Hi, I am not a Japanese, but am interested in the Japanese culture, especially the traditional kimono and its art and craft.

The place to experience vibrant programs and exhibits about Japanese Canadian history, arts and culture. Nikkei Centre officially opened on September 22, 2000 in a beautiful multi-use facility in Burnaby, BC, conceptually designed by renowned Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama. Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre is an incorporated non-profit and charitable society which is community-based and primarily volunteer-run. Generally known as the Nikkei Centre, and as the Nikkei National Museum for museum programs. Our mission is to honour, preserve, and share Japanese Canadian history and culture for a better Canada. Nikkei National Museum produces several exhibits each year (balancing historical content with traditional and contemporary art) and collects, preserves and makes accessible archives, art and artifacts related to Japanese Canadian heritage. Currently the collection includes more than 3000 photographs, 350 oral history recordings, over 25 metres of archival and textual materials, and 1000 artifacts. The collections are accessed by scholars and community researchers on a regular basis. Each year, over 1000 students participate in our educational programs. In addition to public programs and exhibits, Nikkei Centre provides community services, weekly cultural programs, produces several publications, and makes our facilities available for public use and special events. We are a well-known “boutique”-style rental facility for weddings, parties and corporate meetings. Nikkei Centre serves all Japanese Canadians across the country, and is an important resource for other communities to learn about the Japanese Canadian experience.

*Sansei *Born in Toronto *Grandparents are from Shiga and Kumamoto kens* Families were interned in Kaslo, Bayfarm and on a Manitoba beet farm * Lived in Sendai, Japan from 1994 to 2004 * Teacher in Brampton, ON * Aikidoka * Writer for the Nikkei Voice for close to 20 years * Writer of "Canadian Nikkei series" which aims at preserving Canadian Nikkei stories. Future of the community? It depends on how successful we are in engaging our youth. The University of Victoria's (BC) Landscapes of Injustice project is a good one.... gambatte kudasai!

Yamabiko Taiko was founded in the spring of 2003 in Kelowna, BC, Canada, by Eri Uchida with the assistance of Ken Fix. The group was begun with very humble and simple desires: to enjoy and play Japanese Taiko-style drumming and be lost in its power and grace. With only a few members, practices began that summer using duct-taped tires and sawn-up broomstick handles. By the middle of autumn, a connection was made with the Kelowna Buddhist Temple to use their hall as a practice space. The relationship with the temple and Japanese community has since flourished. As Yamabiko gathered members and experience we were able to acquire our very first crude but effective drums. They were homemade with ordinary packing tape and, believe it or not, 18-inch cut-to-size sewer pipes (unused of course!) donated by the City of Kelowna. Since then, the group has purchased professionally-made performance drums, and has evolved into a regularly performing group. Practices are still held in the basement of Kelowna Buddhist Temple every Monday and Friday evening, and upcoming performances are listed at www.yamabikotaiko.ca. Eri Uchida, upon founding Yamabiko Taiko, was its first dedicated, gifted leader. She has since moved back to Japan where she has become a member of the famous taiko group “Kodo”. Yamabiko owes her much gratitude and credit, as much of our repertoire comprises songs the group originally learned from her. We wish her the best of luck with her taiko endeavours. Yamabiko also acknowledges those who have helped our group both during our formative years and up to the present. Particular acknowledgement of support goes to: Ken Fix, Doug Masuhara from the Steveston Taiko, Art Lee from Tokara Taiko, and The Kelowna Buddhist Temple. The name “Yamabiko” means “mountain echo”. Kelowna is situated in the Okanagan Valley, surrounded by mountains. The sound of taiko resonates not just literally throughout the mountains of the Valley, but also figuratively as the “echo” reaches around the world, and pays homage to Japan. The “echo” represents communication that transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries, ultimately sharing the rhythm of our hearts.