Japanese-Canadian World War I Veterans in Greenwood
By Chuck Tasaka
In September 2021, a memorial monument was erected at the Nikkei Legacy Park in Greenwood, B.C. to honour the twelve Japanese Canadian war veterans who were sent to the first internment site in B.C.
Over 200 Japanese Canadians wanted to enlist to fight for Canada in World War I, but the B.C. government refused knowing that they would automatically be entitled to enfranchisement. The right to vote meant that these Japanese Canadians would have the rights and freedom enjoyed by all Canadians.
With a stroke of luck, the would-be recruits found out at a chance meeting with an Albertan JC that they could enlist in Calgary. Many paid their own way to successfully enlist there. Since many of the small rural communities in this prairie province were having a difficult time meeting the quota to form a full battalion, they were desperate to enlist men from other provinces. The Japanese Canadians from B.C. joined the Albertan forces in Calgary and Medicine Hat. For example, according to his son David, Masumi Mitsui enlisted September 1, 1916 with the 192nd Overseas Battalion, and was posted with the 9th Reserve Battalion. They proceeded to France for active duty with the 10th Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division on March 5th, 1917.
When both French and British battalions could not crack Vimy Ridge, it took the full Canadian army to overtake Vimy Ridge namely Hill 70, but at a very high cost of casualties.
Masumi Mitsui along with twelve other JC soldiers earned the Military Medal. 54 JC soldiers were killed in action and many wounded. Mr. Mitsui's story is well-documented. He was awarded the Military Medal because he led his troop to overtake a German machine gun nest. After being interned in Greenwood, B.C., he took his family to Hamilton, Ontario after WWII ended.
In April 1920, the Japanese Canadian community in B.C. raised money to construct the war memorial in the City of Vancouver’s Stanley Park.
The Japanese Canadian soldiers fought for the franchise, but again they were refused by the Canadian government. It took until 1931, but only the veterans succeeded in the right to vote. Masumi Mitsui was the first president of the newly formed Canadian Legion Branch No. 9.
Then, World War II happened. With the War Measures Act enforced, all Japanese Canadians were forcibly removed from the 100-mile restricted area along the west coast of B.C. Masumi was so enraged with the government’s action that he threw down the medals on the floor, and said, “What good are these?”
Twelve of the WWI veterans were sent to Greenwood in 1942. They were asked to be a night watchman or to restore order in case of unrest. After the war, the government’s ultimatum was, “Go East of the Rockies or go to Japan”. The City of Greenwood protested to keep their ‘new friends’ from being forcibly removed again. As a result, several of the veterans’ families chose to make Greenwood their place of residence.
Photo Credit: Greenwood Museum
Kiyoji Iizuka: Mr. Iizuka was a Military Medal recipient for his bravery. He was wounded in action May 7, 1917. Mr. Iizuka rejoined his unit after recovery but was injured in a transport accident on September 4, 1918. He lived in Greenwood after the war and took pride in his prized daikon. Mr. Iizuka returned to Powell Street in 1969, and he died December 23, 1979.
Yasuo Takashima: Mr. Takashima was another Military Medal recipient. Forever a bachelor, Yasuo would visit our (Tasaka) house. Stephen, one of the Tasaka sons recounted the story in which Yasuo would save all of the tin foil from cigarette packages and roll it into a ball, then hand it to a child. When Mr. Takashima was dying in the hospital, all he had was a rosary, his medals and a tanto (short sword). During the war, he befriended a French mother and her daughter, the latter of whom gave him the rosary which he cherished until he died. After his death, his prized possessions mysteriously disappeared. His grave is located in Mountain View Cemetery.
Hirokichi Isomura: Mr. Isomura never set sight in Greenwood because he protested the unjust treatment of a former Canadian soldier. He was sent to a POW camp in Angler, Ontario. Ironically, this camp was for German POWs. His wife and two daughters were sent to Greenwood, but with the stress of separation Mrs. Isomura died, leaving her two daughters ‘orphaned’. Mr. Isomura was released from the POW camp with his son, and met the girls halfway in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. However, his war wounds were so bad that he was sent to Vancouver St. Vincent’s Hospital and George Darby Army Hospital where he died in 1957. Mr. Isomura is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Burnaby.
Photo Credit: Karen Doi Cassells
Tsunekichi Kitagawa: A fisherman in the Queensborough area of New Westminster, he enlisted and was wounded in battle. Ironically, Mr. Kitagawa was a guard at Hastings Park in 1942, and his family was incarcerated inside the holding ground. He and his family chose to remain in Greenwood while working for CPR and being a night watchman at Boundary Sawmill in Midway. Mr. Kitagawa moved to Steveston and died in 1969 at the age of 82.
Photo Credit: Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre
Yonesaburo Kuroda: Mr. Kuroda was also wounded in action. He dressed like a noble gentleman whenever he went out on the town. Yonesaburo died on May 5, 1962 and is the only JC war veteran to be buried in the Greenwood Cemetery.
Photo Credit: Julie Starr
Nuinosuke Okawa: Mr. Okawa was wounded in action. He stayed in Greenwood after the war where his daughters graduated from Greenwood High School. Later, he took his family to Hamilton and York, Ontario.
Photo Credit: Nikkei National
Museum & Cultural Centre
Toichi Nitsui: Mr. Nitsui remained in Greenwood until he passed away, however, he was buried in Oceanview Cemetery in Burnaby. Mr. Nitsui was under-aged when he enlisted. In the photo, he brought back a German Luger with holster and was proud to show his machine gun wound upon request by many children.
Photo Credit: Irene Shiho
Imataro Uegama: Mr. Uegama’s name was ‘left out’ in the Alberta attestation since he enlisted in Saskatchewan. He was not in B.C. at the time in 1916. By chance and in time, I was able to find out that he was a war veteran who was sent to Greenwood where his older children attended Sacred Heart School. Just as war ended, he took his family to Summerland, B.C.
Yoshimatsu Fukaye, Tsunejiro Kuroda, Kichiji Shimizu: The profiles on these last three soldiers are rather sketchy. I believe Mr. Shimizu went up north to Nass Valley, B.C. Mr. T. Kuroda stayed in Greenwood briefly and his name ended up in the New Denver voter’s list in 1945 since the JC soldiers earned the right to vote. Very little is known of Mr. Fukaye.
References
Dickson, G., & Forsythe, M. (2014). West Coast to the Western Front. Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, B.C.
