National Association of Japanese Canadians

The National Association of Japanese Canadians is a non-profit incorporated community organization in Canada that represents the Japanese Canadian community. Formed in 1947, the NAJC focuses on human rights and community development.

The NAJC successfully negotiated the historic Redress Settlement on behalf of all Japanese Canadians who suffered injustices at the hands of their [...]

OBON CEREMONY IN VICTORIA 2011

The Nikkei community in Victoria honour the Obon tradition in a unique way. There are 152 early Japanese immigrants that are buried in Ross Bay Cemetery. These graves fell into neglect after the internment of Japanese and Japanese Canadians in 1942. Wooden markers were lost and some gravestones were vandalized. In the 1980’s the Kakehashi project was established to identify all of the Japanese graves and to install grave stones for those that did not have a marker. Today there are very few, if any, Nikkei living in Victoria who are related to the Japanese that are buried in Ross Bay. So a tradition has been established that on Obon, members of the Nikkei community go to Ross Bay Cemetery to clean the grave stones, lay flowers, and have an Obon service officiated by a Buddhist priest. We are honouring the early Japanese pioneers who laid the groundwork for Japanese Canadians now living in Canada. [...]

Ryo Ambe completes his Cross Canada Journey in Victoria, BC.

It was a beautiful sunny day on Tuesday, September 20th , 2011 and after almost 9,000 kilometres, 30 year old Ryo Ambe talked to the press and members from the Japanese community in Victoria at City Hall and then jumped on his bike to pedal the final leg to Mile Zero and dip his bike in the Pacific Ocean. Ryo began his trip on May 29th in Halifax, NS almost four months earlier, cycling across Canada to thank Canadians for their generosity in providing aid to the victims in his home country of Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami. [...]

President’s Message, March 2011

The Canadian War Museum: A Victory for Vigilance

by Ken Noma

Projected on the floor was a red sun with emanating rays – I stumbled as I narrowly avoided stepping on it. It was the Japanese flag, or more correctly, the active ensign of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The image was dead-centre and if [...]

President’s Message, January 2011

by Ken Noma

I wish you much happiness and good health in the Year of the Rabbit.

Early this year, “The Bulletin” reported in their February issue that the provincial government of British Columbia has cut arts funding by 80-90%. Given the fact that this sector generates 5.2 billion dollars and employs 80,000 people in [...]

President’s Message, December 2010

by Ken Noma

I am honoured to have been elected as President of the NAJC at the Ottawa AGM held this past October and I look forward to updating the readers on the activities of NAJC and its member organizations. In my election speech to the delegates, I identified the following as my priorities during [...]

President’s Message, November 2010

by Terumi Kawada

On October 16/17, 2010, the NAJC held its Annual General Meeting in Ottawa, hosted by the Ottawa Japanese Community Association, at the Embassy of Japan. Delegates from member organizations, individual members, alternates, observers, volunteers of the OJCA, all gathered together for this important event to address the business of the NAJC. In [...]

President’s Message, October 2010

Terumi Kuwada, President of the NAJC

On September 22, 1988, the Government of Canada formally apologized to the Japanese Canadian community for the injustices and wrongdoings inflicted upon our community during World War II. It was a time of great celebration for democracy, social justice and human rights for all Canadians. Today, 22 years later, [...]

President's Message

  • December 2011
    December 2011

    Like the iconic Japanese song of immigrants, Watari Dori (Birds of Passage), we are all transients looking for a place to alight and to call home. Fortunately, I have returned to Japan numerous times, but the Japan of my youth has long disappeared . . . [...] Read more →

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