The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1947-09-02
By KAsRY. oYAMA

ny Ah6E1 OAhNhh
WINNIPEG am going back
to Vancouver. It's only for a visit
since I have no wish to go bRcg
there permanently, and even II I
did they wouldn't allow me to. any
way because I belong to the Japan
csc race.
NY main purpose for the trip is
sentimental. I want to find out
how Vancouver will appear. what
emotions and memories 1t will e.
woke. to an average Nisei who goes
back five years after the 1912 eva
cuation.
want to walk Gown DWELL Street
along the section which was once
called LAT Tokyo" I want to sit
down for q coke at Ernie's Ice
Cream parlor at the corner OF
Main and Powell-if the place is
still open. I want to stop at Sun
rcking Chop suey for noodles
Chinese style.
I waht to take q look at the for
nier japanese language school on
Alexander st. to see how it wea-
thered the post-evecuation years.
and the japanese United Church
ON Powell and jackson.
I want to pay visit, too. TO the
Buddhist Temple with It's bell tow
er sporting a crooked cross, then
cross the street to a modest dwell
ing. ct 556h E. Cordova st. which
was my home before evacuation.
Ny agenda Is crammed with
things I want to do In Vancouver.
Like going for a ride on the Giant
Dipper at Hastings Park, dive into
the big pool at Lynn Valley, visit
the Japanese graves at Mountain
View Cemetery and lay a few flow
ers at the grave Of my brother and
sister.
I also want to find out II they're
still catching sinners at the Gore
Avenue docks, and If they're still
selling good potato chips at Kitsi-
laIio beach. and who walks now
along. the dykes In Steveston.
!, How would 1t feel to go back to
Vancouver and do all these thingsp
] have often wondered about II
during the past five years. Now
that I am actually starting out on
that journey. I'm little afraid
that shall be let down because ]
have been dreaming too much.
Having been born In Vancouver
and having lived there until was
twenty five, it Is OF easy to erase
the memory of thss city from my
mind. Nor do I want to, ever
though I came here swearing
would when I was hustled out OF
that city with the rest Of the $4,000
Japs.
think most of my fellow Mise
who used to live In Vancouver
who shared the same experiences
and moved In the same Powell
Street atmosphere, must. like my.
self, have felt the desire to go bach
once more-just once would do
to pay a social call to that home
town" which was an awfully nice
place to live, but which let U.
down In Q crisis.
I'm making that trip now.
1 don't know II I'll get arount
to doing all the things that Nv,
planned to do. or that I would fee
like doing thoCe things once an
in Vancouver. I'll soon find out.
| I've got my G. p. r. ticket which
the ticket agent at Main and Port.
age slipped into an attractive fold.
er for me. And as wait for /,
taxi to take re down to the Winni,
peg station, the tune of a popuial
song runs irritatingly through m,
min: I'm gonna take q sentimen,
tai journey. -"
In outward appearance. Powell
street Is quite the came but an
not SO sure. There is not the souns
Of laughter and music. The Pow
ell grounds are strange, and. quiet
i When. I come and see the chang
the effect is depressing. I am mad,
to realize this isn't my home tow
any more. I don't belong here, .ans
I'm not wanted here. have n,
home town.