Recent Projects CANADA'S CHIBI TAIKO'S FIRST VISIT TO JAPAN Chibi Taiko is the first children's taiko group established in Canada. Linda has been involved with Chibi Taiko as a parent and member of the executive for over 10 years. One of her dreams was to give these young players an experience of Japan and Onomichi one day.
In July of 2009, 13 members of the youth taiko group traveled from Vancouver Canada to spend 10 intensive days in Onomichi, Hiroshima-ken. The Chibi members had a quite an experience. They were homestayed with local families. They participated in cultural workshops which included Noh theatre, ikebana, shodou, and tea ceremony. And they practised the art of taiko drumming with Onomichi's Betchar Daiko group.
NEW JAPAN-CANADA SISTER HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM
In the fall of 2010, the first students participated in this exchange with students of Obu High School who travelled to Vancouver's Windsor Secondary School.
In November 2008, a Canadian delegation representing Windsor Secondary School of North Vancouver, Canada traveled to Japan to join the students, alumni, teachers and administrators of Obu High School in Obu-city near Nagoya. Together, they celebrated the official launch of the Obu-Windsor sister school program that would link these two high schools together.
On a visit to Japan in 2007, Linda was asked to help Obu High School find a compatible sister school in the Vancouver region to mark Obu High School's 60th anniversary in 2008. This dream was formally realized in a special ceremony held at Obu High School and Obu City Hall on November 15, 2008.
Through this program, more than 2,000 Canadian and Japanese high school students and teachers will have the opportunity to share their cultures and learning in many ways, including actual student exchanges to virtual classroom projects over the internet. Comments from Linda: "It was a very moving experience to participate in the launch of a new project that involves so many young people from both Canada and Japan. Seeing the two flags up and singing the Canadian anthem being played by the Obu High School band at the opening ceremonies, brought tears to my eyes as 1,000 young Japanese students stood with me."
TWO SHORT FILMS: REMEBERANCE DAY 2008, VANCOUVER, BC
As a member of the Nikkei Community and the Stanley Park Japanese Canadian War Memorial Committee, Linda organized a project to re-do the historic photographic display which was publicly exhibited at the November 11, 2008 ceremonies in Stanley Park. These panels archive the contributions of Japanese Canadian veterans of World War I, the Korean War and World War II and will be displayed each year as part of the Remembrance Day ceremonies. (Supported by the NAJC Endowment Fund.)
Linda also independently produced a new short documentary, 'Remember Remembrance', with the help of Brian Matsuo as editor, and Roy Kawamoto's invaluable knowledge as a Japanese Canadian war veteran and archivist.
"Remember Remembrance" highlights Japanese Canadian veterans who joined the Canadian forces in wartimes from World War I to present day service in Afghanistan.The sort film reflects voices of several generations, including war veterans, family of veterans, and the youth today.
This film has been donated to the Japanese Canadian War Memorial Committee. For more information on this film, please contact Linda or the War Memorial Committee.
Another short film, "Sakura Sakura",on YouTube, was made by Linda with Brian Matsuo. This film was to support the saving historical sakura trees planted by the issei in Oppenheimer Park, from being removed by the City of Vancouver in their re-development of the park. This film was donated to the Sakura Legacy Coalition to raise awareness of the historical significance of these trees.