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14-737: Vancouver Japanese Language School ( バンクーバー日本語学校 , Vancouver Nihongo Gakko ) is a language school located in Japantown , Vancouver , BC. Founded in 1906 as Vancouver Kyoritsu Nihon Kokumin Gakko ( 晩香坡共立日本國民學校 , Vancouver Japanese Citizens' School ) , it is the oldest Japanese language school in Canada. The school opened on January 12, 1906 as the Japanese Citizens' School, its construction having been funded by Japanese diplomat Marquis Komura Jutarō . It taught general subjects to Japanese-Canadians in

28-517: A Japanese language school with as many as one thousand students. By 1921, the number of Japanese stores and businesses on the street had reached 578. The kenjinkai (prefecture association) organized mutual aid for the community, mitigating the need for welfare during the Great Depression. During World War II, Japanese Canadians had their property confiscated and were sent to internment camps and prisoner of war camps , and Japantown ceased to be

42-471: A concentration of Japanese immigrants. Japantown ceased to be a distinct Japanese ethnic area during World War II when Japanese Canadians had their property confiscated and were interned . Although some Japanese returned after the war, the community never revived to its original state as the properties of Japanese Canadians were permanently forfeited by the Canadian government. As Japantown ceased to exist,

56-494: A distinct Japanese ethnic area. Although some Japanese returned to the area after the war, the community never revived as the properties confiscated by the Canadian government were never returned. The area is now part of Strathcona in the Downtown Eastside and the area is informally known as Railtown. Along Powell Street, a few remnants of the former Japanese neighbourhood still exist. The Vancouver Buddhist Church, formerly

70-445: Is a language school located in Japantown , Vancouver , BC. Founded in 1906 as Vancouver Kyoritsu Nihon Kokumin Gakko ( 晩香坡共立日本國民學校 , Vancouver Japanese Citizens' School ) , it is the oldest Japanese language school in Canada. The school opened on January 12, 1906 as the Japanese Citizens' School, its construction having been funded by Japanese diplomat Marquis Komura Jutarō . It taught general subjects to Japanese-Canadians in

84-626: The Japanese Methodist Church, still exists at 220 Jackson Avenue at Powell, as does the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall at 475 and 487 Alexander Street at Jackson, which is the only property in Canada that was ever returned to Japanese Canadians after World War II. Until the boom in Japanese restaurants in the 1980s, two restaurants on Powell Street were among the only Japanese dining establishments in

98-558: The area as a full-time Japanese school following the Japanese curriculum. General subjects were dropped in 1919 in favour of teaching Japanese-Canadians both English and Japanese, and the school was renamed the Japanese Language School. After the Pacific War broke out on December 7, 1941, the school was forced to close, and Japanese-Canadians were relocated the following year as part of Japanese-Canadian internment . The school

112-437: The area as a full-time Japanese school following the Japanese curriculum. General subjects were dropped in 1919 in favour of teaching Japanese-Canadians both English and Japanese, and the school was renamed the Japanese Language School. After the Pacific War broke out on December 7, 1941, the school was forced to close, and Japanese-Canadians were relocated the following year as part of Japanese-Canadian internment . The school

126-532: The area is often referred to and marketed as Railtown by real estate developers. Japantown was attacked on 7 September 1907 by the Asiatic Exclusion League , which smashed many windows in parts of Chinatown, and then moved on to Japantown. Four waves of attacks ensued, with the mob repulsed by armed Japantown residents who had received warning of the attacks in Chinatown. In spite of injuries inflicted by

140-591: The city. Oppenheimer Park (Powell Street Grounds) in this area was the home for Asahi baseball team and it is the site for the annual two-day Powell Street Festival , which began in 1977. It is held every August, in the first weekend of the month, and is a community celebration of Japanese heritage as well as the alternative and street culture of the Downtown Eastside. Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall Vancouver Japanese Language School ( バンクーバー日本語学校 , Vancouver Nihongo Gakko )

154-489: The oldest and largest Japanese language school in the country, but also because it is a rare documented case of property returned to Japanese-Canadians following the period of internment. Japantown, Vancouver Japantown , Little Tokyo or Paueru-gai ( パウエル街 , lit. "Powell Street") is an old neighbourhood in Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, located east of Gastown and north of Chinatown , that once had

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168-529: The residents, the rioters smashed the windows of more than 50 stores and businesses on Powell Street, causing thousands of dollars of damage. The centenary of the attacks was marked by a Riot Walk through Chinatown and Japantown on 7 September 2007. Prior to World War II , in addition to having many restaurants, hotels and businesses, the district was home to three Japanese daily papers (Tiriku Nippo, Canada Shimbun, and Minshu), three Buddhist churches, several sentō (Chitose, Tokiwa, Kotobuki, and Matsunoyu), and

182-564: Was not re-opened until 1952, when it was temporarily housed at Vancouver Buddhist Church before returning to the VJLS building in 1953. The existing building located on 475 Alexander Street in Vancouver is designated as a heritage building by the City of Vancouver as a symbol of Japanese-Canadian community and the internment. The building was named a National Historic Site on June 20, 2019, for its role as

196-416: Was not re-opened until 1952, when it was temporarily housed at Vancouver Buddhist Church before returning to the VJLS building in 1953. The existing building located on 475 Alexander Street in Vancouver is designated as a heritage building by the City of Vancouver as a symbol of Japanese-Canadian community and the internment. The building was named a National Historic Site on June 20, 2019, for its role as

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