(2008, 35 minutes)

Marie Katsuno
Born November 8, 1923

Marie Katsuno was born the daughter of a fisherman. She grew up in East Burnaby and would often take the inter-urban tram to Powell Street, a community of which her mother was a part. Her Family eventually moved to West Vancouver and was part of a small Japanese Canadian fishing village.

After Pearl Harbor was attacked and they were told to relocate, her father thought they would return to their home as Japan had never lost a war before. While packing they tried to hide some belongings under floorboards and by burying them in the year. By the time they got to the internment camp at Tashme there was already a lot of snow. Being a family of only three people they had to share their house with another couple. Mrs. Katsuno had finished high school and was sent to New Denver camp to learn how to teach. At the school in Tashme there were very few supplies at first, which made teaching difficult. On weekends the school would become a community centre so the young people could dance with missionary teachers overseeing as chaperones.

After the war her family moved to Japan and she lived in Yokohama with an aunt. She met her husband while working for the American government. They raised two children in Japan until she and her American-born husband eventually moved back to Canada in 1994.

“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)

For educational licensing (DSLs) and educational DVDs visit https://movingimages.ca/