Monogatari
Tales of Powell Street (1920-1941)
Exhibit May 28 – October 1, 2011

Opening party, Friday, May 27, 7-9pm

We invite you to discover the many monogatari (tales) of Powell Street - the vibrant pre-war commercial and residential district of the Japanese community in Vancouver. By 1921, most of Vancouver’s 4000 Japanese residents lived in or within walking distance of the area. The street bustled with vegetable and fish markets, businesses, traditional Japanese bath houses and food stores. It was a unique mingling of traditional Japanese culture with contemporary Canadian convenience.
Labourers found inexpensive accommodations in boarding houses. Baseball fans packed Powell Grounds to watch the Asahi Baseball Team play. Families lived and worked in the area. Children walked in groups to Strathcona School and then on to the Japanese Language School in the afternoon.

In 1942, due to racism, political and economic opportunism, almost 22,000 people of Japanese ancestry were uprooted from their homes in BC – almost half of those people came from the Powell Street area. Only a few Japanese Canadians ever returned to the area.

Also on exhibit:
Pow! the art of the festival
Pow! the art of the festival is a journey through the poster art that advertises and celebrates the Powell Street Festival. Through this exhibit, we celebrate thirty-five years of Festival creativity, prosperity and community spirit. Like the Festival itself, the posters have matured - from scrappy upstarts to polished creations. Many posters designers have gone on to become important artists in the community including Tamio Wakayama, Kaori Kasai, Lotus Miyashita, Lynda Nakashima and Kathy Shimizu.

Join us for some fascinating programs!

Film Presentations:

Minoru: Memory of Exile , June 2, 7pm.

Shirley Omatsu , Ohanashi – The Story of Our Elders, August 4, 7pm.
Admission by donation

Powell Street walking tours:

Thursday, June 23, 2pm,

Saturday, August 27, 10am

Friday, September 16, 2pm.

Walking tour fee is $10 and reservations can be made by calling 604.777.7000

Share your memories at the Powell Street Reunion – June 17, 12-2pm
Free tea & coffee. Pre-order a Japanese lunch box by June 14 for $10.

Thank you to our generous supporters:

BC Arts Council, Vancouver 125, The Vancouver Foundation, Powell Street Festival Society

Museum hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 5pm

First Thursday open until 9pm

www.jcnm.ca