"Obasan" by Joy Kogawa

Last night was my evening Vancouver Newcomers' Bookclub and our book was "Obasan" by Joy Kogawa which is a novel about the internment in B.C. of Canadians of Japanese origin after the bombing of Pearl Harbour.  I had read it when it came out in 1981 before the "redress and apology"   in 1988.  Each survivor who was directly affected got $21, 000.  Not a lot. really. considering the uprooting of families and the loss of houses, businesses,  personal goods, fish boats, etc.

Interesting coincidence that this week the Mayor of Vancouver made an apology from the city of Vancouver for their part in not protecting the rights of the Japanese in Vancouver.   A shameful business but as the narrator in the novel says,  something like "When I hear "Oh...terrible what we did to the Japanese in B.C.,  it's like handing someone crutches when they are striding down the street."  As always with these things...too little,  too late, and nothing makes up for it.

 The novel is dealing with a harsh subject but is beautifully written (Kogawa is mainly a poet).  I was planning on  skimming it since I almost never re-read anything...too many good books around but I became completely intrigued again by the story and the writing.

"Japantown" around Powell Street never became a hub of where Japanese lived after they were forced out but there are some remnants...a Buddhist temple,  a cultural centre.  It is now pretty much part of the  Downtown Eastside that has become "gentrified".  The hostess for the evening lives in a townhouse on Alexander Street pretty much in the hub of where Japantown was and we began our evening with a tour of the area.

 Her townhouse has wonderful views of the mountains and the working harbour. Also,  right across from the CRAB Park which  is right on the water.  

About the Park From atop a grassy knoll or the small pier jutting into Burrard Inlet, this is a good place to get a close look at Vancouver’s working port, with views of the colourful containers, cruise ships, heliport, and SeaBuses. Arriving from the Main Street overpass, two Chinese lion statues frame views of the peaks of the Lions; several more beautiful and moving monuments and sculptures can be found throughout the park. History This park was opened in 1987, and was named Portside Park as suggested to the Park Board by the Vancouver Port Authority who rendered the land for park purposes through a long term lease. A neighbourhood park committee- Create A Real Available Beach (CRAB) – was active in supporting this greenspace and in 2004 the name was changed to CRAB Park at Portside.

Park Location Click to view larger map and directions  Views of the Park Click on image to open a large version

I love this view and it
is somewhat like the view from the old Cannery Restaurant...sadly no more since this port area is very "secure" these days.  A fascinating townhouse with wonderful views but spread out over five stories and loads of stairs and then right next to the railyards so trains shunting all the time.

Here's a video from a realtor of a neighbouring townhouse in the same development:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xis4if_133-alexander-street-townhouse-mike-stewart-gastown-realtor_webcam