UNews - Darren Aoki

Nikkei Memory Capture Project and Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden collaboration earns international honour

trevor.kenney — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:11:54 +0000

An important historical installation and the collaborative team that brought it to the public have been recognized with an international history award.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researcher Dr. Carly Adams, along with ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Plymouth (UK) associate professor Dr. Darren Aoki (BA ’90) and Michelle Day Miles of Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden have been recognized by the National Council on Public History (NCPH) with the Outstanding Public History Project Award – Small Institution.

A partial view of the timeline in the Bunka Centre.

The award recognizes a collaborative effort detailing the journeys of Japanese Canadians in southern Alberta, allowing visitors to Nikka Yuko’s Bunka Centre the opportunity to view a Time Map feature wall, listen to an audio journey, and then step inside a unique Memory Capture Project Memory Booth to listen to stories from Japanese Canadians.

In October 2024, a new interactive installation was added in the Dr. Robert Hironaka room at the Bunka Centre, the Mel Murakami Exhibit. Exploring the anti-Japanese racism and discrimination that were so formative in the pasts of individuals and communities, the Mel Murakami exhibit presents a story of hardship, overcoming and inspiration.

Aoki says the award is gratifying and respects the process that went into the making of the project.

“Initially, there was this sense of stunned disbelief: to have acknowledged in this way all those hours and days over years of effort that have gone into discovering and amplifying the histories of our Japanese Canadian community, and in the process, being part of an amazing team with Michelle to make it happen — this is so exciting and very special indeed,” he says. “More importantly, it is the generosity of all those individuals who shared their stories with us, many of whom are now sadly no longer with us, this award is really a recognition of their histories which so profoundly shape our community: we’re just the translators of this experience, and it is humbling and wonderful being able to celebrate their contributions in this way.”

Following is the award citation.

Outstanding Public History Project Award – Small Institution

Co-Creating Southern Alberta Japanese Canadian Histories: The Bunka Centre and Nikkei Memory Capture Project Heritage Collaboration Carly Adams, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge; Darren Aoki, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Plymouth (United Kingdom); and Michelle Day Miles, Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden

Through oral histories and deep engagement with community, this unique and meaningful collaboration between the Bunka Centre at the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and the Nikkei Memory Capture Project returned the rich stories of southern Alberta’s Japanese Canadians to the community and made them publicly accessible in an evocative and transformative storytelling approach. This project with its marriage of place, memory and story is an exemplary model of what is possible when organizations engage with communities and individuals to tell stories that enrich our understanding of the historical, social and cultural contributions of its people. The collaboration reflects the community that nurtures the garden and southern Alberta.

“This collaboration serves as a tangible testament to the enduring legacy of Japanese Canadians in southern Alberta, providing a space where visitors can engage with and contribute to the rich tapestry of local history,” says Eric Granson, marketing and events manager at Nikka Yuko. “By housing the Nikkei Memory Capture Booth within the Bunka Centre, the garden not only preserves the stories of the Japanese community but also fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation among visitors. This initiative enriches the cultural landscape of Lethbridge and reinforces the garden’s role as a central hub for cultural exchange and education.

Award winners will be celebrated at the 2025 NCPH Annual Meeting awards breakfast and keynote, Mar. 29 in Montreal.

“The installation has been seen by thousands of visitors and the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Adams, director of the Centre for Oral History and Tradition (COHT). “The main objective of the project was to ‘return the stories’ to the community by making these histories publicly accessible. Feedback on the exhibits and the stories shared have led to many new research directions and we hope to continue collaborating with the garden to develop future exhibits about different aspects of Japanese Canadian histories in southern Alberta.”

About the NCPH

The National Council on Public History, headquartered on the campus of Indiana ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Indianapolis, is a membership association dedicated to making the past useful in the present and to encouraging collaboration between historians and their publics. Its work begins in the belief that historical understanding is of essential value in society. NCPH members include museum professionals, historical consultants, historians employed in government, archivists, historical administrators, corporate and business historians, cultural resource managers, curators, film and media producers, oral historians, policy advisers, professors and students with public history interests, teachers, and many others. Increasingly, the council has been working to advance public history on an international scale.

Collaborative historical project shortlisted for Governor General’s Award

trevor.kenney — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 20:10:32 +0000

Initiative between Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Plymouth Nikkei Memory Capture Project earns national attention

An innovative project that shares the histories of Japanese Canadians in the post-war era has been shortlisted for a Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming.

Japanese Canadian Histories in Southern Alberta: Time Map, Audio Journey, Memory Booth is a collaborative project between Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and the Nikkei Memory Capture Project (NMCP), itself a joint initiative between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the United Kingdom’s ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Plymouth.

“This project centres the histories of Japanese Canadians in southern Alberta and was only possible because of the community members who have shared their stories and memories with us,” says Dr. Carly Adams, co-director of the Centre for Oral History and Tradition (COHT) and one of the project leaders. “We are very excited that our collaboration with Nikka Yuko has been recognized as part of this outstanding shortlist of projects.”

Launched in 2017, the NCMP is a transnational oral history collaboration exploring the stories of Japanese Canadians after the Second World War. The study sought to analyze the cultural and social history of Canadian Nikkei (people of Japanese descent) in the second half of the 20th century.

Dr. Darren Aoki (BA '90), a southern Alberta-born Nikkei and associate professor in World History and Oral History at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Plymouth, says, “This was a very challenging but also potentially innovative period for Canadians of Japanese descent. It saw them rebuild their lives, families and communities, whilst creating opportunities for future generations as well as wider southern Alberta society.”

A view of the Time Map at the Nikka Yuko Bunka Centre.

With this background in mind, Aoki initiated a pilot project that laid the foundation for the Nikkei Memory Capture Project, which he co-leads. Since then, the project has met with over 100 people and accrued hundreds of hours of interviews.

“Their stories and memories have painted a vivid picture of their sense of identity and place,” says Aoki. “It is this critical focus that continues to define the project to this day.”

Adams came on board in 2017, and the project took off. In early April 2022, the results of the project were unveiled at the new Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden Bunka Centre. The exhibit includes a time map exhibit that features the stories of the waves of migration of Japanese Canadians into Alberta; digital audio journeys that weave in oral histories; and an immersive memory booth, where visitors can opt to leave their own memories and experiences and contribute to the collection of stories.

"Collaborating with the Nikkei Memory Capture Project (NMCP) and hosting the Memory Capture Booth, Time Map, and Audio Journey in our brand new Bunka Centre has greatly expanded the ability of our visitors to connect and engage with the history of Japanese Canadians in southern Alberta,” says Rhys Winder, education and program manager for Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. “We are proud to support these initiatives and the ongoing research projects and workshops that are shining a light on the history that has shaped not only our garden, but the southern Alberta Nikkei community as a whole. We look forward to many more years of fruitful collaboration with the NMCP. Congratulations to all members of the NMCP past and present, and especially co-project leads Drs. Carly Adams and Darren Aoki.”

The Governor’s General award recognizes community organizations from across Canada for their exceptional work in the field of Canadian community programming. Sponsored by the National History Society, the award will honour two recipients, one French and one English, for innovation in community programming. The winners will be revealed later this fall with each winning organization receiving a cash prize of $2,500 and a trip to Ottawa to receive the award.

Nikkei Memory Capture Project a key feature of new Bunka Centre

trevor.kenney — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 16:38:17 +0000

The stories of Japanese Canadians and the challenges they faced as they settled in southern Alberta is the focus of a new collaborative effort between ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge researcher Dr. Carly Adams and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Plymouth (UK) associate professor Dr. Darren Aoiki’s Nikkei Memory Capture Project and Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden.

Part of the Time Map feature in the Bunka Centre.

Unveiled at the new Bunka Centre on Thursday, Apr. 14, the project allows visitors to hear these important stories through an interactive sound booth installation and a Time Map feature wall that details the journeys of Japanese Canadians in southern Alberta.

“It is very exciting to be unveiling the Time Map collaboration, and Nikkei Memory Capture Project’s Memory Booth,” says Adams, who is also the co-director of the Centre for Oral History & Tradition at ULethbridge. “These two installations highlight what I most appreciate about this collaborative work – connections with community organizations and members, publicly accessible histories, and adding nuance and complexity to little known histories. It has been a pleasure and privilege being involved in these installations and involving undergraduate and graduate students in this vital work.”

A look at the Memory Booth where people can listen to oral histories and record their own.

“The unveiling of the Time Map and Memory Booth is such an exciting development for us,” says Aoki. “It’s so exciting to be able to share the wonderfully distinctive histories of Japanese Canadians in southern Alberta that the Nikkei Memory Capture Project has been privileged to explore.”

Adams and Aoki (via zoom) gave a presentation to attendees of the unveiling and addressed the partnerships that were utilized in creating the memorable project.

“This is a celebration of so many innovative collaborations, exciting partnerships, and close friendships: with the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, the Centre for Oral History and Tradition; between the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Plymouth and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and most importantly, with the many individuals who have so generously shared their memories, stories, and wisdom with us,” adds Aoki.

The installations are now open to the public at the Bunka Centre. Guests who attend are also able to record their own memories to be shared with future generations.

U of L social scientists net SSHRC awards worth nearly $440,000

caroline.zentner — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 19:58:03 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge graduate students and faculty members will tackle a variety of research projects thanks to funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

“The U of L’s success rate with Insight Development Grants was very positive, higher than the national average and continues our momentum,” says Dr. Erasmus Okine, vice-president (research). “Our social scientists and humanities researchers are conducting leading-edge research and I heartily commend them for their efforts.”

U of L researchers received six Insight Development Grants. Dr. Robert LeBlanc (education) will examine how immigrant teens in a rural Alberta meatpacking town learn the forms and meanings of stylized speech. Dr. Glenda Bonifacio (women & gender studies) will study how the election of Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines has affected foreign disaster aid and gender equality following Haiyan, the 2013 super typhoon. Dr. Rhiannon MacDonnell Mesler (Dhillon School of Business, Calgary campus) will look at how consumer identities can divide and unite in an increasingly polarized world. Dr. Paige Pope (kinesiology & physical education) will compare the effectiveness of various messages designed to reduce sedentary behaviour in older adults.

Other researchers receiving Insight Development Grants include Drs. Fangfang Li (psychology) and Noëlle Gunst-Leca (psychology). As well, Dr. Inge Genee (modern languages), co-applicant on a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta-based project called 21st century tools for Indigenous languages, received a Partnership Grant.

Dr. Carly Adams, a Board of Governors Research Chair (Tier II) and a kinesiology & physical education professor, and Dr. Darren Aoki (BA ’90), a professor in world history at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Plymouth and adjunct professor in history at the U of L, received an Insight Grant for their Transforming Canadian Nikkei oral history project. This grant allows them to continue exploring the cultural and social history of Canadian Nikkei (people of Japanese descent) in southern Alberta from 1950 to the 21st century in partnership with the Galt Museum & Archives, Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and the Nikkei Cultural Society of Lethbridge and Area.

Along with the faculty members who received awards, several U of L graduate students received SSHRC funding, including master’s students Jennifer Chernishenko, Margaret Ingram, Quinn Johnsson, Mary Siever, Michelle Sylvestre and Jaisie Walker and doctoral student Serena Visser.

Chernishenko will delve into how girls’ mindsets—whether growth oriented or fixed— affects their sense of belonging and participation in sports. Siever is studying the reasons why parenting and mothering, in particular, receive minimal support in post-secondary study. Sylvestre will examine how social issues and context get transferred into the medical world and how that’s connected to today’s consumption of pharmaceuticals. Visser will explore the impact institutional norms and practices within the mental health system have for trans and gender-diverse people.

Nikkei Memory Capture Project seeking citizens to contribute to post-war history of Japanese Canadians

trevor.kenney — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 16:49:34 +0000

Southern Alberta citizens are invited to contribute to a new transnational oral history collaboration exploring the stories of Japanese Canadians after the Second World War.

The Nikkei Memory Capture Project is a joint study involving the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the United Kingdom’s Plymouth ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, with support from the Galt Museum & Archives, Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden and the Nikkei Cultural Society of Lethbridge and Area. Analyzing the cultural and social history of Canadian Nikkei (people of Japanese descent) in the second half of the 20th century, the project seeks to capture a portion of history that has been severely underrepresented.

“That whole story of the post-war era, the way history has been written and heritage has been commemorated, so much of it has been about the victimization of the Canadians of Japanese descent and the recovery after that – the trauma,” says Dr. Darren Aoki (BA ’90), a southern Alberta-born Nikkei who is currently an assistant professor in world history at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Plymouth and adjunct associate professor in the Department of History at the U of L.

“While that story is fundamental, it gets so much attention that other stories are not coming forward. A lot of history glosses over this post-war time and jumps straight to Japanese Canadians being in a good place now, point A to point B, sad to happy. We’re looking for a better understanding of how that happened and if it’s really true.”

Aoki first started collecting oral histories from the local Japanese Canadian society in 2011, trying to discern what the Japanese projection of identity and culture was during the post-war era. He eventually approached the U of L and the Centre for Oral History and Tradition and began collaborating with Dr. Carly Adams when the full scope of the project began to take shape.

He describes how southern Alberta’s position as a key cultural centre for Japanese Canadians is largely ignored by history.

“This is one of the most important centres right across North America if not the Americas in terms of the movement of Japanese people during and after the war,” says Aoki. “We want some recognition of the importance of this area, an understanding if this centre had not prospered in the way it has, I think the way Japanese Canadian society has developed across Canada might be different. The experience of Japanese Canadians also offers a timely reminder of what it means to be Canadian and how we define who can and cannot be a citizen.”

Aoki, Adams and their research team are seeking to understand how, despite the Canadian government’s attempts to racially neutralize and culturally cleanse the Nikkei presence, Nikkei cultural heritage, enduring and adapting, generated civic value and cultural creativity. To do this, they want to hear the everyday stories of southern Albertans in that post-war era, articulating what Nikkei identity was – before the stories of this aging generation are lost forever.

As it is Canada’s 150th birthday, as well as the 50th birthdays for both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens, the timing was perfect for such a project to be undertaken as it speaks to multiculturalism locally, provincially and nationally. A trio of July events offer opportunities for southern Albertans to engage in this process.

“One of our goals with this project is to facilitate community partnerships and we’ve been really fortunate to collaborate with the Galt Museum, Nikka Yuko and the Nikkei Cultural Society,” says Adams. “We’re not just looking for Japanese Canadians to participate either, we’re interested in talking to everyone who was in the Lethbridge community during the 1950 to 1970 period. Everyone’s perspective is welcome.”

Galt Museum & Archives

Stop the Presses! Japanese-Canadians in 20th century Southern Alberta newspapers, July 1 to Sept. 30

The southern Alberta press regularly reported on Japanese Canadians across the 20th century. Shaped by what was happening locally, nationally and internationally, the way that Japanese Canadians were represented is a barometer of our social, cultural and moral attitudes. This interactive installation (developed with our student research team: Shannon Ingram, Simon Poulin Markle, Shelby Simpson, and Elaine Toth) presents a selection of headlines, articles and images from two of our region’s most important newspapers: The Lethbridge Herald and Raymond Recorder.

A launch for this three-month exhibition takes place July 9 from 1 to 5 p.m. and includes a keynote talk about the exhibit, a special address by Mr. Tosh Kanashiro (Japanese Garden 1967 Committee, City of Lethbridge), and a sake tasting hosted by Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens. This exciting afternoon is presented in partnership with the Centre for Oral History and Tradition (��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge) and Plymouth ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ (UK). Free admission.

Nikka Yuko Garden Dinner Series, July 13 & 18, 6 to 9 p.m. each night

Each evening, guests will enjoy a set menu (Koko Japanese Restaurant) followed by a panel discussion with local experts who will share their ideas, stories and memories about how food/sports contributed to the postwar histories of Japanese Canadians in southern Alberta.

Guests include Ken Nakagama (Nakagama Shoten), Totsy Nishimura (Raymond Buddhist Church Kobai), Pat Sassa (Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta), Hisae Price (small farming), (Wayne Kwan (Hiroba – U of L), Taka Kinjo (karate), Hollis Pickrell (curling), Greg Senda (judo), Mas Shigehiro (golf). Dr. Carly Adams will moderate both evenings. To book tickets please contact the Nikka Yuko Gardens at 403-328-3511 or info@nikkayuko.com.

Nikka Yuko Japanese-Canadian Friendship Gardens 50th Anniversary Festivities, July 14 & 15

The project will host the Nikkei Memory History Centre, including a Memory Capture Booth run by the student research team where visitors can share memories and stories. This is a very special year of celebration that provides an invaluable research opportunity to collect data for the project. The Golden Anniversary of the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden not only celebrates the establishment of this venerable cultural heritage site, it illuminates a moment at the centre of Nikkei, southern Albertan, Canadian, and trans-Pacific postwar history. Through the cultural and historical awareness that 2017 sparks, the project explores the Nikkei inheritance and how this can shape aspirations for the future. This Centre will be located in the Asian Market on July 14 from 12 to 5 p.m. and July 15 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

UNews - Darren Aoki

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