Japanese Canadian Redress: The Toronto Story

• Toronto NAJC

Chapter 15
The Victory Banquet

By Blanche Hyodo

On November 4, 1988 the Harbour Castle Westin Hotel in downtown Toronto was the scene of an unforgettable celebration. This celebration was of enormous significance to Japanese Canadians across the country, for it signified the culmination of years of struggle to obtain justice and the achievement of a formidable human rights victory. The largest social gathering ever held by the Japanese Canadian community—our records show ticket sales of approximately 900—paid tribute to everyone who had supported this 40-year struggle for Redress.

Planning for this gala event began almost immediately after the historic Redress Settlement was announced on September 22, 1988. Cochairing the event were Sadayo Hayashi and Art Irizawa, two individuals who played significant roles in the Japanese Canadian Centennial celebrations of 1977. According to Art, this victory celebration marked the beginning of a healing process to mend the gaping rift that had divided the community for the past four years.

Working under the guidance of Sadayo and Art, was a committee of dedicated volunteers representing various JC organizations in the Toronto area: the Toronto JCCA, the JCCA Issei-bu and the Greater Toronto Chapter of the NAJC. Other groups included the Toronto Japanese Language School, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, the Japanese Anglican Church, the Toronto Buddhist Church and the Centennial United Church. Individuals such as Eileen Harada who did an exceptional job of organizing ticket sales, and Harry Yonekura whose invaluable liaison work with the hotel management and staff went far towards ensuring the success of this occasion. Indeed, the entire Victory Celebration Planning Committee worked extremely hard to create “a time to celebrate” (the slogan on the front cover of our programs).

But how else would this remarkable group of people celebrate such a momentous victory? Their natural creativity simply rose to the occasion and with their innate knowledge and talent created this perfect event. I remember how impressed I was with the stunning beauty of the Harbour Castle Ballroom. Pristine linen tablecloths and napkins contrasted starkly with the cherry red printed program emblazoned with the words, “A Time to Celebrate” that marked each setting. The crystal goblets and gleaming silverware cast an air of dining elegance. Huge red and silver balloons, suspended from the ceiling, danced above each table. And amid this splendour, every table boasted a bottle of sparkling champagne, the traditional symbol of a victory celebration.

That night as I watched the smiling happy faces of those around me, I sensed that just below the surface happiness lay poignant memories of absent loved ones. Years later, Van Hori admitted to me that the one person he really missed at the banquet was Emmy Nakai. Emmy was the secretary of the NAJC Toronto Chapter before I took over and Van had worked with her on countless occasions. Her bubbly personality and positive work ethic were very inspiring to him and he regretted she had not lived long enough to share in the glory that she so richly deserved. So although the evening was undeniably joyous, a tinge of sorrow permeated the festivities for those with friends and family members who didn’t live to realize what this night’s celebration was all about.

To commemorate the night, everyone in attendance received a special program citing the four reasons for our celebration:

• The historic achievement of the Redress Settlement
• The final erasing of the label “enemy alien” imposed on Canadian citizens of Japanese origin
• The triumph of the Canadian principle of universal justice
• the steps being taken by the federal government to ensure that all minorities in our land will be protected from such injustices in the future.

Another equally important reason for this gala banquet was to publicly and formally thank the many individuals, organizations, churches, politicians, social activists and journalists whose support and encouragement enabled us to realize the dream of Redress.

Approximately 900 people filled the glittering ballroom. One heard snatches of conversations, introductions being made, reunions of individuals who hadn’t seen each other since the expulsion days—exchanges such as, “We were in Slocan in ’43” or “I was with your sister in Kaslo.” And then it seemed there was an amazing closeness among the people in the room. Somehow, sharing the same internment camp had special meaning and you were viewed almost like long lost family members. Young and old alike seemed to be emerging from the shadow of their painful past to participate as true Canadian citizens for the first time in their lives. And having lived in the shadow of issei disapproval for so long, the supporters of Redress could now stand tall and face the world with pride in their own accomplishments. For many of the older members of the JC community however, these shadows from the past would remain buried. A lifetime of silence would not so easily be broken.

Every detail of the evening had been carefully planned. Butch Watanabe’s dance band at the back of the ballroom was primed to begin playing as soon as the dinner and formalities ended. Butch hailed from Montreal where his band had played at the Café St. Michel in the Black district of Montreal back in 1946. His specialty was jazz. Originally from Vancouver, Butch made a name for himself in the music world, playing trombone with the “International Jazz Stars Band” in Montreal. Across the street, Canada’s world renowned Oscar Peterson played at the Alberta Lounge and Butch and Oscar were good buddies back then. At the time of the Redress gala, Butch was living at George Kadota’s place out in Etobicoke. At one time during his brilliant career, he had been invited to join the Duke Ellington Band, but turned it down so he could concentrate on his own music. Butch also played for the CBC studio Orchestra and eventually became Anne Murray’s road manager. We were very fortunate to have this well-known and talented musician and his Band providing the music on this special gala evening.

Dressed in exquisite Japanese kimonos, Sadayo Hayashi’s odori dance group waited in the wings, poised to entertain us with their graceful performance of “Wonderful Canada”. This dance was developed during the Japanese Canadian Centennial year, and performed in Ottawa before Queen Elizabeth in a Command Performance. I was excited because I had not seen this dance performed during the JC Centennial and now, 21 years later, I would be seeing it for the first time.

Representatives from various other ethnocultural organizations came to help us celebrate, people such as: Wilson Piriz of the Hispanic Congress, Gary Yee of the Chinese Canadian National Council, Bromley Armstrong of the National Council of Jamaicans and Elias Hazinik of the Canadian Arab Federation. Other guests included prominent members of the media such as John Honderich of The Toronto Star and Warren Clements of The Globe and Mail—along with respected social activists and long time supporters of our struggle: David Suzuki, Ramsay Cook, Alan Borovoy and June Callwood.

The guest of honour was the Honourable Gerry Weiner, Minister of State for Multiculturalism and Citizenship. Sharing the head table with Mr.Weiner were Judith Weiner, Roger and Mary Obata, Maryka Omatsu, Sadayo Hayashi, Art Irizawa, Frank Moritsugu, Angelo Delfino of the Canadian Ethnocultural Council, Art and Keiko Miki and Bill and Addie Kobayashi. It is interesting to note that all three political parties were represented at the head table: Dan Heap of the NDP, Sergio and Laureen Marchi of the Liberal Party and Alan and Louise Redway of the Conservative Party. We were also very honoured by the presence of two dear old friends of the Redress movement and the Japanese Canadian community: Dr. Cyril Powles and Rev. James Finlay. Both these gentlemen had been trusted supporters of our cause since the early days of relocation in Toronto.

As I surveyed the crowded room, I wondered if those who had been so involved in Redress would leave the NAJC and go their separate ways now that Redress was finally achieved. I also wondered what the NAJC would do since a large part of its raison d’être had been the struggle for Redress. At the time, I think that we all believed we would work for the good of all other ethnic groups in Canada who, like us, had been cruelly mistreated by the government, groups who had supported us during our Redress campaign. The perpetual plight of the Aboriginal People of Canada and the Chinese Canadian Head Tax issue were prime examples of human rights struggles to which we could lend our support. I also wondered if the NAJC would continue its involvement in educating young students about Japanese Canadian history. By the time of the Victory Banquet, our Toronto NAJC office had already received many invitations from various schools to speak to young people about the road to the Redress Settlement and the human rights aspect of the story.

The opening remarks by Master of Ceremonies Frank Moritsugu were followed by the introduction of Mr. Takeo Ujo Nakano who read the tanka (a Japanese poem consisting of 31 syllables in five lines) he had composed for this special occasion. The English translation below was read by Carol Nagata:

Our dark cloud of half a century dissipated,
The fairest day
In Japanese Canadian history
Dawns
Our joy is unsurpassable.

(tanka by Takeo Ujo Nakano to commemorate Redress Settlement.
Translated by Leatrice Nakano Willson.)

After the reading of the tanka, Frank Moritsugu introduced the more than 30 invited guests from outside the Japanese Canadian community. And during the dinner, another 40 people took their bows—NAJC Toronto executive members plus the Strategy Committee and National Council members.

Following a delicious dinner, Roger Obata, our national vice president, introduced Gerry Weiner. Mr. Weiner’s speech won him the respect of the audience for he seemed to genuinely grasp what the Redress Settlement truly meant to the Japanese Canadian community. His speech reflected insight, understanding and empathy. It was clear to all of us that he was speaking from the heart when he said that it was an “enormous privilege” to finally “close the saddest chapter of our history.” Addie Kobayashi thanked him on behalf of the NAJC and presented him with a plaque containing an inscription of Mr. Nakano’s tanka in Japanese and English. Then the three other federal politicians at the head table—Sergio Marchi, Dan Heap and Alan Redway—came up to the podium to offer their congratulations to the Japanese Canadian community. Their remarks, though brief, spoke to the incredible accomplishment of the Redress Settlement and of the unremitting perseverance and tenacity of very determined Japanese Canadians.

The final tribute of the evening was reserved for National NAJC President Art Miki. Sadayo Hayashi, the talented and hard-working co-chairperson of the Victory Celebration’s organizing committee, thanked Art on behalf of the Toronto Japanese community for his dedicated leadership, and presented him with a plaque bearing the Nakano tanka. This final presentation marked the end of the evening’s formalities. Art received a tumultuous standing ovation.

And then, at last, the evening’s entertainment could begin. Twenty-five Toronto odori dancers performed the now famous “Wonderful Canada” number, choreographed during the Centennial. Joy Kogawa read the English translation of the lyrics and Tak Yoshida sang the Japanese lyrics accompanied by the Watanabe band.

The celebration continued with a beautiful selection of dance music. The now newly redeemed Canadian citizens and guests crowded onto the dance floor. Many big band favourites were played as well as some more contemporary pieces for the younger folk. Lost in the nostalgia of the music and the exhilarating triumph of victory, we danced until 1:00 a.m. Our dark cloud of half a century had indeed dissipated and our hearts were filled with joy.

---

• Previous
• Home
• Next

Japanese Canadian Redress: The Toronto Story

CANADIAN CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION DATA Main entry under title: Japanese Canadian Redress: The Toronto Story

ISBN 0-9699502-3-3

Copyright © 2000 Greater Toronto Chapter, National Association of Japanese Canadians (Toronto NAJC)

The Copyright was given to the TO NAJC by the Ad Hoc Committee for Japanese Canadian Redress: The Toronto Story.

Editor: Momoye Sugiman
Layout Artist: Xenofon Sugiman-Marangos
Cover Design: Sandy Usami
Cover Photo: John Flanders
Website design: Doodletronics

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means, without written permission, except in the case of brief passages in a review. This book was produced by the collective effort of the Ad Hoc Committee for Japanese Canadian Redress: The Toronto Story. The Committee greatly acknowledges the financial support of the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation.