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Video Content
The first part of the film is in colour, and is probably filmed in or before 1939. The film begins with Japanese Canadian men walking past the camera. In some of their arms appear to be Judogi, traditional uniforms used for Judo practice. Of this group of men is Shigetaka (Steve) Sasaki, known as the Father of Judo in Canada. Based off of buildings in the distance, this location could be Sasaki’s first judo club, called Tai Iku, which opened in 1924 on the 500 block of Alexander Street in Vancouver. The following shot shows the same group of men on what appears to be around Gore Street and East Cordova. The men walk around the neighbourhood. Noticeable locations include the Queen’s Hotel at 206 Main Street near East Cordova.
In all these shots so far, all the men wear blazers with a sewn on patch of a shield on the breast pocket. The next shot shows the shield. The top of the shield shows the Japanese flag.
Title slide: Welcome ; King George VI, Queen Elizabeth ; Two blocks filled with crowds ; Dressed in beautiful furisode [kimono with long sleeves] ; In front of CN Station ; (May 29) ; Filmed by Shinkosha.
Japanese Canadian girls gather at the Canadian Pacific [now Pacific Central] station near Main Street and Terminal Street to welcome King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. They wave British flags and welcome pennants. Japanese Canadian men stand in a row wearing matching blue blazers. On their breast pocket is a Japanese character, possibly “系” or “柔”?. Other men are wearing normal suits. Of the men is Etsuji Morii, Shigetaka (Steve) Sasaki, and in the top hat is Eikichi Kagetsu, entrepreneur in lumber and rail and founder of Fanny Bay oysters. (one of the wealthiest Japanese Canadians pre-war and his estimated loss in today’s dollars is $8 million). There are more shots of the Japanese Canadian girls in kimonos holding British flags.
The next scene takes place outside of the Hotel Olympic on Spring and 5th Ave, Seattle Washington US., a clear view of the 5th Ave theatre can be seen. Shigetaka (Steve) Sasaki walks with other men outside the hotel. Within the group of men is Kanō Jigorō. Kanō was a Japanese educator and athlete, and the founder of Judo.
In the following scene, Shigetaka (Steve) Sasaki admires cherry blossoms and a Japanese maple tree, likely at Seward Park. This part of the film is in black and white, and is likely filmed around 1937.
Following is another scene aboard the Heian Maru docked in Vancouver. This sequence takes place chronologically before the previous section described in this film, likely at the same time during Prince Chichibu’s visit. On 30 March 1937 the Heian Maru brought Prince and Princess Chichibu to Vancouver on their Royal Visit on their way to the coronation of King George VI.
Japanese men and women greet each other. Kanō Jigorō is present on the ship with Shigetaka (Steve) Sasaki and other men. Some of these men also appear in the NNM: 2011.64.7.1.1 in the final scene when on top of the Hotel Vancouver. Escorted by one of the men, Kanō Jigorō walks off the boat, and walks by a row of Japanese Canadian boys, likely from the Kitsilano Judo Club, who all simultaneously bow to him.
The next scene takes place at Grouse Mountain. There, Etsuji Morii stands with Kanō Jigorō. The men return back to downtown Vancouver outside a train station. Shigetaka (Steve) Sasaki and Kanō Jigorō board the caboose of a train. A crowd of Japanese Canadians including Etsuji Morii watch. They wave as the train departs. In this scene, Sasaki goes off on a train with Kanō Jigorō to Banff, likely to promote Judo. A year prior in 1936, they went to Berlin together in an attempt to get Judo into the summer Olympics.
The next scene takes place at a Judo tournament. Men fight each other. In some scenes, Sasaki, wearing a black suit, watches on the side. In other other scenes, Morii, wearing a Judogi, watches on the side. Perhaps they are adjudicating. Japanese Canadian men wearing Judogi sit on the floor watching. Behind them, older non-Japanese Canadian men, seated in chairs, watch.
