Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 15
- Grade: 10
Description
Spirit of the Nikkei Fleet is an intimate collection of stories of Japanese Canadians on the water, from the first Japanese immigrant's arrival in 1877 to the present day. The 130-year history of the Nikkei is full of drama, violence, epic struggles against injustice, failures and triumphs. Leaving Japan to escape a life of poverty, they arrived in Canada with dreams for a better future. Collectively, they brought old skills and made many innovations.
Fishing for a living is hard but Nikkei fishermen faced additional barriers. Opposition from other fishermen and government, and racist policies sought to exclude them from the fishery entirely. During World War II all Japanese fishermen were forcibly relocated from the coast and their livelihoods taken away.
Here are the real lives of Nikkei fishermen and their families told in their words. Even in the face of inequity, prejudice and inhumanity, the spirit of the Nikkei fishermen has left a legacy. Spirit of the Nikkei Fleet is the story of ordinary people who possess an indomitable spirit.
The Nikkei Fishermen Reunion Committee first made the call for fishermen and their families to share their stories, knowledge, skills and time in 2001. The committee includes: Shigeaki Kamachi, Paul Kariya, Takemi Miyazaki, Toshio Murao, Dan Nomura, Richard Nomura (chair), Terry Sakai, Ken Takahashi and George Murakami. The committee contributed their personal experiences, encouraged others to add their stories and served as a sounding board for the writing of the Spirit of the Nikkei Fleet.
About the authors
MASAKO FUKAWA lived in Steveston, BC until the forced evacuation in 1942. Masako has worked as a teacher and principal. Her recent book, Spirit of the Nikkei Fleet, won the 2010 Canada-Japan Literary Award and was runner up for the 2010 Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award and the BC Historical Federation's 2009 Historical Writing Competition. She lives in Burnaby, BC.
Stanley Fukawa is the translator, interpreter and contributing writer for Spirit of the Nikkei Fleet. He is also on the editorial committee of Nikkei Images, a journal of the Japanese Canadian National Museum. He lives in Burnaby, BC.
Awards
- Winner, Canada Council 2010 Canada-Japan Literary Awards
Librarian Reviews
Spirit of the Nikkei Fleet: BC’s Japanese Canadian Fishermen
This book is not just a history of the Japanese Canadian fishing fleet, it is also a history of the Japanese Canadian community in BC. Personal recollections are peppered throughout this book. Issues discussed include reasons for immigration to Canada, barriers to immigration, the creation and history of the Japanese Canadian fishing fleet, internment during World War II, re-dress and the current state of the fleet. The book contributes to a greater understanding of the adversities that the fishermen had to face, including blatant racism. Includes endnotes.Masako Fukawa also edited Nikkei Fishermen on the BC Coast. Stanley Fukawa is on the editorial committee of the journal of the Japanese Canadian Naitonal Museum, Nikkei Images.
Source: The Association of Book Publishers of BC. BC Books for BC Schools. 2009-2010.
