2021 Obon Grave Washing a huge success!

Thank you so much to all of the wonderful volunteers who were able to come and make this year’s grave washing an amazing success. Although the forecast was for quite warm weather, as is typical at Ross Bay Cemetery, it was quite windy and cool. We had a great group of around 25 volunteers clean all of the graves of early the Japanese pioneers and Japanese-Canadians buried there. In addition so many flowers were donated that we even had some left over. Arigatou gozaimashita!
Membership Renewal Reminder
HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR MEMBERSHIP YET?
Have you renewed your VNCS membership yet? ($10 for individual, $15 for family)
There are 3 ways to renew your membership:
- e-transfer to vncstreasurer@shaw.ca (Please make sure you write your name clearly) and please send your name/details to in a separate email so we can keep the database up to date.
- Online with PayPal at here or
- Mail a cheque payable to Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society to 4401 Tremblay Drive, Victoria BC, V8N 4W6
会員の更新はお済みですか?
VNCSの会費は個人会員$10、家族会員$15です。更新の方法は3つ:
- e-transfer: vncstreasurer@shaw.ca (お名前を明記してください)
- オンライン VNCSウェブサイトからペイパルで または
Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society宛ての小切手を4401 Tremblay Drive, Victoria BC, V8N 4W6 まで郵送してください。
Annual Obon Tour of Ross Bay Cemetery
Annual Obon Tour of Ross Bay Cemetery
Sunday, August 15, 2021
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM PDT
The VNCS Heritage Committee will hold the annual Obon walking tour of Japanese gravesites in Ross Bay Cemetery in person, sharing the stories of several of the 152 pioneers interred.
Meet at Ross Bay Cemetery entrance at the corner of Stannard Avenue and Fairfield Road. COVID-19 precaution measures will be in place.
Cost:
VNCS members: Free
Old Cemeteries Society members: $2
General: $5
No registration required.
For more information, email here.
VNCS Japanese Language Class 2021 (Adult ONLINE)
Dear VNCS members and friends:
VNCS is pleased to announce that the Adult Beginner & Intermediate ONLINE Japanese Courses will commence in September. The details are as follows:
Lesson Dates:
September 20, 27; October 4, 18, 25; November 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 (10 Mondays)
Lesson Times:
Beginner class: 7:00pm-8:00pm (office hours: 6:30pm-7:00pm)
Intermediate class: 8:05pm-9:05pm (office hours: 9:05pm-9:35pm)
Number of Students Expected: 7 – 20 (in each class on a first come basis)
Age of Students: 19 years old and up
Textbook:
Easy Japanese やさしい日本語 Conversation, NHK world Japan, 2019 *
Easy Japanese やさしい日本語 Grammar, NHK world Japan, 2015*
*These are free online materials.
Fees: $75 for VNCS members and $95 for non-members
Instructor: Dr. Hiroko Noro, Associate Professor Emerita, University of Victoria
Registration: Please email Mieko Fedrau for more information and registration form.
We hope to see many of you in our Zoom class!
Ganbatte!
2021 Obon Grave Washing at Ross Bay Cemetery
DATE: Sunday, August 15, 2021
TIME: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM– Washing of Headstones/Graves
LOCATION: Ross Bay Cemetery, 1495 Fairfield Road, Victoria – Kakehashi Stone area
Continue reading 2021 Obon Grave Washing at Ross Bay Cemetery
2021 Japanese Cultural Fair Survey
It is again time to plan for our annual Japanese Cultural Fair. Last year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and community safety restrictions, we could not hold an in-person fair, but instead held an online cultural fair broadcast from the Belfry Theatre.
With the BC Restart Plan well underway we would like to gauge past and potential fair attendee’s interest in the VNCS pursuing an in-person fair or whether we should stay virtual for one more year, or even potentially postpone the fair till the Spring of 2022. YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT and we would love to hear from you to help us in our planning!
Please complete our short, anonymous survey by Sunday, July 25. You can also send your feedback to info@vncs.ca. Arigatou!!!
BC REDRESS – News from the JC Survivors Health & Wellness Fund

NEWS FROM THE JC SURVIVORS
HEALTH & WELLNESS FUND
OUTREACH
Our team has been contacting many survivors, small groups, and community organizations, across the country to get a sense of the needs of our seniors’ populations. We have learned that there are a number of active survivors involved in wellness activities run by sub-groups of community organizations. We have also learned there are a large number of frail survivors trying to live safely who are supported by family and friends for the activities of daily living. Some of these seniors have no supports. This group is largely underserved and there is a need for more community supports and health care services for these frail seniors.
CRITERIA
Nikkei Seniors is pleased to announce the release of the Grant Information, with criteria, for the Japanese Canadian Survivors Health & Wellness Fund (JCSHWF). jcwellness.org
There are three categories of eligibility: Organizations, Small Groups, and Underserved Individuals. Organizations may apply for up to two grants. Small groups and the underserved may apply for one grant only.
The maximum awards are up to $10,000 per application for organizations, $3000 for small groups, and $750 for underserved individuals.
Check out jcwellness.org for updated information.
INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR THE JC SURVIVORS HEALTH & WELLNESS FUND
Four (4) General Zoom sessions are scheduled to explain and repeat the Grant Information and answer questions. More meetings will be added as necessary.
The scheduled JCSHWF – General Grant Information Sessions are on Zoom. You must register in advance for the meetings and the registration links are listed below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
GRANT INFO MEETING
Monday, July 5 10am PST
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qd-qppjsrH9X81RP_3GKMrhxwGrwHzhtu
GRANT INFO MEETING
Monday, July 5 5:30pm PST
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwscOuoqzkiE9ChbKqLKUlzPZrYNakY-14V
GRANT INFO MEETING
Sunday, July 11 3pm PST
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pd-mqrj4tHty4ho3sMVA5-WbfFOr9FaVQ
GRANT INFO MEETING
Saturday, July 17 10am PST
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMldOqhpj0jEty4_nglIMM3lzmVGJ9T7GQV
Outreach will continue throughout this period. Please share this information with your loved ones.
For additional Grant Information, visit our website at jcwellness.org
Continue reading BC REDRESS – News from the JC Survivors Health & Wellness Fund
Virtual Hanami Celebration
In celebration of Asian Heritage Month, the VNCS will be holding a virtual event over Zoom:
Sunday, May 30, 2021
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM PDT
Questions?
Ikebana Lesson
Sake Tasting
Shino will be sampling two types of sake during her presentation:
Nigori – Hakutsuru Sayuri (300ml, $9.49)
Sparkling – Yoshi No Gawa Awayuki (300ml, 13.99)
Pick up one or both bottles ahead of time and taste along with her from the comfort of your home! Check for local availability using the “Where to buy” button in the BC Liquor Store links provided.
Support the Community
We encourage you to help support our community however you are able, perhaps by ordering take-out from your favourite local restaurants, making a donation to the VNCS, or simply attending as we celebrate Asian heritage and culture this May.
Eyes Open: An Anti-Asian Racism PSA
#AsianHeritageMonth #FaceRace