Joy Kogawa sharing her happiness with the audience that her novel "Obasan" at the premiere event for One Book One Vancouver - photo Todd Wong
A very HAPPY Joy Kogawa shared her pleasure with the audience at the opening event for One Book One Vancouver
at VPL's Central Branch on Tuesday, May 24th. Obasan is the novel written about a young girl's journey through the Japanese Canadian internment camps of WW2, when the Canadian government branded all Canadians of Japanese descent as aliens, in its misguided efforts to ensure homeland security.
The title, Obasan, actually means "aunt" in Japanese, and it is to her aunt that the young character Naomi looks up to. Obasan is considered one of the most important Canadin books of the last 30 years, according to Prof. Roy Miki, who along with Kogawa and his brother Art, worked to secure redress for Japanese Canadians from the Canadian government.
"I am very happy today," said Kogawa, as she tried to describe what it meant to her to have Obasan chosen as the book all Vancouverites should read. Kogawa described her conversation earlier in the day with her friend fellow author Alice Munro who had recieved the Terasen Life Time Achievment award as part of the VPL Central Library's 10th Anniverasay celebrations. "It just keeps getting better and better, she told me - the recognition and awards. I guess I will have to accept it," Kogawa smiled.
Kogawa said that when she first heard about the Redress settlement from the Canadian government, she was very happy. "But it was over so quickly - the moment passed. I'm going to savour this one." Throughout the summer, VPL will hold many events based on the themes of Obasan. One Book One Vancouver is described as a book club for the entire city. The closing event will be at Word On the Street Festival September 25th.
Kogawa answered many questions after her all too brief talk. When I asked her which Asian Canadian writers that she liked personally she said, "Oh, there are so many now. When Roy and I started there weren't very many.... of course we all love Wayson Choy." she said.
When asked what was happening with the Kogawa homestead in Vancouver's Marpole neighborhood, Joy replied: "When we rediscovered it was still there, Tim and I tried to buy it but we didn't have enough money, so I let the idea go. When Roy Miki organized the reading at the house, it was very special. I was very excited to see the cheerry tree again." Then Joy held up a little plastic bag and said "
Seeds from the cherry tree," as she smiled broadly.
Joy speaks very clearly, patiently and perceptively. She shares with the audience that Obasan was also just chosen for the One Book program in Medicine Hat. She answers questions about what it was like living in internment camps, as she describes that some readers have felt that the condtions were so inconcievable that it must have been fiction. Joy counted the members of her family, plus her father's friends that all lived in a chicken coop filled with fleas and chicken smell.
"12 of us... after she names each person."
At the end of the evening many people thank Joy for such an inspiring talk. She shared her buddhist philosophy of "letting go" when asked about dealing with the pain and suffering. She shared her perception of American Christians creating a Christian bomb that landed on the most important Christian Cathedral in Japan.
"Joy Kogawa teaches us to be better Canadians," I shared with Richard Hopkins, professor at the University of BC Library School. Richard smiled and said succintly, "Joy Kogawa teaches us to be better human beings."
The next Joy Kogawa events are:
Thursday night at the Vancouver Museum for a sampling of the songs from Vancouver Opera's forthcoming production of Naomi's Road, based on Joy Kogawa's children's book.
Saturday night at Our Town Cafe for a sampling of Asian Canadian writers featuring Kogawa, Alexis Keinlein and Gleen Deer. organized by Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop.
Joy Kogawa signing books with Janice Douglas (VPL Director of Community Programs) and Paul Whitney (VPL City Librarian) - photo Todd Wong
Joy Kogawa signs a book for VPL Board Member Chrissy George - photo Todd Wong
Relaxing after the reading: Rev. Tim Nakamura (Joy's brother), Prof. Roy Miki, Joy Kogawa, and Todd Wong - photo by David Kogawa
