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Who was first?
Manzo Nagano was once celebrated as the first Japanese settler in Canada, arriving in 1877, a milestone marked by the 1977 Japanese Canadian Centennial and the naming of Mount Nagano. However, his status as the first immigrant has since been called into question due to inconsistent records and his own contradictory accounts. Records appear to show that others arrived before him. What is know is that Nagano operated a store and hotel in Victoria, which later burned down, prompting his return to Japan, where he lived out his life. His narrative, though contested, symbolizes the pioneering spirit of early Japanese immigrants.
Did you know?
Gihei Kuno, a master carpenter from Mio, Japan, saw opportunity in the Fraser River’s abundant fisheries. Recognizing the potential to uplift his impoverished village, he encouraged fellow villagers to join him in Steveston, laying the foundation for a robust Japanese Canadian community. Known as “Kanada imin no chichi” (Father of Canadian Immigrants), Kuno’s efforts transformed Mio into “Amerikamura” (American Village), reflecting the intertwined identities of Canada and the US in Japanese migration narratives.
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Murakami and Okano families of Salt Spring Island
Kumanosuke and Riyo Okano sold their fishing boats in 1919 to farm on Salt Spring Island, building greenhouses for tomatoes, berries, and vegetables sold in Victoria.
Their daughter Kimiko married Katuyori Murakami in 1925, and together they supplied strawberries and asparagus to the Empress Hotel, raising 5,000 chickens for eggs.
Known for their generosity, they supported neighbours and funded the Salt Spring Consolidated School, exemplifying community leadership amid restrictive fishing license policies.
More than resource industries
Wherever Japanese Canadian communities of any size sprang up, businesses opened to provide services, some of which catered specifically to Japanese tastes, including food.
