(2008, 30 minutes)

Kazue Oye
Born November 19, 1912

Kazue Oye was born in Steveston, BC in 1912. Since her family lived in a house provided by a fishing company, they did not pay taxes. To attend public school at this time a family had to pay taxes. Mrs. Oye attended a school provided by the Japanese Canadian community. This school did not provide education past grade 8 and Mrs. Oye wanted to pursue her education further so she travelled to Japan to complete her schooling. While in Japan she and her classmates sang in front of the Emperor.

Relocation for Mrs. Oye brought her to the self-supporting community of Christina Lake with her in-laws. Shipments of food were brought in once a week and they lived in a local lodge. AFter the war Mrs. Oye supported her family by working on farms but her brother and father wanted to return to the coast to fish again. The entire family did return to the coast and Mrs. Oye worked for BC Packers for many years, earning enough to send both of her children to the University of British Columbia.

Ohanashi: The Story of Our Elders presents the deeply personal and poignant stories of ten Japanese Canadian elders. Through their firsthand accounts, the series explores their lives before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the hardships of internment during World War II, and their resilience in the face of post-war challenges. 

Each episode of Ohanashi: The Story of Our Elders is a testament to the resilience, courage and enduring spirit of Japanese Canadians who lived through one of the darkest chapters in Canadian history. Through their voices, the series ensures their legacy lives on for future generations.

Director: Susanne Tabata
Producer: Susanne Tabata

-Alfie Kamitakahara  (43 minutes)
-Irene Tsuyuki  (45 minutes)
-Kazue Oye  (30 minutes)
-Marie Katsuno (35 minutes)
-May Komiyama  (34 minutes)
-Midge Ayukawa  (33 minutes)
-Shirley Omatsu  (44 minutes)
-Susumu Tabata  (44 minutes)
-Tak Miyazaki  (35 minutes)
-Tom & Shig Kuwabara  (47 minutes)

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