"Evangelines of 1946": the exile of Nikkei from Canada to occupied Japan.
Date
2011-08-18
Authors
Timmons, D. J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
During the Second World War, Japanese Canadians were uprooted from their homes along the coast of British Columbia and forced to leave the province. In 1946, almost 4,000 individuals were exiled to Japan. The Canadian government deemed their departure ‘voluntary,’ and labelled them ‘disloyal’ to Canada. However, a close reading of the evidence illustrates that ‘loyalty’ had little to do with their departure, and exposes the intent of federal and provincial officials to forcefully remove Nikkei from B.C. For those exiled to occupied Japan, life was filled with hardship and many were forced into difficult or unfamiliar situations. Many longed to return to Canada, but faced numerous restrictions, while others prospered and stayed in Japan for the duration of their lives. This thesis examines the experiences of many of those exiled to Japan, and explores the process by which the Canadian government facilitated their forced removal from B.C. and Canada.
Description
Keywords
Canada, Japanese Canadians, Japanese Canadian Internment, Second World War, Occupation of Japan, Exile