Daily Sports Article (in Japanese) Here
“I’m home!” That is to say, I returned “home” to Canada for a few weeks, and now I’m back “home” in Japan. And the Hanshin Tigers are also about to make their return “home” to Koshien Stadium (where they are playing 17-25-1 ball). It was hard to watch baseball games while I was out of country, but thanks to social media, I was able to check in and follow the team’s progress almost daily.
That wasn’t the case for my first week or so, though. I knew nothing of what was going on. The reason? I was on a secluded island on Canada’s west coast visiting my younger brother, and was too busy having the time of my life enjoying nature to even think about sports, games, or Japan.
Scratch that last part – even on the remote Pender Island (British Columbia), Japan has made its mark. As a matter of fact, I was surprised to learn that no fewer than five of the island’s 2,200 permanent residents are Japanese! It was while watching the local kids (including my nephew and niece) practicing soccer that I saw a few children who looked like they might be Japanese. My suspicion was confirmed as I glanced around at the parents and saw a couple that fit the description. Turns out the Kimuras (fake name) have been on Pender for nearly two decades. Mr. Kimura told me his story, and even surprised me with some information that had never crossed my mind before.
Pender Island was actually partially developed by Japanese Canadians before World War II. That’s right: Canada had its share of Japanese immigrants in the late nineteenth century, many of whom settled in the Gulf Islands. Unfortunately, when World War II started, the Canadian government acted out of fear and put all Japanese Canadians in internment camps in interior BC. The result is that there are no monuments or even any documentation showing Japanese involvement in helping develop Pender Island into the natural paradise that it is today. (There is, however, a commemorative Japanese garden on the neighboring Mayne Island.)
The question that arises, then, is what drew Japanese immigrants to this tiny gem of an island? And why did the Kimuras move here when there are plenty of comfortable Japanese communities throughout Western Canada? According to Mr. Kimura, he and his family love Pender Island because it reminds them of rural Japan. It sure has similarities: rolling hills, lush, dense forests, cool lakes and shorelines, and a serene, slow-paced lifestyle.
He’s right: it’s a slice of some of the best things Japan has to offer, and even more. Allow me to shamelessly plug my brother’s business a little, because you can’t have the time of your life on Pender without kayaking around the island with an experienced professional friendly guide like Jay. And for those who are worried that their English is not up to snuff, one of my brother’s guides is completely fluent in Japanese, so you can comfortably enjoy the experience in your native language. Learn to paddle, camp along the shores, and eat delicious food while leaving all your worries (including the Hanshin Tigers’ struggles) behind you! You’ll have a hard time finding somewhere that feels more “at home” than Pender Island!
