In 1942, a small number of Japanese Canadians were already in the Canadian army fighting for
freedom while their families back in Canada were losing their basic rights. Japanese
Canadians in B.C. who tried to enlist after war began were denied the right to
join the army. The B.C. Premier of that time vehemently opposed the enlistment
of Asians. Only in January 1945, after the British government asked Japanese
Canadians to join the British army as interpreters did the Canadian government
allow them to enlist.
Canadian nisei in India, 1945. They served in the Far East attached to British units as interpreters and translators. About 200 nisei joined during World War II. (photo: Ray Takeuchi, Toronto)
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