Kimiko Murakami: A Japanese Canadian Pioneer

In the past decade, a growing number of picture books in Canada have conveyed the diversity and range of Asian communities’ perspectives, histories, and contemporary experiences. These include nonfiction books that are more focused on educating readers about unique aspects of Asian cultures as well as books that take inspiration from those communities’ shared experiences to tell stories on a variety of topics. For example, several works depict the celebratory aspects of Asian culture such as special cultural holidays, customs, and cuisine, books like Mei Zihan’s New Year, Gillian Sze’s My Love for You Always, and Flo Leung’s The Tray of Togetherness. Other picture books, such as Karina Zhou’s Kai’s Tea Eggs, focus on the everyday lives and experiences of individuals from those Asian communities. Telling their stories from the perspectives of young protagonists, these works address topics such as family dynamics, interpersonal relationships, and cultural identities. In addition, some picture books have explored the impact of historical events on Asian communities in Canada.

Written by Haley Healey and illustrated by Kimiko Fraser, their picture book Kimiko Murakami: A Japanese-Canadian Pioneer focuses on portraying the life of Kimiko Murakami and her significance to Canadian history, within the context of historical events that have adversely impacted Japanese Canadian communities. This book is a testament to Kimiko Murakami specifically, but also the Japanese Canadian community as a whole, by affirming their presence within Canada’s national narrative. The historical formation of that national narrative has omitted and suppressed the voices from minority and marginalized groups and focused, instead, on the lives, stories, and achievements of settlers who have emigrated from Europe, at the expense of others who have made important contributions to Canada’s development. As such, Healey’s book bears witness to that historical period and acknowledges Murakami’s life as a life worth remembering and sharing.

When writing works about historical eras and communities from those time periods, it is important for authors to be cognizant of how they are representing these people in their works, so that they are not portrayed in stereotypical or reductive ways. Conveyed in a straightforward narrative style, i>Kimiko Murakami avoids depicting Kimiko and her family as generic character types who signify the Japanese Canadian community or as victims who simply succumb to their historical circumstances. Instead, the book humanizes them as individuals who eventually rebuild their lives after the Second World War.

The book’s realism will draw readers into the story and evoke their sympathy for Kimiko and her family. Readers will be shocked by the deplorable conditions within which they lived as they are housed in shacks without electricity and running water. Despite their hardships during the Second World War, Kimiko and her family did not give up. After the war, they worked hard to earn money so that they could return to Salt Spring Island where they had lived prior to the war. Although they had lost everything there, they started to rebuild by purchasing new land and starting up a farm. In addition, they worked to clean up the Japanese cemetery on Salt Spring Island which had deteriorated due to years of neglect. After many years, they succeed in re-establishing themselves and integrating back into their community.

The images contribute to the narrative’s progression and tone. For example, when Kimiko and her family are being relocated to internment camps, the accompanying illustration conveys an appropriately somber tone and atmosphere of isolation. Kimiko and her family are portrayed against a dark background where an officer at a desk appears to be recording their arrival. More importantly, the illustrations depict these people as individuals rather than as stereotypical Asians who all look alike. Indeed, the history of representation of Asian communities in the media of the time, such as newspapers, depict them as threatening aliens who all look alike.

When Kimiko’s family gets relocated to Magrath, Alberta, to work on a sugar beet farm, the story’s accompanying illustration conveys the isolating, impersonal, and sterile nature of their new internment camp. Rows of brown, nondescript shacks are set against the backdrop of numerous hills that appear to be devoid of wildlife and greenery. By accentuating the family’s hardships, the story evokes sympathy from the readers and will draw them into their situation.

Besides highlighting their experiences during the Second World War, the story also inscribes Kimiko’s family with agency and situates them as resilient individuals whose existence and identities will not be erased from history. Indeed, the illustration that shows they have returned to Salt Spring Island affirms their persistence and drive to succeed, despite the immense obstacles that they face.

The book includes a timeline that highlights key events in Canada that provide background context for readers to better understand Kimiko’s life and her struggles. The timeline is split into two halves, with Kimiko’s events shown in parallel with other historical events. For example, the timeline mentions that the Canadian War Measures Act is enacted in February 26, 1942, and that the internment of Japanese Canadians begins on March 4th. In addition, it mentions that former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney issues a formal apology to Japanese Canadians on September 22, 1988, for the federal government’s internment policy.

Kimiko Murakami: A Japanese-Canadian Pioneer is part of the “Trailblazing Canadians” series which is devoted to highlighting the achievements and contributions of important individuals from Canadian history. It will be an invaluable addition to any library that would like to increase its collection of works that focus on the lives of people from Canada’s Asian communities, particularly those who are Asian women. This book will serve as an important point of discussion about the Japanese internment in Canada and can prompt students to conduct more research on that historical era. Although Kimiko and her family have succeeded in rebuilding their lives, it is important to recognize that many other Japanese families have been less fortunate as they have never fully recovered from the irreparable harm that has been inflicted on their lives. As such, this book could also open up some valuable discussion about how Japanese Canadian people have been affected in different ways as a result of the war. In addition, this book could provide a jumping-off point for considering other periods of Canadian history in which communities were mistreated, whether they were Asian, Indigenous, or otherwise. Readers could draw upon the book’s timeline as a starting point for conducting further research on these events’ impact on Japanese Canadians as well as other discriminatory legislation, practices, and events that have affected other Asian communities, such as the 1923 Chinese Immigration Act and the Komogata Maru incident.

Originally from Muskoka, Ontario, Haley Healey is a writer as well as a high school counsellor and registered clinical counsellor. She has also written the two collections, Her Courage Rises: 50 Trailblazing Women of British Columbia and Yukon and On Their Own Terms: True Stories of Trailblazing Women of Vancouver Island, both of which feature inspirational stories about resilient and hard-working women who defied the expectations of their respective times and achieved noteworthy accomplishments. In addition, Healey is the author of the fictional work Immortal Grit, an inspiring tale of adversity and resilience. Currently, she resides in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Her official website is at https://www.haleyhealey.com/.

Kimiko Fraser is an illustrator and historian-in-training who has a Bachelor of Arts, Honours History, Major Visual Arts from the University of Victoria. Currently based in Victoria, British Columbia, she uses different mediums to create her illustrations, including watercolour, digital, ink, and tea. Her official website is at https://kimikofraser.wordpress.com/