trips to
Japan, the last one being in 1940.
T. INANA is a fisherman living at Steveston. He is a big strapping fellow. Public talk is that he is a Naval Reservist. He visited
Japan twice during the last two years. He is quiet, honest, friendly, and aggressive.
Those who knew him well over a long period of time feel that he couldn't be trusted
in a crisis if Japan were to attach the Pacific coast.
54. Risuke HAMADE
Risuke HAMADE bought a house on the crest of the hill at Ucluelet, on Vancouver Island after the outbreak of war with Japan. The suspicious part of this deal is that the
house overlooks the barracks, air port, and ammunition dumps.
55. Mae KUROYAMA
There is a Japanese woman by the name of Mae KUROYAMA who lives along in a shack at
Ucluelet, a strategic point on the west coast of Vancouver Island. She is described as a pretty girl, and dresses well, but the white people have been
suspicious of her because she never seems to want to go around with the Japanese but
always with white people. She has made it a point to attend dances where airmen go.
Her parents are living at Port Alberni. Her half-sister, Jean Nitta, also lives at Port Alberni. This is the type of person the Japanese would be likely to use as an agent.
56. Tatsuki NAKAMURA
Tatsuki NAKAMURA lives at 233 Princess Street, Vancouver
. His son Hiroshi Nakamura, works in the Bank of Montreal, Vancouver. A son, Saddy Nakamura, used to work in the Grosvenor Hotel, Vancouver, as an elevator boy but returned to Japan a couple years ago. In January, 1938, a Vancouver boy tried to blow up the Hiye Maru in Seattle. Saddy Nakamura felt quite hurt about it and said he was sending all newpapers carrying
full accounts of the incident to Tokyo. He was a newspaper reporter in his spare time. Tatsuki Nakamura was the representative
of the Kumamoto Prefecture people, and as such read a message of condolence at the memorial service held in
Vancouver, Sept. 13, 1926, in memory of the late Emperor of Japan.
There are four Japanese barber shops at Steveston. At one of these the barber is A. Tasaka, a man of around 35 years of age. About
middle of February, 1942, a Canadian-born Japanese informer was in his barber shop. A group of Japanese were
there an were talking over the present situation. They were saying that many Canadian-born
Japanese were working for the R.C.M.P. and were talking against it. Mr. Tasaka was of one mind with them. Mr. Tasaka spent
two or three months in Japan about four or five years ago. Among those in the barber
shop taking part in the discussion were -
1. T. Hirose
2. Y. Yoshimasu
58. Shizuo MURAKI
Shizuo MURAKI came to Canada in April 1906 at the age of 12. When he was 18, he went back to Japan and remained there for two
years. The same year that he returned to Canada he went back to Japan on account of
his father's death. After winding up the family affairs he came back to Canada and
was an agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, Cumberland Phonograph, and Tokyo Phonograph. He also started a Rooming house but went bankrupt. After being out of business for
three or four years he started up the New Pier Cafe, 220 Main St., Vancouver
. He contributed money to Japan to fight China. He has talked along
59. Kenji KITAMURA
Kenji KITAMURA owns the Taishodo Drug Store, 301 Powell St., Vancouver
. He came to this country when he was young and for a time was a bell hop in the Vancouver Hotel. About 15 years ago he opened the drup store. His eldest brother, Kenichi Kitamura, is in Japan. His younger brother Katsu Kitamura had military training and had the rank of sergeant. A couple of years ago Kenji Kitamura
made the statement, "Oh, the British Statesmen haven't any guts". Kitamura is a close
friend of Kagetsu. (See No. 2). He is reported to have been in league with Mr. Okura in selling dope. (See No. 65) He is reported by several informers to be very pro-Japanese
and not in the least Canadianized. A clerk working in his drug store was interned
at the outbreak of war.
60. Genji OTSU
Genji OTSU is President of the River Rish Company, and is one of the most active leaders among the Japanese. Tsugue Mineoka, the Secretary of the River Fish Company was detained after the outbreak of war. Mr. Otsu is a man of few words but at a meeting
of fishermen, "just a couple words from him and all agree." He is regarded as a man
who would be a leader of the Japanese in a crisis on the West coast of British Columbia.
Y. NAKATANI kept a barber shop and bath house at 231.5 (?261.5) Powell Street, Vancouver
. Born in Hiroshima, Japan. One year in Honolulu, and one year in Alaska, before coming to Canada about 30 years ago. Refers to Japan as "my country" and
plans to return there after the war. Whne an informant was in the shop, Nakatani tipped
off his customers saying, "this man understands Japanese". He thinks Japan will not
invade Canada, but will invade U.S.A. Described as very nationalistic. His bath house
a rendezvous for Japanese, and locale for pro-Japanese conversation. Has a brother
in Japan.
Mr. K. YAMANOBE had the Olympia Confectionery Store at 1387 Granville Stree, Vancouver
. He is undoubtedly in sympathy with Japan. His parents live in Japan. He is reported
to have had military training. In January he spent much time listening to radio from
Japan. He was very sullen for a few days before leaving for road camp and when taking
a taxi to the station on the evening of his departure, stood erect, clicked his heels
and gave the Japanese taxi driver an officer's salute. Later he was recalled from
road camp to go to a sugar beet farm. He will have considerable freedom there.
S. MIYAHARA is a veteran of the last war, having fought in the Canadian army. He lives in Vancouver, back of 425 Powell Street. He was wounded and received a pension from the Canadian Government. He said he had
a permit to remain on in Vancouver as have other veterans. It seems a mistake to believe that the Japanese veterans
who fought in the Canadian army last war are necessarily loyal to Canada. Japan was
an ally then and an enemy now. In April 1942, Mr. Miyahara in conversation with an informer claimed that the treatment accorded the Japanese at
the camp at Hastings Park, Vancouver was very bad and said, "food no good, bad surroundings, Government bad, no good.
God damn. God damn." His English is rather poor. He is at least 50 years of age. He
also said "Japan may win, by and by, all right." If this man is a sample of the loyalty
of the Japanese veterans, then a dangerous element would have permits to remain on
in Vancouver.
64. Mary OHAMA
Mary OHAMA, who goes by the name of Jap. Mary, a prostitute, lives in room 10, Central
Hotel Rooms, 42 Cordona St., E. Vancouver
. He phone number is Marine 4705. She also operates at the Strathcona Hotel, the Empress
Hotel, and the New Eli Hotel. Among others, her place is frequented by a great many
soldiers and sailors. It might be argued from the fact that she was operating in China
town 10 years ago that she would not be suspected of being in the employ of the Japanese.
However, that is the type of person the Japanese would use as an agent.
65. Kiichi OKURA
Kiichi OKURA has a laundry on 1934 Columbia Ave. Vancouver
, with an office at 230 Powell St. His residence is at 160 West 4th Ave. An uncle who used to live in Vancouver and was very loyal to Japan is now back in Japan. Kiichi Okura has done a good deal
of criticizing of the British, notably at the time when Japan joined the Axis. He
has always been talking along the line that if the British didn't change their ways
with respect to the treatment of labour, it would go hard with them. He is definitely
pro-Japanese. A Japanese informer said Okura has been in league with Kenji Kitamura, the owner of the Taishodo Drug Store (see No. 59). It seems that Okura used to go to Japanese steamers to pick up their
laundry and in this way was able to bring dope ashore. This Canadian-born Japanese
informer reports Okura to be strongly pro-Japanese.
66. Yoshio KOCHI
President of Steveston Japanese Association. Naturalized, about 58 or 59 years old. With K. Hashimoto (see No. 32), collected money to aid Japan's war effort. Asked by Morii (see No. 1) to act on Advisory Committee for evacuation of Japanese. A close friend of Nemichi, formerly Japanese Consul at Vancouver. A Japanese source reports he is strongly pro-Japanese (see p. 9 of report, and Appendix
4, page 33).
67. Edward BANNO
Of 193 E. Hastings St., Vancouver
. B.A. '31, M.D. '35. President of Japanese Alumni Association (see p. 9 of report). One of three who went to Ottawa in 1936 to urge the granting of the franchise to Nisei. Attended school in Japan as a boy
for three years. Member of the Nisei Advisory Committee of Evacuation.
68. Kunio SHIMIZU
Of 329, Gore Ave., Vancouver
, B.A. 1938, member of Japanese Alumni Association. Part time assistant to Higashi (see No. 14) as business manager of The New Canadian.
69. Kojiro SHOJI
Kojiro SHOJI lives at 250 Cassiar St., Vancouver
. He used to be a gambler and made quite a sum of money in that way. Shoji and his
brother have a paper box manufacturing comapny. He has been vice-president of the
Canadian Japanese Association. The Japanese informers state that he is definitely pro-Japanese. He is also a Buddhist.
NOTE: Particulars of Nos. 70 - 79 may be found in Appendix 5, pages 48-51, of the
72. Toku HAMADA
73. Yoshikuni ADACHI
74. Masao MATSUMOTO
76. Yasuzo NAGAMI
77. Masao SASAKI
78. Taka YASUDA
80. Toyo KAWATA
Toyo (Y) KAWATA is a Japanese national and has been secretary of the Canadian Japanese Association. He resides at 2653 Main St., Vancouver
. He is reported as always having talked in favour of Japan. The Canadian Japanese
Association is very pro-Japanese in its viewpoint, and Kawata, who has been so closely
linked with this association, shares its views. They have always taken the view that
the "China Incident" was a holy war to establish a co-prosperity sphere in Asia. A
Japanese source says that the task of the Canadian Japanese Association has been the
propagation of the Japanese ideal among the Japanese community. As a leader in this
movement, Kawata is definitely pro-Japanese in thought and outlook.
81. Eiji SASAKI
Eiji SASAKI worked at the Vancouver Cannery at Eburne. He is about 64 years of age and took part in the Russo-Japanese war. He was connected
with the Medical Corps. He is naturalized, and a fisherman. Has been in Canada for about thirty years. His
son-in-law is in Japan working as secretary to the Head of a Prefecture. He talks
along the line that Japan will win the war, that the war will probably not be longer
than six months. His view is that Japan will not annex the territory that she has
won, but give them as much freedom as possible, and only exploit the territory economically.
He has a son about 25 years of age, a fisherman, Canadian-born.
82. Minoru KUDO
Minoru KUDO was principal of a Japanese language school at Mission City, B.C. He is a national of about 60 years of age and has been in Canada for about 25 years.
He has been a teacher for about 15 years, previously having farmed. He went to Japan
during the summer vacation about four years ago. He believes that Japan will win the war and that as
a Japanese teacher his work was to bring up Japanese children as loyal Japanese citizens.
He has expressed the opinion that from the standpoint of a Japanese citizen, it is
better to go to an internment camp, then to one of the road camps. The reason he gives
is that in an internment camp, Japanese would be under International Law while at
one of the road camps they would be under Dominion of Canada laws. He believes it
would also be more loyal to Japan to be in an internment camp, because some of the
roads being built might be used for military purposes, and thus used against Japan.
A number of Japanese at Mission, B.C. were talking with him along these lines, among whom was a Japanese farmer by the
name of KUNIMOTO.
83. Sadayoshi AOKI
Sadayoshi AOKI was a Japanese language teacher in Vancouver, and lives at 1934 Triumph St. He used to teach at Cumberland, B.C. but left there seven or eight years ago. He planned to return to Japan for good at
the time, but secured the position in Vancouver, so remained. He is a national about fifty years of age. He has been in Canada about
fifteen years. He is described as very pro-Japanese, and feels that the Japanese must
work for the Japanese government. During the years Japan has been fighting with China,
his view has been that China should side with Japan and fight against America and
Britain. He thinks the Mikado is a Divine Power and should be worshipped.
Motohito YANAGISAWA is a national about 45 years of age. He lives at 1766 Franklin Street, Vancouver
, and has been in Canada about 28 years. He has been salesman for the Singer Sewing
Machine. Of late he made considerable profits by smuggling sewing machines into Japan,
having the, sent with individuals. He is a member of the Canadian Japanese Association and like all those connected with that Association is pro-Japanese. During the Sino-Japanese
conflict he helped a great deal in collecting money to be sent to Japan to help fight China. About two
years ago he said that the China Incident would soon be settled and Japan would then
have to fight powers behind China, in other words, Britain and U.S.A. He has a brother
living in Japan.
85. Tokichi TAKEUCHI
Tokichi TAKEUCHI is naturalized and about 55 years of age. He used to fish in the
Skeena River District. He has done some work as an interpreter. He used to have the same office as, and
was a partner of, Saburo YOSHIE. (Mr. Yoshie was a former interpreter at the Immigration Office and given a two and a half year term in prison some years ago). He has been a member
of the Canadian Japanese Association. He leans toward Japan and collected money among the Japanese here to be sent to
Japan duing the China Incident period. He thinks Japan will win the war.
86. Renzo SUZUMOTO
Renzo SUZUMOTO is a Japanese national about 55 years of age and has been in Canada
round 32 years. He lives at 1866 Triumph St., Vancouver
. Being a national he could not fish himself but had others fish for him. His boats
fished around Nanaimo. He went back to Japan with his wife a year ago and remained there five months, coming
back last fall. He has a brother in Japan. He is a member of the Canadian Japanese Association and is pro-Japanese. During the China Incident period, he helped the Association
distribute propaganda pamphlets explaining Japan's actions in China. About two years
ago he bought Japanese government bonds. Quite recently he said Japan would win the
war as it only took three months to get Singapore and the Dutch East Indies. He wants
Japan to win the war.
87. Bunjiro UYEDA
Bunjiro UYEDA is a Japanese national about 56 years of age. He has been in Canada
about 25 years. He is wealthy and is the owner of the Yamato Silk Store, 460 Granville St., Vancouver
. He resides at
2996 W. 29th St. Vancouver
. He used to go back to Japan frequently, and was there in 1940 during the 2600th Anniversary celebrations. His parents are in Japan. He is sympathetic
toward Japan. Since the war began in December, he said "We will all have to help Japan."
Says that reports of the Hong Kong atrocities are exaggerated. He does not think the
war will last long, thinks that a decisive battle will be fought between Germany and
Russia soon, and that the Axis will win. He thinks Japan;s next move is toward India.
88. Reizaburo UCHIDA
Reizaburo UCHIDA is a Japanese national around 45 years of age. He has been in Canada
20 years. Up to two years ago he was very prominent in the Canadian Japanese Association but recently has kept in the background. He is an insurance agent, also an importer
and exporter. He is very pro-Japanese and says that Japan will win. He collected money
for Japan at the time of the China Incident. He thinks China will soon be conquered
and that Japan will be ready to fight Britain and United States, the powers behind
Senkichi FUKUYAMA is a Japanese national of about 55 years and has been in Canada
for 25 years. He had a fish market at the Fish Dock and was a member of the Burrard Fish Co. He spent six months in Japan returning in the spring of 1941. When returned from Japan he said that Japan was preparing for war and, because of
the extent of the preparations, it was to fight some other country besides China.
He is in sympathy with Japan. He said he saw a Canadian-born Japanese called R. Shirakawa in Tokyo, and he supposed Shirakawa was on espionage work for Canada. He did not approve.
90. Shichi KAMEDA
Shichi Nosuke KAMEDA is a naturalized Japanese nearing 60 years of age. Has been in
Canada around thirty years. Was a store keeper at Port Essignton in the Skeena River District. He said that Canada was no match for Japan and that Japan would win. He visited
Japan four years ago.
Sannosuke Maikawa is a Japanese national, 58 years of age, and has been in Canada
over thirty years. Has a fish market in the 300 block, Powell St., Vancouver
. He used to supply the N.Y.K. boats with provisions, and associated with the Japanese
officers and sailors. In this way he has kept in touch with developments in Japan.
He has had dealings in narcotic drugs and had other men hired to sell them to Chinese.
About four years ago, R. Otsuji was caught and sent to prison for two and a half years. He was thought to be one
of Maikawa's men. Contributed considerable sums of money to Japan during the China
Incident phase of the war.
92. Kimpei GOTO
Kimpei GOTO is a Japanese national of 50 years. He has lived in Canada 25 years, and
is an insurance agent. Japan would win if Germany gets victory over Russia, he says.
He thinks the spring offensive in Russia will see Germany victorious and therefore
a victory for the Axis powers. He was jubilant over the fall of Singapore.
93. Kaichi KIKIDA
Kaichi KIKIDA is a Japanese national of 49 years and has been in Canada for twenty-six
years. He lives at Strawberry Hill, B.C. He collected money in his district for Japan to aid in the fight with China. He thinks
the present war will last a long time because of the preparations being made in Canada
and the U.S.A. He thinks the outcome is doubtful but hopes Japan will win.
Hamagishi is a Japanese national of 56 years. He has been in Canada for 25 years.
He is a broker and interpreter. Some ten years ago he was secretary of the Japanese Fishermen's Association at Steveston. He has been helping Mr. J. Nakayama compose a history of the Japanese in Canada, a kind of Who's Who. He sympathizes
with Japan and hopes she will win. He was jubilant over the fall of Hong Kong. He
collected money for Japan to aid in the war against China.
Masataro EBISUZAKI is a Japanese national about 56 years of age and has been in canada
over thirty years. His residence is 466 E. Cordova St., and his grocery store at 337 Powell St., Vancouver
, B.C. He was treasurer of the Canadian Japanese Association about two years ago. He colelcted money for Japan at the time of the China Incident.
He visited Japan two or three times during the last fifteen years. His parents are
still living in Japan. He is pro-Japanese. Is the father of Kojiro EBISUZAKI, spokesman an leader of the Nisei who refused to go to a road camp in Ontario (see
Appendix 7, page 57).
96. Teiichi HAMAGAKI
Teiichi HAMAGAKI is a Japanese national of 56 years of age, and has been in Canada
for thirty years. He is a real estate man by profession. He is pro-Japanese and believes
Japan will win the war. He helped to collect money for Japan after the war with China
97. Gisaku HIRAMATSU
Gisaku HIRAMATSU is a Japanese national about 56 years of age. He has been in Canada
about 26 years. He collected money for Japan during the China Incident. Is pro-Japanese
and claims the war will soon be over with Japan winning. He has a son of 23 years
who has been arrested for vagrancy and stealing.
98. Sahei KATO
Sahei KATO, Japanese national of 53 years, has been in Canada 23 years. He had a shoe
shop at 338 Powell St., Vancouver
. He often went to Japan, the last time being four years ago. He donated about $400
to Japan after the war with China started. He is reported to have made money selling
narcotics. He is pro-Japanese.
Masanori HAYAKAWA, is a Japanese national of 42 years and has been in Canada for 25
years. He has now gone to a road camp but for the last two years was a censor at the
post office in Vancouver. He helped to collect money for Japan after the war with China began in 1937. He is of the opinion that the war won't last long and that Japan will win.
100. Kigoro MAIKAWA
Kigoro MAIKAWA, Japanese national of 62 years, has been in Canada about 35 years.
He is said to have been boss at a saw mill, and reported to be wealthy. He contributed
to the fund sent to Japan after the beginning of the China Incident. He believes Japan
will win. He has a daughter, 25 years of age, who has been in Japan the last three
101. Shigeru SASAKI
Shigeru SASAKI, Japanese national of 50 years, has been in Canada 22 years. He trained
with the Cavalry in the Japanese Army. He worked in Vancouver as a gardener. He has not gone to a road camp. Believes Japan will win the war.
102. Kenkichi INOUYE
Kenkichi INOUYE, Japanese national of 50 years, has been in Canada about 30 years.
He visited Japan for four months seven years ago. He worked as a foreman at a paper
mill in Port Alice. Collected money to help Japan in the war against China and sent it to the Canadian Japanese Association in Vancouver. He thinks Japan will win without having the fight on the American Continent. He
thinks India will revolt and the Axis will win. He was jubilant over the fall of Singapore.
103. Tomoki KAWABE
Tomoki KAWABE, Japanese national of fifty years, has been in Canada about thirty years.
He was a boss at a saw mill at Merritt, B.C. until twelve years ago at which time he went to work at Chemainus. He contributed money to help Japan fight China. He is pro-Japanese and said that
the war would not be long as Japan was all prepared. He is reported to be fairly wealthy.
104. Yosuke OZEKI
Yosuke OZEKI, naturalized Japanese, about 59 years of age, has been in Canada for
thirty years. He was president of the Cod Fishermen's Association with its office at the foot of Campbell Street, Vancouver
. He lives at the Celtic Cannery at the foot of Blenheim St., Vancouver
. Is pro-Japanese and always listened to short wave radio news from Tokyo. He believes
Japan will win and has been jubilant over Japan's victories.
105. Yoshihara NAKAGAWA
Yoshihara NAKAGAWA, Japanese national age fifty years, has been in Canada for thirty
years. He is now in the electric massage business at New Westminster. He helped to collect money for Japan during the 'China Incident' phase of the war.
Visited Japan twice. His father is living there. Thinks the war won't last long because
of the tremendous rapidity with which Japan has been winning. He thinks all will depend
on how the struggle between Russia and Germany turns out, and believes the Axis will
106. Yoshio NAKAZAWA
Yoshio NAKAZAWA, Japanese national of 55 years, has been in Canada about thirty years.
He had a clothing store in the 300 block Powell St., Vancouver
, B.C. It is reported that he contributed $300 towards the war to help Japan fight China.
He thinks the war will not last long and that if the Japanese wait a while they won't
need to be evacuated. He thinks the war will be over without fighting here. He is
believed to hold some executive position in the Japanese Chamber of Commerce which is pro-Japanese.
107. Tsunekichi TAKEUCHI
Tsunekichi TAKEUCHI, Japanese national of 59 years, has been in Canada for thirty
years. He had a second hand hardware store in Vancouver at 232 Main St. Takeuchi is pro-Japanese and contributed money to help Japan fight China. His views
are pro-Japanese. He thinks the war will soon be over and that the Japanese need not
evacuate if they wait a couple months. He believes Britain and the U.S.A. will be
defeated and the Axis win.
108. Nihei OTSUKI
Nihei OTSUKE, a national about 56 years of age, has been in Canada for 26 years. He
lives at Strawberry Hill and had a very large chicken hatchery. He is reported to be wealthy and contributed
about $400 towards helping Japan in the war against China. He was, at one time, President of the Japanese Farmer's Association at Strawberry Hill. He is an influential man in that locality. He was very jubilant
over the fall of Hong Kong and Singapore. He believes Japan will win the war.
109. Yoshihara TOYODA
Yoshihara TOYODA, naturalized, 57 years of age, has been in Canada for thirty years.
He was a fisherman living at Knight Inlet, B.C. He contributed to Japan $100 to aid in the war against China. He thinks Japan will
win thw war. He has a son who was educated in Japan but is now living in Canada, age
22 years.
110. Kurajiro ADACHI
Kurajiro ADACHI, Japanese national of 46 years, has been in Canada for 20 years. He
has been a saw mill worker at Port Moody, B.C. He contributed money to Japan and hopes Japan will win. He believes Germany will
defeat Russia in the spring and thus the war will not be long.
111. Senmatsu HAMAMURA
Senmatsu HAMAMURA, naturalized, about 55 years of age, has been in Canada for about
thirty years. He is a fisherman, and worked at the Terra Nova Cannery about three miles below Marpole. His father is living in Japan and he has been there twice himself. He contributed
money to help Japan fight China.
112. Magoichi OKAMURA
Magoichi OKAMURA, Japanese national of 60 years living at Strawberry Hill, has been in Canada for thirty years. He helped collect money for Japan to fight
China. He was at one time President of the Farmer's Association at Strawberry Hill. He is reported to be pro-Japanese and believes Japan will win the war. He has
been to Japan two or three times.
113. Chiujiro KAWAMOTO
Chiujiro KAWAMOTO, naturalized, 60 years of age, has been in Canada for 35 years and
worked at the Vancouver Cannery. He visited Japan four years ago for about three months and received military training
there. He contributed money to help Japan in war against China. Thinks Japan will
soon win the war.
114. Kanjiro TASHIMA
Kanjiro TASHIMA, 61 years of age, has been in Canada for about 30 years. He is married
with three sons who are married and living at Acme Cannery. He has worked himself at the Acme Cannery, two or three miles below Marpole, B.C. Contributed generously towards Japan's war against China. Thinks Japan will win.
115. Yoshimatsu MATSUMOTO
Yoshimatsu MATSUMOTO is a farmer living near the air port on Sea Island. Was at the Vancouver Cannery until 1941, when he sold his net and boats. He is pro-Japanese and hopes Japan will win. Contributed
money to Japan to help fight China. His son, Toshi Matsumoto who farms with him, is also reported as being pro-Japanese.
116. Hidekichi ARIKADO
Hidekichi ARIKADO, Japanese national of 55 years, has been in Canada for 25 years.
He has been working in a saw mill at Fraser Mill, near New Westminster. He contributed money to Japan to help fight China. Believes Japan will win the war.
117. Kataro KADOTA
Kataro KADOTA used to work at Englewood, B.C. in a saw mill. His wife has been in Japan now for two years. He is pro-Japanese.
He contributed money to aid Japan against China. He hopes to return to Japan after
the war. His son, 27 years old, is now living in Japan.
118. Toichi KOYAMA
Toichi KOYAMA, naturalized, 58 years of age, has lived in Canada for thirty years.
He spent six months in Japan in 1940. He is reported as being wealthy and contributed money to aid Japan against China.
119. Taira YASUNAKA
Taira YASUNAKA, Japanese national of 48 years, has been in Canada for 25 years. He
resides at 2696 Trinity St., Vancouver
. He has visited Japan two or three times but not in the last ten years. He was in
the importing and exporting business and a partner of Kesahiro IWASHITA, who has been interned. ANother partner is TOMODA, who has been in Japan, their agent
in Osaka for many years. Yasunaka is reported as being pro-Japanese, and contributed money
in aid of the Japanese war against China. He believes Japan has made sufficient preparation
and will win the war.
120. Rinyu YAMAMOTO
Rinyu YAMAMOTO, national and 50 years of age, has been in Canada for thirty years.
Was a dental mechanic but for the last five years has been connected with the editorial
department of the Daily News and wrote pro-Japanese articles in that paper. He resides at 2528 Napier St., Vancouver
. He is a friend of Mr. Yasushi YAMASAKI, former proprietor of the Continental Daily News, who now resides in Tokya and travels a great deal to Manchuria.
NOTE: Nos. 121-128, and Nos. 129-138, are mentioned in Appendix 3. See also pages
8, 9 of the report.
123. K. Chiba
129. Eikichi HARADA
130. Eiichi HARADA
131. Ichiro TABATA
132. Inao TABATA
133. Hiroshi TABATA
Nos. 139-147 are key men who worked for Seitaro YAMAOKA
139. G. MURAKI, Head Millright
140. J. AZUMA, Millright
141. Y. ADACHI, Millright
142. J. MATSUMOTI, Millright
143. S. FUKUNAGA, Plainer
144. T. KITAMURA, Shipper
145. T. KUSHINO, Resaw
146. S. FUJIMOTO, Shipper
147. M. NAKAMURA, Shipper
148. UCHIAI, of 320 Powell St., Vancouver
. Born in Canada, but took Normal Training in Japan . Teacher in Japanese language school at Vancouver. Cp. Report, pages 7, 8.
149. Koichiro MIYAZAKI
150. Shimogaki
Teacher in Japanese language school at Ucluelet. Cp. Report, pages 7, 8.
151. F. Kanamoto
F. Kanamoto lives at Steveston
B.C. and is an intimate friend of Kitaro Nitta who did some subversive propaganda work among North American Indians living in British Columbia. (See No. 9).
152. Nakamura
NUKAI is connected with the Trollers Association at Tofino, B.C. He was a close friend and Associate of Tommy Onami, a suspicious character who was sales agent for the Ucluelet Trollers and as such travelled up and down the B.C. coast. Tommy Onami gave up his job suddenly and went to Borneo.
154. Yoshio MUKAI
Yoshio MUKAI is a fisherman living in Vancouver. He is about 40 years of age. According to reliable information he is a very radical
type, very pro-Japanese and one who would most certainly help the Japanese if they
attached British Columbia.
There is a Japanese family by the name of Taka living at the Brunswick Cannery at Canoe Pass, near Steveston, B.C. People around there believe the Japanese have been having some secret meetings at
their home or that they have been meeting to hear radio news. Up to the time that the curfew came into force, Japanese were prowling
around there late at night and returned to their homes in the early hours of the morning.
B. OHASHI is living at New Westminster, B.C. He is a clergyman and has a store as well. He is around 65 years of age but looks
younger. He was born in Japan. His daughter who is 18 was born in Canada. A man who
lives in New Westminster went into Ohashi's store to phone. The phone is in the kitchen and they did not seem
anxious for people to use it. Ohashi had a large map on the wall with short wave stations
marked at the bottom. On the map he had blue and red pins marking the battle lines
in the Far East. This man said Mr. Ohashi has had military training.
NOTE: Nos. 157 - 159 were on the staff of the Canada Daily News, and Nos. 160 - 165 on the staff of the staff of the Tairiku Nippo. See report p. 7.
157. Kenzo MORI, Reporter
158. Tsukane MAYEDA, Reporter
159. Tsuruichi TAKAHASHI, Translator
160. Eiichiro FUNE, Reporter
161. Michiyoshi YAMAMOTO, Reporter
162. Eitaro IWAMOTO, Sub-reporter
163. Tsutomu IWASAKI, Editor English section
164. Shota KONDO, Reporter, English section
165. Mitsuya SASAKI, Reporter, English Section.
Father, S. MIZUHARA is a Japanese real estate and Insurance man whose office is at 243 Powell Stree, Vancouver
. He is an elderly man of the 1st Generation Japanese and was at one time Secretary of the Salt Herring Packers Association. F.J. (Shaw) MIZUHARA is a graduate of the University of B.C., a B.A. in Chemistry, 1939, and M.A. in 1941. He is assistant in Lab. work for 1st and 2nd year students at the
U.B.C. During student days, F.J. MIZUHARA was a friend of Dave Kato used to drive Mizuhara to University in his car. They were close friends and played
on the football team of which Dave Kato was Manager. Both these young men were pals
of Tom Shoyama, Editor of the New Canadian (see No. 13).
S. UCHIDA is a Japanese farmer living at Steveston. He used to go to Japan every year before the war and didn't seem very interested
in his farm. He said he went to Japan to get money from his uncle, who was a Rear-Admiral, to help finance his Saltery. His uncle was killed in one of those outbreaks in Japan
a few years ago when prominent men were murdered. He told of this and said he was
not able to get financial help from that source any more as his uncle's estate was
tied up. On returning from Japan once, he brought a couple of Japanese back with him
to act as servants, but they were really technicians and not servants. Uchida was
often official host when prominent Japanese from Japan visited Vancouver or Steveston.
168. Fred MACHIDA
Fred MACHIDA was born in the Naas River Country, B.C., his father being a fishing contractor. He is regarded by the Japanese as reckless
and desperate fellow and borrows a good deal of money. He wanted to go to Japan to
study to be an aviator, but didn't go. He is very mechanically minded. He spends a
good deal of time at Steveston and is a close friend of the T. Uyeda family there. His brother, Teruo Machida, was one of those who agitated at Hastings Park, Vancouver, when the first hundred Canadian-born Japanese refused to go to Ontario.
S. MIZUGUCHI, a fisherman at Steveston, is a Japanese national, aggressive and resentful towards whites. He is quiet now
but considered dangerous. Among Japanese from Steveston, Mizuguchi is named along with T. Inana (see No. 53) and Rokuhei Konishi (see No. 8) as likely to be most active on the Japanese side in a crisis. Mizuguchi
is a close friend of Mineoka (Secretary of the Deep River Fish Co.), who was detained after the outbreak of the
170. (-----) Manager of Fish Store.
There is a fish store situated in the 300 Block Carrall Street, Vancouver
. The proprietor is a Japanese and he has a young Japanese lad working for him. The
business next door is the "Sea Food" restaurant. Both these places are quite close
to the corner of Carrall and Hastings St., Vancouver, and next to the Bank of Montreal and across the street from the B.C. Electric. The manager of the Fish Store used to have a share in the "Sea Food" restaurant
and still supplies them with fish. A Chinese informer said the manager of the Fish
Store is believe to be an ex-naval officer. He visited the store the day after Pearl Harbour to buy some shrimps. The manager of the Fish Store was very happy and
"We have six of their ships now...." "We are good friends. Bye and Bye we can go back
to the Orient together." To another man he is reported as saying, "Well pretty soon
we can get them all", referring to the American warships.
171. Kamekichi MIYATA
Kamekichi MIYATA was a collector for the Canada Daily News. He is a close friend of Shizuo Muraki, owner of the New Pier Cafe, 220 Main St., Vancouver
(see No. 58) and was seen with him in happy mood discussing the news in the paper
regarding the Japanese advance is Malaya. He is also a close friend of K. Yamanobe who operated the Confectionary Store at 1387 Granville Street, Vancouver
(see No. 62).
Head of the Steveston Japanese Association (see Appendix 4, p. 33). Is strongly pro-Japanese. Was in a number of arguments with
the Chinese proprietor of a Chop Suey House. The Chinese asserted that Sakamoto threatened
Head of the Farmers' Section of Steveston Japanese Association (see Appendix 4). Especially active in aligning second-generation Japanese with the
nationals. Regarded by reliable source as entirely loyal to Japan.
174. Chitose UCHIDA
B.A. 1916 of U.B.C. Member of Japanese Alumni Association. Member of "Master Committee of Six", working with Morii and others on evacuation.
NOTE: Nos. 175-202 are all intimate friends of Etsuji MORII, trained in jiujitsu, and reported to be body guards of Morii. They were all asked
by Morii to serve on the Advisory Committee for Evacuation. Under individual interrogation, some of them at least could probably give valuable
information on Morii's activities and connections with the Japanese network.
175. Akira ISHIWARA
Second-generation Japanese, former President of Japanese Canadian Citizens League, dentist; his father (representative of "Canada News" at the memorial service held
in Vancouver for the late Japanese Emperor, in 1926) went to Japan two years ago.
176. Tadao OMORI
177. Satorii TAMOTO
178. Rintaro NAKAYAMA
179. Takeo KAWASAKI
180. Ei KAWANO
181. Tayoki UYEDA
182. Eikichi KONDO
183. Yoshio UWATE
184. Minoru HATASHITA
185. Kunji KURAMOTO
186. Masao KAWASAKI
187. Ben SUMI
188. Masatoshi UMEZU
189. Yasuo KANNO
190. Yoshitomo MUKAI
191. Tetsu UMEZU
192. Yataro KIMURA
193. Noboru TSUCHII
194. Shigeo SHIRAISHI
195. Zojiro OKAHARA
196. Yoshiichi NISHIMURA
197. Akitaka TSUJI
198. Sadao MAIKAWA
199. Suyeki YAMAMURA
200. Kazuo SATO
201. Masato ISHIBASHI
202. Hajime SUZUKI
203. Tsuruji SUDA
Tsuruji SUDA is a naturalized Japanese about 62 years of age and has been in Canada
some 35 years. He is a fisherman and lives at Queensborough near New Westminster. He is a leader in the community. He collected money for Japan during the "China
Incident" phase. He is pro-Japanese in his outlook and thinks the war will soon be
over seeing that Japan has been able to advance so rapidly in the South Pacific.
Sataro FUJITA, Japanese national of 51 years, has been in Canada for 26 years. He lives in Marpole, 8754 Selkirk St., Vancouver
. About twenty years ago he worked for the Kinyusha Trust Co. which went bankrupt. It is reported that Fujita hid some money at that time. Since
then he has worked as a grocery salesman. Has a month living in Japan, and he went
back there, himself, once. He contributed money to help Japan win the war against
NOTE: In March, 1942, the first group of Canadian-born Japanese who were scheduled to leave for work camp
in Ontario refused to go on the night set for their departure. The two who were leaders
in the agitation which resulted in their not going are:
205. Toshi SAKAMOTO
206. Teruo MACHIDA
207. Minoru SAKAMOTO
Minoru SAKAMOTO, an elder brother of Toshi SAKAMOTO was with the above two mentioned
people at the Manning Pool at Hastings Park, Vancouver. While it was not definitely known whether he had done any agitating like the others, it was thought more than likely that he had a
hand in it, as he has always been a leader in fishermen's strikes.
208. Kiyoshi NAKAI
K. NAKAI is about 56 years of age. He was educated at the University of Washington. He has been here for a long time and worked as an interpreter. He gave that up to
fish and owns a small boat of his own. He is down and out financially, as he spends
his money as fast as he makes it. Sometimes he stays at a rooming house at 135 Powell Street, sometimes at Steveston, sometimes at Lulu Island. He can be reached through J. KAWAJIRA at 134 Powell Street.
NAKAI seemed rather disgruntled over the Japanese losing their fishing rights. he
said that Kimura, who is acting on the committee was reported to be receiving $1500.00 a year, although
the Japanese papers previously said he would not be paid. Nakai said the Japanese
would not get a proper deal.
With reference to the war in Europe, a source remarked that Hitler was losing ground.
Nakai remarked that Hitler wasn't retreating but was just withdrawing and would attach
Britain in the Spring. He said that Singapore was surrounded and would be lost and
perhaps Australia too.
Nakai said he heard by short wave radio from Japan that Wang Ching Wei is helping
to negotiate peace between Japan and China. He said they didn't dare to have a powerful
short wave radio in Vancouver but they have one in Steveston and "there", pointing in the direction of Lulu Island.
After the outbreak of the war with Japan in December, it was suggested to Nakai that
Japan was rather foolish seeing she already had one war on her hands. Nakai said that
no doubt it would be all right, as the Japanese Government must know before they started.
CLASS C (Nos. 209 - 282)
209. Torao TEZUKA
Torao TEZUKA lives at 716 Main St., Vancouver
, a Japanese national of 38 years. It is reported he came to Vancouver on a Japanese freighter without a passport ten years ago. He is pro-Japanese, and
a very good friend of F. FUJIMAGARI
209 (a). Toshiaki SUMI
Toshiaki SUMI, Japanese national about 48 years, lives at 1642 W. 2nd Ave., Vancouver
. He has been in Canada about 25 years. He is pro-Japanese and thinks the Axis will
soon win the war. He believes India will fall soon like Thai and that they will let
the Japanese pass through the country to meet the Germans in the Middle East.
Has a store near that of Toshiaki SUMI and shares his opinions.
Reliable source reports Teshima shares the outlook of Nos. 209 (a), 210.
212. Kinsaku NAGAMI
Kinsaku NAGAMI, Japanese national of 40 years, has been in Canada about 13 years.
He has gone to one of the road camps but formerly resided at 1684 West 4th Ave., Vancouver
. He was a taxi driver. He entered Canada without a passport. He is pro-Japanese and
feels that since Japan has conquered such a vast territory within a few months, she
will win.
213. Fusatomi MATSUMOTO
Fusatomi MATSUMOTO, Japanese national of 38 years, worked in a paper mill at Ocean Falls. Has been in Canada ten years. His parents lived here but returned to Japan five
years ago. He thought the war would be over soon because of the tremendous speed with
which Japan was winning in Asia, and that Japan would be victorious.
214. Seizo TATEISHI
Seizo TATEISHI, Japanese national of 35 years, has been in Canada 18 years. Worked
at the paper mill at Ocean Falls. His father returned to Japan some twelve years ago. He was evacuated to Hastings Park some time ago. He believes Japan is going toward India now and will take India and
join up with the Germans in central Asia.
215. Nisuke MIYATA
Nisuke MIYATA, Japanese national, about fifty years of age, has been in Canada twenty-five
years. His wife and children are now living in Japan having returned there seven years
ago. He does not think there is a chance that Japan will lose the war because of the
great speed with which she has already achieved victory.
216. Kakuta TOMIYAMA
Kakuta TOMIYAMA, national, is 45 years of age and has been in Canada some 22 years.
He had a rooming house at 927 Main Street, Vancouver
. He used to be a taxi driver. His wife visited Japan some four years ago. He believes
the war will soon come to an end with the Axis winning.
H. KUBA is a Canadian-born Japanese at Steveston, B.C. He has acted as contact man between Noguchi, (see No. 7) and the white people and has a desk in Noguchi's office. He is reported
to be pro-Japanese. In conversation with Thornton, it was suggested to him that if the second generation Japanese wanted favourable
consideration they should openly condemn Japan's actions. Kuba said if the Canadian Government will not accept them fully as citizens and they were to turn against Japan, where
would they be? Kuba said their own people here are nationals and do not like the Nisei
to talk against Japan, and that it would be dangerous to do so unless Canada gave
the Nisei full recognition.
T. UCHIDA, whose office is in the Dominion Bank Building, and Importer and Insurance man, and Representative of the Orange Growers, used to return to Japan every other year.
219. Momoki MASUDA
K. NAKAI, Secretary of the Fishing Company of the West Coast, in the 300 block, Powell Street, Vancouver
, was another Japanese who expressed the view that the fall of Singapore to Japan
was 'good news'. Reliable Japanese sources state that all Japanese living in Vancouver who were born in Japan were very happy over the fall of Hong Kong and Singapore to
NOTE: Nos. 221-229 were born in Canada, but received their education in Japan, and
have, therefore, been fully exposed to nationalistic propaganda. Nos. 221-226 live
at Steveston, Nos. 227-229 at Claxton. Nos. 225-229 are about 18 years old, and returned from Japan some four years ago.
222. Tomizo SAKATA
223. Kenji KUROHASHI
226. Tamie KUWABARA
227. Tamatsu YAMAMOTO
229. Kazu TANI
J. TANAKA operates the Tanaka Rice Mill at 755 Powell Street, Vancouver
. He is definitely pro-Japanese. Mr. Tanaka believes the United States made a mistake
in going to war with Japan, as he thinks the United States will be beaten by Japan.
NOTE: Last December just after the outbreak of war with Japan, two men at the Oceanic Cannery, Skeena River District, B.C. acted rather suspiciously during a blackout. In spite of the fact that they had curtains
up to black out their homes, when the watchman went around, he found these men had
their curtains drawn and their doors wide open while they were standing in the doorway.
The men were:
231. S. KATAYAMA, still working at the Oceanic Cannery.
232. Y. TAKATA, now at Porcheron Cannery.
T. NAKAMURA runs a confectionery store at 401 Robson Street, Vancouver
. He came from Japan 17 years ago. His attitude does note seem to indicate that he
would be loyal to Canada. He said "whether Japan wins or loses, the Japanese here
(in Canada) will suffer - they will be treated like pigs".
KANEKO has been a fisherman at the Claxton Cannery, Skeena River district. He is a naturalized Canadian. His wife and children are all in Japan and he is known
to sympathize with Japan.
236. George ASAZUMA
K.E. IKENO has had a Private Printing Press at 611 Keefer Street, Vancouver
, said he was not going to sell his Printing Press. He said he was planning on moving
to Singapore after the war and start up in the Printing business there. He is a quiet
and cautious man and did not go into further details on the matter, but the inference
was he felt that Japan was going to win the war and retain the territory she has conquered,
and that there would be great opportunities for the Japanese in conquered territory.
This seems to show his attitude. It also checks information from other sources that
the Japanese believe there will be good openings for the, in the conquered territory
after the war.
T. NAKANISHI is a fisherman living in Steveston. His brother D. NAKANISHI left Steveston hurridly shortly before war was declared and returned to Japan. It is only reasonable
to suppose that T. NAKANISHI is loyal to Japan see he has such a close relative living
there and who probably returned on orders from the Japanese Government.
B. YAMASAKI is about 68 years of age and lives at the foot of Trites Road, Steveston. He is believed to have had military experience and walks with a limp supposed to
be the result of a wound received while fighting in a war with China.
S. KAMAI lives at Steveston and has shown his Nationalistic Japanese tendency through his anti-Chinese attitude.
He said Chiang Kai Shek would not last more than two or three months.
243. Masuo TANAKA
R. IKARI resides at Steveston. He won a medal during the Russo-Japanese war by pushing a raft with explosives against
a Russian warship at Port Arthur.
T. MAIKAWA, senior, owns, or mostly owns, the T. Maikawa Store on 369 Powell Street, Vancouver
. He has been back in Japan now for a long time but visited Vancouver. He has been back in Japan now for a long time but visited Vancouver for 2 or 3 months las spring. His son, T. MAIKAWA, lives in Vancouver. He is 24 or 26 years of age. This young man went back to Japan when he was about
7 years of age and remained there for over 10 years. He had his public school education
in Japan. A Japanese who knows him well said he would consider the fall of Singapore
to the Japanese as "good news".
246. Mrs.TOYDA
Mrs. TOYDA runs the state cleaners. Her shop is situated at the corner of 13th and Main Street, Vancouver
. A Canadian-born Japanese said he had never met such a pro-Japanese woman as Mrs.
Toyda. For a week she predicted the fall of Singapore and was very happy when the
Japanese took it. One of her daughters is married to a Japanese National, George Asazuma (no. 236).
Mr. T. Matsuyama, 469 Powell Street, Vancouver
, is described as an extremely resourceful Japanese, who carried himself with a soldierly
bearing. He was always going to Seattle and gave the impression that he was tied up in a Japanese Governmental position.
He is now in Japan and his business which is import and export is managed by Mr. KITA.
248. (---) at BADER'S BAKERY
There is a Japanese working at Bader's Bakery, a Dutch concern. Our source did not
know his name, but he is a Japanese National between 37 and 40 years of age. He is
fairly quiet now but before the war with Japan was always taking about the war and
was very rabid, always talking about what Japan was going to do. He kept saying that
"Japan was going to lick Hell out of the United States and Britain".
249. George IBATA
George IBATA has a confectionary store at the corner of 11th and Main Street, Vancouver
, and his wife runs the store while he works at the Uyesagi Saw Mill. He is a Canadian-born Japanese around 33 years of age. A Canadian-born Japanese
informer dropped into his store shortly after war started. IBATA was sticking up for
Japan. Source believes that IBATA is entirely pro-Japanese.
MURAKAMI lives on Moncton Street, Steveston, is between 65 and 70 years of age. He has been an active leader in the Japanese
community, Steveston. He used to attend the secret meetings held next door at the home of K. Kobayashi. These meetings were presumably about the fishing business.
M. Kimori lives at Marpole and has ten children, including four sons between the ages of 17 and 28. He has gone
back to Japan several times. He has never been heard to express any anti-British sentiments
but like other Japanese, after the beginning of the war with China in 1937, used to carry a map of China around in his pocket, watching the course of the war
and revealing his Japanese nationalistic tendencies.
252. Roy OTANI
Roy OTANI is a truck driver at Steveston. He was talking to two white men who were discussing the situation after the downfall
of France. OTANI said "Oh, pretty soon England will be pretty small - all in small
pieces". (see No. 256).
R. Naruo, a fisherman at Steveston, B.C. left for Japan on the last boat. All fall he asked to be supplied with a house by
the company he was working for. As none were available, plans were made to build him
a new one. He had a bill of sale on the boat he used made out, but wanted it made
out to Y. Hamanishi, a fisherman at Steveston. When asked why, he said he wanted to let him fish too. The following week Naruo
was on his way to Japan. So Hamanishis has this close association with R. Naruo who
left for Japan so hurriedly, and under the rather peculiar circumstances mentioned.
(see also No. 254).
T. NARUO is a brother of R. NARUO mentioned above (No. 253). He is still in Steveston and is a Director of the River Fish Company.
A collector, S. Murasaki, returned to Japan but did not sell hi fishing boat. Murasaki's fishing boat was operated last by G. Miyai. He has
thise close connection with a man now living in Japan.
T. OTANI, father of Roy OTANI (see No. 252), an elderly Japanese, is living at Steveston and is reported as saying, "Very soon now Japan will have British Columbia."
There is a grocery store, KOMURA BROS. LTD. at 269 Powell Street, Vancouver
, Mr. Komura, the founder of the business, is dead. His wife, Mrs. Orino Komura, is now in Japan but still has a share in the business. The Manager, I. Yanagi, went to Japan in 1941, intending to come back but has not been able to do so. His wife has been living
in Japan. The Assistant Manager, now in charge, is a man by the name of Hideichi Hayashi. Though Mr. Hayashi was born in Canada and is about 40 years of age, his English
is poor. He has made a hobby of photography and had a good camera. Both Hayashi and
Yanagi have a share in the business. Another man who has a share in the business is
a Mr. Watanabe, who had been associated with Komura. Komura's affairs are handled by Mr. Albert Young, an Eurasian lawyer (see Appendix 11, p. 153). This store then has close connections
with people living in Japan.
T. UYEDA has a grocery store in Steveston, B.C. A Northern American Indian student who is studyng Theology at the University of B.C. went to see him on fishing business. They had a discussion on religion and he learned
that the Uyeda family are ardent Buddhists. Then the discussion turned to the war
situation. They were even more emphatic in their views on that, favouring Japan. The
student considers them dangerous, fifth Column, and says they would be against us
in the event of a Japan attack on the coast of British Columbia.
A half-breed, part Indian and part Hawaiian, has known the proprietor of the Michi
Store, corner of Hawks and Cordova Streets, Vancouver
, for a long time and is the confidence of the family. He has spent hours discussing
the war with them and says they are definitely against us, are anti-British, and radical
in talk about what Germany would do to England.
FUKUYAMA is manager of the Howe Sound Fisheries Co. Ltd., Campbell St., Vancouver
. He is reported to be definitely against us and strongly pro-Japanese.
There is a cage at the corner of Granville and Broadway. It is operated by four brothers called Omatsu, Canadian-born Japanese. One of these
Japanese said to a magazine salesman, "Soon you will have to speak Japanese when you
come in here." Their parents were born in Japan and are Nationals. The father used
to work in a saw mill but returned about ten years ago since the boys started to work.
He is a very ardent buddhist.
T. ITO lives in Steveston. He is about 62 or 63 years of age. He had military training and took part in some
war, perhaps the Russo-Japanese war.
There used to be a Mr. H. Saki living at Steveston, a man of about 45 or 46 years of age. He was a fisherman from the Skeena River District who spent his winters at Steveston. He had either military or naval training. He returned to Japan about two years ago.
A close friend still living in Steveston is Mr. Morishita. Mrs. Saki amd Mrs. Morishita are related.
NOTE: Nos. 265-267 are close friends of Fumio KAJIRO, a Steveston school teacher, who was interned on the outbreak of war with Japan.
266. S. OKADO,fisherman, about 40.
KAJIMA lives in Chilliwack, B.C. There is just one Japanese family there. Kajima was born in Japan. He had several
fishing boats in B.C. His mother and daughter live in Japan. His wife earns some money in Chilliwack as
a dress maker. The reason given for her having to work is that Mr. Kajima has to support
his mother in Japan. He has made frequent trips to Japan. Those living in Chilliwack
who know the family say they would not have any confidence in im, and that he is undoubtedly
T. SUDA lives on Hamilton Road near New Westminster, returned to Japan in 1939 intending to stay, but came back to Canada again.
FUKUSHIMA who lives at Sea Island near Vancouver, spent many months in Japan last year.
K. OTSU is a brother of Genji OTSU (see No. 60). A couple of years ago, there were strange people appearing in Steveston wearing Japanese army forage caps. K. Otsu also wore one. He has never expressed
himself as being anti-Canadian but has expressed himself as anti-British.
T. KITADE, a fisherman from Steveston, went to Japan in 1939-40 and returned to Canada after his marriage. His wife did not like it in Canada so
he took her back to Japan after she had been here a few months. He later returned
to Canada himself, disappeared from the Steveston district and is reported to be in the Skeena River District.
273. Minoru NISHII
Minoru NISHII is the third son of S. NISHII (see No. 26). He has expressed the opinion that he would like to return to Japan
to work as he liked it better. He spent the winter of 1940-41 at Ucluelet. Regarded as a suspicious character.
There is a vegetable and fruit store at 3798 Hastings Street East, Vancouver
. It operated by two brothers Y. and T. MASUTIERA along with their mother and sister.
Their father has a farm at Langley, B.C. One of these brothers speaking to a Chinese informer said there had been a lot of
discrimination against the Japanese and lots of prejudice. He thinks the present war
will turn out to be a racial war with the white race against the yellow race. His
talk revealed that he is loyal to Japan. He speaks fairly poor English though he was
born in Canada.
275. c/o Mrs. EDAMURA
Mrs. Edamura, a Japanese barber on Main St. between 6th and 7th Avenue, Vancouver
, told an informer that there was a Canadian-born Japanese (as late as April 3, 1942) who still had his car in his garage, and that he also had two radios he did not
turn in. He has a small radio in the living room downstairs and a short wave radio
in his bedroom upstairs. He said, "If the police come, I'll go to jail". He said he
did not give a darn. Mrs. Edamura would not disclose his name.
Takataro HAMAOKA used to live at Claxton Cannery in the Skeena River District. He was in charge of some fishermen there. He always carried himself like a soldier.
He returned to Japan during 1941, leaving rather hurriedly. He has adopted son who goes by the name of Hamaoka who
with the daughter-in-law lived at Claxton, B.C. The son and his wife did not return to Japan. It is impossible to suppose that the
adopted son, who was born in Japan, and his wife would be loyal to Canada when T.
Hamaoka, his foster father, is back in Japan and probably in the Japanese army. Owing
to monetary restrictions in effect when Mr. Hamaoka returned to Japan, his money was
left here. He wrote back to Mr. Masanori Yamada (see No. 31), to have his money transferred to the son.
S. SHINOBU of the Manufacturer's Life was General Chairman of the Japanese Loan Committee taking part in the Second Canadian Victory Loan. This does not mean that he is loyal
to Canada. A Canadian-born Japanese informer said Mr. Shinobu is very pro-Japanese
and believes that Japan will win the war.
J. OIYE is a salesman for Kelly Douglas, Wholesale Grocers, 661 Keefer St. A Canadian-born Japanese informer reports him as definitely pro-Japanese. Oiye believes
Japan will win the war. He is reported by the informer as being two-faced, talks one
way among the whites but shows his true colours when among the Japanese.
Mickey SATO, a Canadian-born Japanese, lives in an apartment at Georgia and Dunlevy, Vancouver
. He is salesman for Scott, Bathgate. He sells biscuits and confectionery. An informer
who knows him well reports him as being pro-Japanese. He always maintains that what
Japan does is right.
280. Isaburo YAMAMOTO
Around the middle of April, 1942, Mr. T. Miura, Secretary at the Japanese Consulate in Vancouver, went under escort to the barber shop of Isaburo Yamamoto, in the 200 block Powell Street, Vancouver
. While there, he said in Japanese "Don't go to road camp. It is better to be a prisoner
of war". No doubt Mr. Yamamoto is in sympathy with Japan, or Mr. Miura would not have
talked like that in his shop.
281. Teriichi AMANO
AMANO is naturalized, about 50 years of age. His brother is a National and went to
a road camp early in the evacuation plan. He clings to the idea that he might get
a permit to remain in Vancouver. He complains about the situation being unfair to the Japanese as only they have
to evacuate, while for example, an Italian neighbour does not have to leave. Mr. Amano
visits a great deal with this Italian. He lives at 2141 Dundas St., Vancouver
. He is reported as being in sympathy with Japan.
282. Soataro SAKAI
Soataro SAKAI is 66 years of age, a fisherman from Ucluelet. He was arrested and sentenced to 6 months in jail for breaking the curfew at 1 a.m.
He lived at 245 Powell St. in a rooming house. His wife and son are in Japan. Four others (Japanese) with him
are equally intent upon breaking the curfew escaped, and their names are not known.
Download Original XML (272K)
Download Standalone XML (292K)
Appendix 5 and 10 of Suspicious Japanese Report
Publication Information: See Terms of Use for publication and licensing information.
Readers of these historical materials will encounter derogatory references to Japanese
Canadians and euphemisms used to obscure the intent and impacts of the internment
and dispossession. While these are important realities of the history, the Landscapes
of Injustice Research Collective urges users to carefully consider their own terminological
choices in writing and speaking about this topic today as we confront past injustice.
See our statement on terminology, and related sources here.