Joy Kogawa
Encyclopedia
Joy Nozomi Kogawa, CM
, OBC
(born June 6, 1935) is a Canadian poet
and novelist of Japan
ese descent.
at Slocan
during World War II
. After the war she resettled with her family in Coaldale
, Alberta
.
She has worked to educate Canadians about the history of the internment camps, and was active in the fight for government redress.
Although the majority of her writing is poetry, Kogawa's best-known work is Obasan
(1981), a semi-autobiographical novel. A sequel, Itsuka (1992), was rewritten and retitled Emily Kato (2005). Obasan has been named as one of the most important books in Canadian history by the Literary Review of Canada and was also listed by The Toronto Star in a "Best of Canada" feature. Obasan was later adapted into a children's book, Naomi's Road (1986), which, in turn, Vancouver Opera
adapted into a 45-minute opera that toured elementary schools throughout British Columbia. The opera was also performed before the general public in the greater Vancouver area, Red Deer
and Lethbridge, Alberta, Seattle
, Washington, and Ottawa
, Ontario
at the National War Museum.
Although the novel Obasan describes Asian Canadian experiences, it is routinely taught in Asian American
literature courses in the USA, due to its successful "integration of politically understanding and literary artistry" and "its authentication of a pan-Asian sensibility."
Kogawa currently divides her time between Vancouver and Toronto, Ontario
.
; in 2006, she was made a Member of the Order of British Columbia
.
In 2010, the Japanese government honored Kogawa with the Order of the Rising Sun
"for her contribution to the understanding and preservation of Japanese Canadian history."
neighborhood of Vancouver from demolition. They developed national support from writers and writing organizations across Canada demonstrating that the house at 1450 West 64th Avenue was regarded by many as having historical value and literary significance, similar to Berton
House, Emily Carr
House and the Haig-Brown
Institute. The Save Kogawa House committee made a successful presentation to the City of Vancouver councilors to create an unprecedented 120-day delay of the processing of a demolition permit on November 3, 2005, two days after the city had pronounced Obasan Cherry Tree Day and planted a graft of the cherry tree at Vancouver City Hall
from the original tree at Kogawa House.
The Land Conservancy of British Columbia, became involved in the saving of Kogawa House on December 2, 2005. Working with the Save Kogawa House committee, TLC took over the fund-raising efforts and media attention. TLC became the owners of the house on May 31, 2006. They now are attempting to raise funds to renovate the house to its appearance when Joy lived there in the late 1930s and early 1940s.
The Historic Joy Kogawa House Society has operated a writer-in-residence program in the house since 2008. They have hosted two writers to date: poet and editor Dr. John Asfour of Montreal in 2009, and novelist and writing educator Nancy Lee of Richmond in 2010. The next writer will be in residence beginning September 15, 2011, and continuing until March 15, 2012. Applications for writers are solicited in an open call to writers' associations and arts councils across Canada. Application guidelines are posted on the Society's website at www.kogawahouse.com.
Except where noted, bibliographic information courtesy Brock University.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OBC
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
(born June 6, 1935) is a Canadian poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and novelist of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese descent.
Life
Born Joy Nozomi Nakayama in Vancouver, British Columbia, she was sent with her family to the internment camp for Japanese CanadiansJapanese Canadians
Japanese Canadians are Canadians of Japanese ancestry, and are mostly concentrated on the west coast, and central Canada, especially in and around Vancouver and Toronto. In 2006, there were 98,900 .- Generations :...
at Slocan
Slocan, British Columbia
The Village of Slocan, commonly known as Slocan City, is a village in the Slocan Valley of the West Kootenay region of the southeastern Interior of British Columbia, Canada...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war she resettled with her family in Coaldale
Coaldale, Alberta
Coaldale is a town in southern Alberta, Canada, located east of Lethbridge, along the Crowsnest Highway.- Attractions :The main attractions are the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre, the Land o' Lakes Golf Course, and the Gem of the West Museum....
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
She has worked to educate Canadians about the history of the internment camps, and was active in the fight for government redress.
Although the majority of her writing is poetry, Kogawa's best-known work is Obasan
Obasan
Obasan is a novel by the Japanese-Canadian author Joy Kogawa. First published by Lester and Orpen Dennys in 1981, it chronicles Canada's internment and persecution of its citizens of Japanese descent during World War II from the perspective of a young child...
(1981), a semi-autobiographical novel. A sequel, Itsuka (1992), was rewritten and retitled Emily Kato (2005). Obasan has been named as one of the most important books in Canadian history by the Literary Review of Canada and was also listed by The Toronto Star in a "Best of Canada" feature. Obasan was later adapted into a children's book, Naomi's Road (1986), which, in turn, Vancouver Opera
Vancouver Opera
Vancouver Opera is the second largest performing arts organization in British Columbia and the largest opera company in western Canada.It performs in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre accompanied currently by the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, one of two specialized opera orchestras in Canada...
adapted into a 45-minute opera that toured elementary schools throughout British Columbia. The opera was also performed before the general public in the greater Vancouver area, Red Deer
Red Deer, Alberta
Red Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
and Lethbridge, Alberta, Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Washington, and Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
at the National War Museum.
Although the novel Obasan describes Asian Canadian experiences, it is routinely taught in Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
literature courses in the USA, due to its successful "integration of politically understanding and literary artistry" and "its authentication of a pan-Asian sensibility."
Kogawa currently divides her time between Vancouver and Toronto, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Recognition
In 1986, Kogawa was made a Member of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
; in 2006, she was made a Member of the Order of British Columbia
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
.
In 2010, the Japanese government honored Kogawa with the Order of the Rising Sun
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
"for her contribution to the understanding and preservation of Japanese Canadian history."
Campaign to save Kogawa House
The Save Kogawa House committee initiated a campaign to save Kogawa's childhood home in the MarpoleMarpole
Marpole is a mostly residential neighbourhood of 22,400 located on the southern edge of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, immediately northeast of Vancouver International Airport. It is approximately bordered by Angus Drive to the west, 57th Avenue to the north, Main Street to the east and...
neighborhood of Vancouver from demolition. They developed national support from writers and writing organizations across Canada demonstrating that the house at 1450 West 64th Avenue was regarded by many as having historical value and literary significance, similar to Berton
Pierre Berton
Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, was a noted Canadian author of non-fiction, especially Canadiana and Canadian history, and was a well-known television personality and journalist....
House, Emily Carr
Emily Carr
Emily Carr was a Canadian artist and writer heavily inspired by the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. One of the first painters in Canada to adopt a post-impressionist painting style, Carr did not receive widespread recognition for her work until later in her life...
House and the Haig-Brown
Roderick Haig-Brown
Roderick Haig-Brown was a Canadian writer and conservationist.-Early life:Born in Lancing, Sussex, England his father, Alan Haig-Brown, was a teacher and a prolific writer who published hundreds of articles and poems on sports, the military and educational issues in various periodicals...
Institute. The Save Kogawa House committee made a successful presentation to the City of Vancouver councilors to create an unprecedented 120-day delay of the processing of a demolition permit on November 3, 2005, two days after the city had pronounced Obasan Cherry Tree Day and planted a graft of the cherry tree at Vancouver City Hall
Vancouver City Hall
Vancouver City Hall is home to Vancouver City Council in Vancouver, British Columbia. Located at 453 West 12th Avenue, the building was ordered by the Vancouver Civic Building Committee, designed by architect Fred Townley and Matheson, and built by Carter, Halls, Aldinger and Company...
from the original tree at Kogawa House.
The Land Conservancy of British Columbia, became involved in the saving of Kogawa House on December 2, 2005. Working with the Save Kogawa House committee, TLC took over the fund-raising efforts and media attention. TLC became the owners of the house on May 31, 2006. They now are attempting to raise funds to renovate the house to its appearance when Joy lived there in the late 1930s and early 1940s.
The Historic Joy Kogawa House Society has operated a writer-in-residence program in the house since 2008. They have hosted two writers to date: poet and editor Dr. John Asfour of Montreal in 2009, and novelist and writing educator Nancy Lee of Richmond in 2010. The next writer will be in residence beginning September 15, 2011, and continuing until March 15, 2012. Applications for writers are solicited in an open call to writers' associations and arts councils across Canada. Application guidelines are posted on the Society's website at www.kogawahouse.com.
Poetry
- The Splintered Moon. Fredericton, NB: Fiddlehead Poetry Books, 1967.
- A Choice of Dreams. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1974.
- Jericho Road. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1977.
- Six Poems. Toronto: League of Canadian Poets, 1980.
- Woman in the Woods. Oakville, ON: Mosaic Press, 1985.
- A Song of Lilith. Vancouver: Polestar, 2000.
- A Garden of Anchors: Selected Poems. Oakville, ON: Mosaic, 2003.
- What do I Remember of the Evacuation?
Novels
- ObasanObasanObasan is a novel by the Japanese-Canadian author Joy Kogawa. First published by Lester and Orpen Dennys in 1981, it chronicles Canada's internment and persecution of its citizens of Japanese descent during World War II from the perspective of a young child...
. Toronto: Lester & Orpen Dennys, 1981.(winner of the 1982 Books in Canada First Novel AwardBooks in Canada First Novel AwardThe Amazon.ca First Novel Award, formerly the Books in Canada First Novel Award, is a literary award given annually to the best first novel in English published the previous year by a citizen or resident of Canada. It has been awarded since 1976....
) - Itsuka. Toronto: Penguin, 1992. (rewritten as Emily Kato - 2005)
- The Rain Ascends. Toronto: Knopf, 1995
Children's literature
- Naomi's Road. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1986.
- Naomi's Tree - 2008
Except where noted, bibliographic information courtesy Brock University.
External links
- Joy Kogawa's entry in The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Immigrant Stories by Canadian Authors
- Canadian Poetry Online: Joy Kogawa - Biography and six poems (Offerings, grief poem, If your mirror breaks, Where there's a Wall, For a Blank Book, Note to a Gentleman)