Chapter 16
Redress Implementation
By Harry Yonekura (with the assistance of Blanche Hyodo)
In order to implement the NAJC Redress Agreement, an official administrative organization was set up across Canada. It consisted of a national administrative office located in Richmond, B.C., headed up by Tony Tamayose. In addition, three regional offices were established, one each in Vancouver (Western Region), Winnipeg (Central Region) and Toronto (Eastern Region)1. Field offices were set up in Hamilton, Ottawa and Montreal and we established contacts in smaller key areas where the NAJC had no prior official office or representation.
Notarization
According to the terms of the Redress Implementation, applicants were required to provide three original backup documents as identification, along with a completed Redress application form. However, because of the government’s 1942 expulsion, dispersal and relocation program many of these documents were lost amid the chaos of being uprooted. Another problem was the English-only wording of the legalistic application form. This was soon remedied with the Japanese versions that were available soon after. Given the lack of pertinent documents such as birth certificates, group information and notarization meetings were set up at various locations. The first one was held on the afternoon of Sunday, December 18, 1988 at the Centennial United Church at 702 Dovercourt Road. The meeting was advertised in the leading community newspapers such as Nikkei Voice, The Canada Times and The New Canadian. Those interested were asked to phone ahead to book a specific appointment within the three-hour session from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. When 494 appointments had been registered, we decided that we could not possibly process any more applications that day.
The lawyers who provided the notarizations on this occasion were George Carter, Shin Imai, Christine Kurata, Roy Kusano, Marcia Matsui and Glyn Onizuka, all of whom charged a very nominal fee of $5 per applicant for their professional services.
Christine Kurata was instrumental in resolving the problem of “undeclared assets” for Japanese Canadian residents in Metro Toronto’s seniors’ homes. These seniors feared that their Redress cheques would be arbitrarily seized by their landlords, as were their Old Age Pension cheques. Thus, many were reluctant to apply. Fortunately for them, Christine was able to reassure them that their Redress cheques were inviolable and therefore exempt from any such possibility.
A second group notarization meeting took place on January 15, 1989 at the Centennial United Church, between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Again, it was advertised in The New Canadian. Ann Scotton, executive director of the Japanese Canadian Redress Secretariat in Ottawa, and Harry Diepenveen, also from the Secretariat, attended along with the following lawyers: Christine Kurata, George Carter, Marcia Matsui and Paul Vandervennen. On this occasion, 245 applications were notarized. In the meantime, people continued to bring their application forms to the Eastern Regional Office on Spadina Avenue. There they were given assistance by the members of the office staff, all of whom had received training in the proper completion of the forms.
Field office reports were now beginning to arrive from Hamilton, Ottawa and Montreal field workers who were organizing their own group notarization meetings. Thus Phase 1 of the Redress implementation process was now well underway.
The third and final Eastern Regional group notarization meeting was held in our office complex at 192 Spadina Avenue for a three-hour period on the afternoon of February 12, 1989. With the help of volunteers from the Hamilton Field Office and the Toronto NAJC, we were able to process applications in an orderly and systematic manner. Donna and Harold Takayesu and Polly Shimizu of Hamilton assisted Anne Scotton and her staff in processing about 150 applications, out of which about 72 were notarized by lawyers Shin Imai and Kazuo Oiye. Translation services were provided by Polly Shimizu and Hedy Yonekura.
All the day’s processed applications were personally delivered to Ottawa by Anne Scotton. Originally, Ms. Scotton had a staff of ten people to assist her, but because of the incredible number of applications received by her office on a daily basis, she eventually had to increase her staff to 36!
Phase II of the implementation process was now getting underway with field workers locating and identifying applicants who needed special assistance, such as the elderly, disabled, bedridden or institutionalized. Others in the special assistance category included those living in remote and isolated areas. Phone calls regarding such individuals swamped the Secretariat’s toll-free lines. There were others also whose chief concern was for their friends and relatives in Japan who had not yet received their Redress money. We learned that there was no such thing as a notary public in Japan. Therefore, any potential recipients living in Japan had to rely on lawyers who were demanding one-third of their Redress money for notarization fees.
Faced with this frustrating situation in Japan, the Canadian government authorized the Secretariat to organize a “Redress delegation” to visit Japanese Canadians residing in Japan and hold public information meetings. However, just after the authorization was granted, I received a letter from Anne Scotton announcing that the proposed trip to Japan might have to be postponed because of the increasingly heavy workload with which her staff were faced. An endless flow of daily phone calls promised little respite in the immediate future.
In order to ease the telephone burden at the Secretariat and to verify the number of eligible people in Japan who had yet received their compensation cheques, I devised a new application form which was duplicated in two colours. The grey form denoted those applicants in Japan who were still waiting to receive their Redress cheques, while the pink forms denoted those in Canada over 70 years of age who were also still waiting. We then took these forms to the Hiroshima and Okayama-ken jinkai reunions being held at the Toronto Buddhist Church at 918 Bathurst Street. We also delivered these forms to other locations where Japanese Canadians congregated: the Annex Group and the Seicho no Ie Church at 662 Victoria Park Avenue.2
Concentrating on the 70 years of age and over group, we obtained the names and addresses of friends and relatives in Japan who had not yet received their Redress money, plus information regarding any mental or physical disabilities. On the same form we asked for the name, address and telephone number of a contact person in Canada. When we had collected a substantial number of these forms, we sent them to Anne Scotton with a request that they be given priority.
The Secretariat staff appreciated the initiative of the informationgathering form because it saved them a lot of time on the telephone. It also provided verifiable proof of the number of applicants in Japan who needed assistance with their applications and protection from unscrupulous lawyers. Thus, the responses underlined the necessity of sending a delegation to Japan, and the form itself was later dubbed the “Yonekuragram” by Secretariat staff member, Roy Kawamoto.
I have fond memories of the many people who worked behind the scenes to make the notarization meetings so successful. They certainly deserve a large share of the credit. They include all those who agreed to have their names and phone numbers published in The New Canadian advertisements so that applicants could register for the upcoming notarization meetings. I am also grateful to all those who provided special counselling and Japanese translation services, to the ladies who prepared home baked pastries for the afternoon tea breaks, and to those who handled the registration desk, typed up the reports, took memberships and sold books and artifacts at these meetings.Their contributions are warmly remembered and appreciated.
Reaching Out to Japanese Canadians in Japan
The trip to Japan was now on again and set for August. As the date of the departure drew closer, I was surprised and honoured to learn that I, as Eastern Regional Coordinator, was to be included in the trip to Japan with the Ottawa Redress Secretariat Team led by Anne Scotton, who had served as a policy analyst and advisor to Jack Murta, Minister of Multiculturalism. She had been part of the negotiation meetings and was well informed about the long process involved in Redress implementation.
Travelling with us to Japan as part of this delegation were NAJC President Art Miki and Western Regional Coordinator Tatsuo Kage. In addition, our team included Roy Kawamoto, Lucy Sumi, June Takahashi, Masako Tsuchiya and legal counsellor Anne Daniel of the Redress Secretariat.
After a stopover in Vancouver, where we were met and photographed by Tony Tamayose, we arrived at Narita Airport in Tokyo on August 2, 1989. Our delegation visited nine cities in all, meeting with Japanese Canadians who had been expatriated to Japan at the end of World War II.
A few days after our arrival, we received representatives of the Association of Japanese Canadians in Japan (AJCJ). They included Kaz Ide, Sho Numata and Katie Tanaka. About 59 of the AJCJ members had been meeting once a month to communicate with each other and try to assist Redress applicants. Kaz Ide referred to the JC Redress Settlement as a go en, meaning reunion and friendship, and thanked Art Miki and the entire NAJC for a “great historical struggle well done”. The complete list of AJCJ membership was given to me for inclusion in Nikkei Voice mailing lists. At the Tokyo public meeting, tanka tied with gold ribbons were distributed to the nearly one hundred attendees.
Our next stop was Osaka where we were met by our Tokyo contact, Kaz Ide, as well as our Osaka contact, Tom Mizuguchi, and the Osaka Consulate staff. Here also, Naomi Shikaze, a Canadian nisei, joined our Redress team. The people of Osaka were extremely punctual, arriving a couple of hours before our scheduled public meeting. We were therefore able to check the validity of their documents before the actual meeting began. Mina Sato, the Consul’s administrative assistant, was of great help throughout the process.
By August 7, 1989, 30 individuals had filled out applications and we were receiving mention in various newspapers in Japan. The Asahi Evening News, published in English, reported: “The interviewees said they were subjected to unjustifiable acts, such as detention in relocation camps and deportation, between Dec. 7, 1941, and March 31, 1949… The Canadian government will pay C$21,000 (about ¥2.4 million) to each person after screening the documents. The government estimated there are about 1,000 eligible Canadian citizens of Japanese descent living in Japan at present. The Canadian officials said they plan to hold similar interviews in eight other prefectures across Japan…”
By August 9, 1989, our schedule called for one city per day. Over 120 applicants attended the public meeting in Mihama-cho, Wakayamaken. Since my sister resides in the village of Ao, I received a warm reception from friends whom I hadn’t seen since they left Canada 44 years ago. It was quite an emotional reunion.
We spent the next day in Kyoto where we met more Japanese Canadians ready to apply for compensation. The following morning, August 11, we arrived in Hikone, Shiga-ken. Since the majority of my friends in Toronto had roots in Shiga-ken, we were greeted by a larger than usual crowd. By 6:00 p.m. the hall was filled to capacity and we were running out of chairs. We finished processing applications just after midnight.
In Hiroshima-ken we met with Professor Sachiye Hirahara, a Japanese Canadian nisei. She was planning to organize Japanese Canadians in her hometown of Hiroshima to form the Hiroshima Chapter of the Association of Japanese Canadians in Japan. With Anne Scotton’s approval, I gave her the name and address of every applicant who attended the public meeting that day.
Forty-five applicants attended our meeting in Fukuoka-ken. After notarizing 12 applications, we proceeded to Kagoshima. Approximately, 40 potential applicants attended our meeting there and 15 applications were notarized.
Our final destination was Sendai. Following the public meeting there, a final group photograph was taken and a sushi party was organized to provide us with a formal opportunity to say sayonara and arigato to our old and new friends in Japan. I felt that our trip, although very short, had been an incredible success, and that during that short time we had developed a wonderful team spirit. We could honestly say with pride, “mission accomplished”.
While we were still in Japan, my wife, Hedy, received the following letter (dated August 13, 1989) from her friend, Emie, who lived in Japan. Emie had met me at one of the Redress information sessions and she wrote:
Dear Hedy,
When you get this letter I imagine Harry will be back home after an ordeal of hopping from one city to another covering the archipelago from north to south in only ten days! I bet he wouldn’t want to do it again. I’m glad they came, as I couldn’t believe all this was happening until I saw Harry at the Miyako Hotel. They had a lot of coverage in Japanese and English language papers as well as on TV. You know, if Harry wasn’t among the Redress people, I probably wouldn’t have gone to the meeting as I had already sent in my papers.
I was able to have a few words with Ms. Scotton and she looked through her computerized list on the Fujimoto family and she said she had already recommended payment for mother before she left Canada so she should get it in about another two months. I thought we, in Japan, would be among the last on the list for payment, but when I went to the meeting I found that some people had already received their cheques! Harry says we may even get it much sooner than you folks. Anyway, please tell him the Secretariat people did a very good job and we are all grateful. It’s too bad I couldn’t talk privately to Harry as he was so busy…On August 4th while I was watching the day’s news, I was surprised to see the Secretariat people and a glimpse of Harry arriving at Narita Airport. I rushed to set the VCR, but I couldn’t catch all of it in time…
Love,
Emie
Shortly after my return to Toronto, I received the following letter from AJCJ president, Kaz Ide, dated September 1, 1989:
Dear Harry,
I hope to find you back home and well rested from your very busy trip to Japan. It was a welcome pleasure to have all of you over here. I’m sorry that I had not spent more time with you during your visit. I regret we were not much of a help to you in assisting with the many applicants you had to take care of at every location. I was most glad that the turnout at every location was good.
I have enclosed herein our latest listing of all members who should get their copies of Nikkei Voice. I would appreciate it if you would pass on this information to [the Nikkei Voice staff]. When do you think they will start mailing us their issues? Next month?
Back to your group who came to Japan. I must commend everyone on the team for the efficient and professional way they handled everything during the meetings. All of you had left a good impression with everyone. You know it takes a Canadian to outdo the Americans. I, of course, had to squeeze in a little comment that it takes good Canadian nisei to do the job right. Please convey our thanks to Art Miki, Anne Scotton, and others from the Redress Secretariat, whenever you are in touch with them. Of course, also my very best wishes to them!
Harry, I noticed you were taking a lot of good photos throughout the trip. If it is possible, I would be very glad if you could send as many of them as possible. I would like to keep them for myself as a memento and I would also like to show them to all our members…
Our little association has been growing in membership steadily. It has now grown so large that it takes up most of my time. I believe I will have to ask the members to vote for a Board of Governors to undertake the management of the organization. It’s grown beyond the ability of only one person to look after the affairs of the association…
My sincere thanks again for everything you folks did during your last trip over here. May I look to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely yours,
Kaz
Our trip to Japan was definitely worthwhile, not only because of the number of potential applicants we managed to contact, but also because of the warm bridges of communication that we established across the Pacific Ocean with fellow Japanese Canadians.
Public notarization meeting at Centennial United Church on Dovercourt Rd. in Toronto, December 18, 1988. (Photo: Harry Yonekura)
This information brochure of the Japanese Canadian Redress Secretariat was widely distributed in English and Japanese versions to provide preliminary information for individuals seeking compensation under the Redress Settlement.
Canadian delegation to Japan arriving at Narita Airport. Left to right: Harry Yonekura, Anne Daniel, Roy Kawamoto, Anne Scotton, Yasuko Tsuchiya, June Takahashi, Lucy Sumi, Art Miki and Tatsuo Kage. (Photo courtesy Harry Yonekura)
Nearing the end of their trip, members of the delegation from Canada pose for a group photo. Back row, left to right: Harry Yonekura, unknown young woman, June Takahashi, Tatsuo Kage, Yasuko Tsuchiya and Lucy Sumi. Front row: Roy Kawamoto, Art Miki, Anne Scotton and Anne Daniel. (Photo courtesy Harry Yonekura)
The Redress Secretariat was located in a former bank in Hull, across the River from Ottawa. All documents related to Redress were stored in the vaults of the former bank. The secretariat had a staff of 42 and in the early days was open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week to cope with the large number of applications that started arriving in early December. Priority was given to applicants born before 1915 and those who were terminally ill. (Photo: Harry Yonekura)
BLANCHE HYODO, an “honorary JC”, was born and raised in Toronto. She moved to Hamilton in 1943 where she met her husband, Wesley Hyodo in 1945. They were married in 1948 and had five children. After moving back to Toronto in 1956, they bought a house and Blanche went to work for the Ontario government for the next 28 years. In 1986 her sister-in-law, Hide Shimizu, persuaded her to get involved at the NAJC. She served as a secretary for eight years and when the Eastern Regional Office was founded in late 1988 to implement the Redress Settlement, Blanche also became the secretary of Harry Yonekura, Eastern Regional Coordinator. In 1995, she took a year off to visit her two daughters in B.C. During that year, she also visited Japan with long-time friend and NAJC co-worker, Van Hori, as her guide. The story of her trip was published in the Nikkei Voice. (Photo courtesy Blanche Hyodo)
Information on eligibility and instructions regarding application accompanied each Redress application form.
Notes
1 I was appointed Eastern Regional Office Coordinator. There were three other staff members in the Eastern Regional Office in Toronto: secretary and receptionist Blanche Hyodo, bookkeeper Aya Tsushima and field worker Mitsuko Suzaki.
2 The Annex Group is an informal organization for Japanese Canadian seniors who enjoy arts and crafts, field trips and socializing with other nisei and issei seniors. The Seicho no Ie Church is an interfaith “truth movement" originating in Japan. Members include Christians and Buddhists.