Interview with Frank Tadao Shimada

In part 1 of the interview, Frank Tadao Shimada talks about his family emigration history and their lives before emigrating to Canada. Frank grew up on Powell Street in Vancouver, BC. He talks about his childhood activities. After that his family moved to Cassiar (now Highway 2), he talks about feeling isolated and their family having to purchase a family car for commute. Frank talks his family's coffee shop where they sold baked goods, including food for celebrations like New Years, Christmas, and birthdays. Frank continues talking about celebrations like Girls' and Boys' Days while being isolated from the Japanese Canadian community. He talks about attending Japanese Language School, and his public schools. He also recalls playing baseball and watching the Asahi Baseball Team. Frank was a batboy for the Asahi Baseball Team. His brother was sent to Japan, where he worked in the music industry. Frank talks about propagandistic music. He remembers hearing about the attack of Pearl Harbour from a paperboy and also being discriminated against at school. During WWII, his family was removed to a self-supporting camp at Christina Lake, BC. He talks about his family's employees being treated like prisoners of war because they were Japanese citizens. He remembers being worried about leaving the store cat. He talks about what life was like in Christine Lake including the Japanese bath there. At one point, he was conscripted into working as a forest firefighter.