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Nanaimo's Japanese-Canadian community rings in the new year

Central Vancouver Island Japanese-Canadian Society gathers for mochi-making tradition

Nanaimo's Japanese-Canadian community celebrated the new year with Japanese culture and tradition this past weekend.

The Central Vancouver Island Japanese-Canadian Society held a new year celebration on Sunday, Jan. 12, at the Beban Park Social Centre.

There was mochi making, taiko drumming and other cultural performances, and tea, mochi, miso soup and desserts were served.

Yoshiaki Takahashi, the new consul general of Japan in Vancouver, attended and wished good health and prosperity to all. He said Nanaimo holds a special place in his memories, as he attended an international maritime conference in the Harbour City about 10 years ago and the autumn leaves and ships at the marina left a "vivid impression" on him.

"I also feel a sense of admiration for these wonderful international and intergenerational exchanges that continue to thrive here…" he said. "Although the Japanese-Canadian committee in Nanaimo is geographically distant from Vancouver, you have fostered unique bonds of many years and cherished Japanese culture and tradition across generations. I think this is truly wonderful."



About the Author: Greg Sakaki

I have been in the community newspaper business for two decades, all of those years with Black Press Media.
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