"Ohanashi: The Story of Our Elders, Midge Ayukawa"
(2008, 33 minutes)

Midge Ayukawa
Born June 26, 1930

Midge Ayukawa grew up in a mixed-background neighbourhood in Vancouver, BC as the only girl in a family of boys. Her father was self educated and both parents were from Hiroshima. She was sent to Japanese school but felt out of place with her classmates there.

After Pearl Harbor her father was sent away to a labour camp and she and the rest of her family went to Lemon Creek. While packing for relocation her mother insisted on bringing the kitchen stove.

After internment, Mrs. Ayukawa stayed in camp an extra year, lived in a German POW camp for a short time and eventually moved to Hamilton to attend university. She found this time to be a very difficult adjustment. At Lemon Creek everyone had spoken a mix of Japanese and English, and she had to transition her language use. She financed her way through university and obtained her Masters degree before going on to work in Ottawa. After her children were born, her husband passed away and she decided to move back to BC. She earned her PhD at the University of Victoria studying Japanese Canadian history.

“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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