JULY 2025
Nikkei Place Newsletter
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF NIKKEI PLACE:
Renewing the Spaces that Connect Us
Nikkei Place has been a place of connection — a home for culture, care, and community. Now, through our Nikkei Next Capital Campaign, we are renewing and reimagining the spaces that bring us together.
Join us in shaping the future. From essential building upgrades to the creation of inspiring new spaces—like a Japanese tearoom and the serene Kushiro Lane Garden—your support can bring new life to the places that bring us together.
Give today to help build the next chapter of Nikkei Place—stronger, more vibrant, and deeply rooted in kizuna. #NikkeiNext
A Lasting Symbol of Friendship:
Welcome to Kushiro Lane
We are proud to unveil Kushiro Lane and a newly transformed Japanese garden space beside Robert Nimi Nikkei Home. This peaceful path with cherry and maple trees, is a tribute to the enduring 60-year sister city relationship between Burnaby and Kushiro, Japan. Special thanks to Burnaby’s Outstanding Citizens of the Year (2024) Ken Shinozaki and Henry Wakabayashi, and Nick Sueyoshi from the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association.
25 Years of Connection, Culture & Community
This year marks a quarter-century of our Museum and Cultural Centre. With your support, we’ve woven countless connections through our programs and exhibitions, honouring, preserving, and sharing the history and heritage of Japanese Canadians and Japanese culture in Canada. As we look ahead, we’re excited to continue forging a vibrant future. Thank you for making this work possible!
➡️ Discover our programs on our website
Time: 10am- 5pm, closed on Sundays, Mondays & holidays
➡️ Learn more on our website
Exhibits: Karasawa Gallery
Beautifully Broken – Kintsugi
By Naoko Fukumaru
Date: Oct 11, 2025 – Feb 21, 2026
Kyoto-born, Vancouver-based artist Naoko Fukumaru presents Beautifully Broken, an evocative exhibition inspired by kintsugi—the 500-year-old Japanese art of repairing ceramics with lacquer and gold. Kintsugi embraces flaws, transforming them into beauty and celebrating imperfection, impermanence, and resilience.
Umami: Savouring Artistic Nikkei Identity (pt. 2)
Date: May 27 – Sept 27, 2025
From traditional to contemporary art practice, the Umami exhibition shares the rich essence of our Japanese Canadian creative community.
Museum: Collections Corner
Community Rallies for Yasushi Yamazaki’s 1913 Trophy
Yasushi Yamazaki’s 1913 trophy, awarded by the Canadian Japanese Association, is now part of the Nikkei National Museum’s collection thanks to the passion of historian Debbie Jiang and generous community donations. Purchased from public auction, the trophy represents Yamazaki’s legacy as a trailblazing leader, philanthropist, and President of the Association. He co-founded the Japanese Fishermen’s Benevolent Society, advanced health care and civil rights, and funded an all-Japanese battalion in the First World War.
TAIKEN Field Trips
PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
Supported by a lasting gift from the Roy & Yaeko Uyesugi Endowment Fund, TAIKEN Field Trips offers hands-on learning about Japanese Canadian history. We are thrilled to welcome Mitsubishi Canada Ltd. as a 3-year partner, allowing us to expand our reach! Taiken is complemented by our JOURNEYS KIT — a museum in a box — circulated to schools nationwide and supported by Michael Cameron. With the Japanese Canadian internment now part of the BC curriculum beginning in the 2025/26 school year, the timing couldn’t be better.
Nikkei Matsuri
Location: Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre
Date: August 29-31, 2025
Tickets: Available in advance online or on event day
➡️ Learn more: www.nikkeimatsuri.ca
SUMMER FESTIVAL
Kick off the Nikkei Matsuri weekend at Zenyasai —matsuri-eve — on Friday night with local DJs, beer garden and festive summer vibes. Then dive into two full days of fun at Nikkei Matsuri with Japanese eats, yukata dressing, games, performances, and new this year: the Japanese Pop Culture Market, packed with anime, crafts, and more! By attending or participating in our 50/50 draw, you will be supporting our Nikkei Next building improvement projects.
Driving Change:
18th Annual Nikkei Place Charity Classic Surpasses Fundraising Goal!
$160,000 Raised for Seniors Programs
On Friday, May 30, the 18th Annual Nikkei Place Charity Classic, presented by Kami Insurance and withinUs, brought our community together in a powerful show of support for seniors, funding vital programs at Robert Nimi Nikkei Home. Together, we surpassed our fundraising goal and raised $80,000; with a generous matching gift from Ken & Junko Shinozaki we raised a net total of $160,000! Thank you to everyone who made this event such a resounding success.
The Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society is also pleased to share that Ken and Junko Shinozaki have amplified their impact with an additional $20,000 donation to enable more seniors’ initiatives.
Check out the full event recap, event photos & highlight video!
Outreach Programs
AT THE Kenko Wellness Lounge
Come take part in seniors programs that support health, wellness, and social connection!
Featured Programs
| ACTIVITY | DAY | TIME | COST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genki Lounge (Exercise & Lunch) | Thursday | 10:30am-2pm | $8 /class |
| Tablet Club | Tuesday & Saturday | 3-4pm | FREE |
Location: Kenko Wellness Lounge
6680 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby
To the right of Nimi Nikkei Home entrance
Contact: Mikiko Furukawa, Activity Worker
604.777.5000 (Ext. 2007)
➡️ View all programs on the website
Make a Meaningful Impact: Volunteer at Nikkei Home!
Bring joy and connection to seniors through conversation, activities, or tech support. Caring volunteers of all ages are welcome to join our team!
Creating Space to Care & Connect:
Robert Nimi Nikkei Home is renovating to better serve its residents. The kitchen will be expanded for preparing culturally appropriate meals, and the lobby transformed into a welcoming, multi-use space with comfy dining, relaxation areas, extra staff offices, and a warm, refreshed design focused on seniors’ comfort.
Nikkei Home Renovation
H.U.G.S Program
IMPACT REPORT STUDY
H.U.G.S (Health Urgent Guide Services) is a short-term service that helps Japanese Canadian Internment Survivors in the Lower Mainland access health and wellness resources through government and community programs. Since November 2024, the H.U.G.S has participated in United Way’s Project Impact Healthy Aging initiative.
Learn more about the results of the initiative on our website:
A Gift Beyond a Lifetime
By including the Nikkei Place Foundation in your will, you can continue supporting the people, stories, and places that matter to you.
Contact Nikkei Place Foundation for more information:
604.777.2122