283:
423:
503:
345:, a veteran's organization, was founded in 1925, and the following year Japanese-Canadian veterans established British Columbia Branch No. 9. The branch petitioned for Japanese-Canadian rights, such as the right to vote, for which it gained the unanimous backing of the Canadian Legion in 1930. The branch made Mitsui its president in 1931. Mitsui and other members travelled to Victoria to promote the Provincial Elections Act, which would extend
515:
33:
479:
Mitsui and his wife Sugiko had four children: two girls, Lucy and Amy; and two boys, George (the eldest) and Harry (the youngest). During the war, the girls were sent to
Alberta, where they went to school, George went to Ontario, and only Harry stayed with his parents. Mitsui bequeathed his medals
470:
on 2 August 1985; the lamp had been extinguished in 1942. The 98-year-old Mitsui stated in an interview: "I've done my last duty to my comrades. They are gone but not forgotten." He was the last surviving member of the 228 Japanese-Canadian veterans of World War I when he died on 22 April
405:
for registration as an enemy alien. Mitsui wore his military medals and when the registering official asked him, "What can I do for you, Sarge?", Mitsui responded, "What are you doing to me? I served my country. You've taken everything away from me. ... What are the good of my medals?" He
377:
on behalf of
Japanese-Canadian veterans pledging "their unflinching loyalty to Canada as they did in the Last Great War". Nevertheless, existing anti-Japanese discrimination only increased as Japan became a war enemy, exacerbated by reports of the brutality of the Japanese forces in Hong Kong.
325:. Mitsui's command had suffered heavy deaths and casualties and he wrote of feeling "very depressed" after the death by machinegun fire of his friend Kumakichi Oura. Mitsui refused to discuss his experiences of the war after it ended. He was
195:. During World War II he and his family had their property confiscated and suffered Japanese Canadian internment, despite Mitsui's status as a decorated veteran of the First World War. He was a guest in 1985 at the ceremony in Vancouver's
899:
442:
passed in 1945 only increased the restrictions. Interned
Japanese Canadians were given the option of repatriation to Japan or relocation east of the Rocky Mountains; Mitsui opted to move with his family to
410:. Mitsui later stated, "I had complete confidence in the government that they wouldn't be doing anything to me because of being a veteran." All the family could later retrieve was a
909:
1088:
1098:
257:
to enlist with the 192nd
Overseas Battalion. He later stated he enlisted because he "believed that it would be for the benefit of Canada and for the benefit of Japan".
438:
In 1946 Mitsui and the other remaining 33 Japanese-Canadian veterans of World War I petitioned the
Canadian government to restore their civil rights, but the
406:
scattered his medals on the floor and table, and refused to wear them thereafter when they were returned to him. He and his family were detained in a facility in
294:
To deal with the poor
English of many of the Japanese recruits, they were placed under the command of the bilingual Mitsui. He led 35 Japanese Canadians in the
1024:
955:
350:
253:
posed fewer barriers; the majority of
Japanese-Canadian recruits travelled from British Columbia to enlist in Alberta. Mitsui travelled in 1916 to
1078:
1025:"Lest We Forget: A Dedication to Commemorate the Re-lighting of the War Memorial to Japanese Canadian Soldiers of World War I, August 2, 1985"
1083:
990:
888:
374:
275:. They suffered racial discrimination at first, but Mitsui stated that in battle "there was no time for such behaviour". He fought at the
1093:
401:
and sold it off, compensating the family with an estimated one-third of its total value. The RCMP took Mitsui and his daughter Lucy to
846:
242:
rejected a battalion of 171 volunteers the
Canadian Japanese Association had trained in early 1916, in which Mitsui had taken part.
203:; the lamp had been extinguished in 1942. He was the oldest surviving Japanese-Canadian veteran of World War I when he died.
349:
to
Japanese-Canadian war veterans in British Columbia. Their campaigning led to the passage of the bill by a single vote in the
439:
287:
272:
271:
on 25 January 1917. He and six other
Japanese-Canadian recruits arrived at the front in France on 5 March 1917 as part of the
246:
101:
1008:
463:
427:
311:
200:
184:
128:
480:
to his grandson David, who wore them to an exhibit dedicated to the Japanese-Canadian veterans of World War I at the
261:
493:
459:
each year Mitsui dressed himself in his uniform and medals and stayed at home, refusing to take part in public services.
397:
for the duration of the war. The government confiscated the Mitsui family's 17-acre property and poultry facilities in
394:
157:
407:
282:
224:
1039:
306:
for leadership, bravery in battle, and assistance to the wounded on the battlefield there. He also received the
963:
481:
362:
342:
245:
Strong feelings against Asian immigrants in British Columbia led to widespread discrimination, and even
238:
broke out in 1914. The federal government was reluctant to accept recruits from ethnic minorities; the
188:
422:
1073:
1068:
982:
We Went to War: The Story of the Japanese Canadians who Served During the First and Second World Wars
276:
164:
1001:
370:
942:
326:
268:
223:. Mitsui emigrated to Canada in 1908, where he worked at first as a waiter at the Union Club in
216:
192:
986:
925:
Dick, Lyle (September 2010). "Sergeant Masumi Mitsui and the Japanese Canadian War Memorial".
884:
857:
452:
307:
295:
239:
176:
168:
118:
934:
444:
393:
in 1942 deprived Canadians of Japanese descent of their property and rights, culminating in
390:
456:
383:
187:. Following the war, he served as president of British Columbia Branch No. 9 of the
851:
448:
373:
the next day brought Britain and the Commonwealth to war with Japan. Mitsui wrote the
303:
227:. He developed a strong command of English and drew notice for his leadership skills.
180:
144:
123:
1062:
946:
507:
402:
904:
519:
467:
431:
366:
196:
153:
1002:
Commemorating with (in) visibility: the case of the Japanese Canadian War Memorial
389:
The Canadian government declined Mitsui's offer of military service. A series of
980:
878:
880:
Gallant Canadians: the story of the Tenth Canadian Infantry Battalion, 1914–1919
379:
235:
149:
105:
148:(7 October 1887 – 22 April 1987), was a Japanese-born Canadian veteran of
861:
398:
299:
90:
32:
938:
249:
of 1907. The province accepted few Japanese volunteers, but neighbouring
900:"Walking the Western Front - from war hero to enemy alien and back again"
346:
330:
172:
434:, erected in honour of Japanese Canadians who served in World War I
322:
302:
and brought it back to use against the enemy. He received the British
254:
250:
220:
447:. After staying in a hostel in Toronto they moved to a peach farm in
824:
822:
411:
317:
After the war ended, Mitsui led his unit in December 1918 across the
212:
62:
1038:(3). National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre: 5–7. Archived from
298:, only five of whom survived. During the battle Mitsui retrieved a
421:
318:
281:
462:
Mitsui was a guest at the ceremony to relight the lamp on the
962:. Japanese Canadian Citizens' Association. Archived from
152:
who had his property confiscated and was detained during
867:
689:
687:
646:
644:
642:
629:
627:
625:
567:
565:
563:
561:
491:
828:
548:
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540:
883:. Calgary Highlanders Regimental Funds Foundation.
588:
586:
584:
582:
580:
111:
96:
86:
70:
48:
23:
365:on 7 December 1941 brought the United States into
956:"Sgt. Masumi Mitsui – last of the issei veterans"
279:and later was wounded in battle that 28 April.
8:
211:Masumi Mitsui was born on 7 October 1887 in
100:Commander of the Japanese Canadians of the
1089:Canadian military personnel of World War I
440:National Emergency Transitional Powers Act
31:
20:
1099:Canadian recipients of the Military Medal
856:. Vol. 21, no. 17. p. 25.
693:
163:In World War I Mitsui fought at the
954:Greenaway, John Endo (9 November 2013).
678:
650:
351:Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
219:, in Japan. His grandfather had been a
536:
498:
845:Alberta Report staff (11 April 1994).
199:for the relighting of the lamp on the
674:
592:
286:The Japanese-Canadian platoon of the
167:and led 35 Japanese Canadians in the
7:
813:
801:
789:
777:
765:
753:
741:
729:
717:
705:
662:
633:
616:
604:
571:
552:
267:that October and was posted to the
260:Mitsui embarked for Britain on the
847:"Now the medals can be worn again"
329:on 23 April 1919 with the rank of
14:
378:Japanese Canadians were labelled
877:Dancocks, Daniel George (1990).
513:
501:
414:Mitsui's son George had buried.
382:and suspected of spying for the
1023:Wakayama, Tamio (Autumn 2005).
1079:People from Fukuoka Prefecture
1009:University of British Columbia
927:The Canadian Historical Review
464:Japanese Canadian War Memorial
428:Japanese Canadian War Memorial
201:Japanese Canadian War Memorial
191:and pressed for the rights of
1:
38:
1084:Japanese emigrants to Canada
898:Daubs, Katie (12 May 2014).
870:'s Academic Search Complete
395:Japanese-Canadian internment
375:Minister of National Defence
158:Japanese-Canadian internment
16:Canadian World War I veteran
1094:Japanese-Canadian internees
408:Greenwood, British Columbia
357:World War II and internment
171:. He attained the rank of
1115:
482:Calgary Highlanders Museum
225:Victoria, British Columbia
829:Alberta Report staff 1994
30:
290:, Mitsui at the far left
872:(subscription required)
619:, p. 442–443, 445.
866: – via
435:
363:attack on Pearl Harbor
291:
939:10.1353/can.2010.0013
425:
327:honourably discharged
285:
269:9th Reserve Battalion
189:Royal Canadian Legion
1000:Kwok, Perry (2014).
277:Battle of Vimy Ridge
175:and was awarded the
165:Battle of Vimy Ridge
792:, pp. 457–459.
756:, pp. 453–454.
732:, pp. 452–453.
720:, pp. 448–449.
665:, pp. 446–447.
451:before settling in
371:attack on Hong Kong
288:10th Battalion, CEF
273:10th Battalion, CEF
247:Anti-Oriental Riots
102:10th Battalion, CEF
985:. Canada's Wings.
607:, p. 442–443.
484:on 12 March 1994.
436:
292:
264:Empress of Britain
217:Fukuoka Prefecture
193:Japanese Canadians
42: World War I
992:978-0-920002-30-8
979:Ito, Roy (1984).
890:978-0-9694616-0-9
780:, pp. 12–13.
391:Orders in Council
367:World War II
308:British War Medal
296:Battle of Hill 70
240:Cabinet of Canada
177:British War Medal
169:Battle of Hill 70
154:World War II
137:
136:
119:British War Medal
1106:
1054:
1052:
1050:
1044:
1029:
1019:
1017:
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996:
975:
973:
971:
950:
921:
919:
917:
908:. Archived from
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873:
865:
832:
826:
817:
811:
805:
799:
793:
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781:
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727:
721:
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575:
569:
556:
550:
518:
517:
516:
506:
505:
504:
497:
445:Southern Ontario
337:Between the wars
300:Lewis machinegun
236:World War I
150:World War I
147:
106:World War I
77:
58:
56:
43:
40:
35:
21:
1114:
1113:
1109:
1108:
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1045:on 2 April 2016
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1022:
1013:
1011:
1004:
999:
993:
978:
969:
967:
966:on 2 March 2016
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844:
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578:
570:
559:
551:
538:
534:
529:
524:
514:
512:
502:
500:
492:
490:
477:
466:in Vancouver's
457:Remembrance Day
430:in Vancouver's
420:
384:Empire of Japan
359:
343:Canadian Legion
339:
233:
209:
156:as part of the
143:
133:
82:
79:
75:
66:
60:
59:October 7, 1887
54:
52:
44:
41:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1061:
1060:
1056:
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997:
991:
976:
951:
933:(3): 435–463.
922:
912:on 15 May 2014
895:
889:
874:
854:/ Newsmagazine
852:Alberta Report
841:
839:
836:
834:
833:
818:
816:, p. 462.
806:
804:, p. 459.
794:
782:
770:
758:
746:
744:, p. 453.
734:
722:
710:
708:, p. 449.
698:
694:Greenaway 2013
683:
681:, p. 132.
667:
655:
638:
636:, p. 446.
621:
609:
597:
576:
574:, p. 447.
557:
555:, p. 296.
535:
533:
530:
528:
525:
523:
522:
510:
489:
486:
476:
473:
449:St. Catharines
419:
416:
358:
355:
338:
335:
304:Military Medal
232:
229:
208:
205:
181:Military Medal
135:
134:
132:
131:
126:
124:Military Medal
121:
115:
113:
109:
108:
98:
97:Known for
94:
93:
88:
84:
83:
80:
78:(aged 99)
74:April 22, 1987
72:
68:
67:
61:
50:
46:
45:
37:Masami Mitsui
36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1111:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1090:
1087:
1085:
1082:
1080:
1077:
1075:
1072:
1070:
1067:
1066:
1064:
1041:
1037:
1033:
1032:Nikkei Images
1026:
1021:
1010:
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994:
988:
984:
983:
977:
965:
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957:
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932:
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886:
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875:
869:
863:
859:
855:
853:
848:
843:
842:
837:
831:, p. 25.
830:
825:
823:
819:
815:
810:
807:
803:
798:
795:
791:
786:
783:
779:
774:
771:
768:, p. 12.
767:
762:
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750:
747:
743:
738:
735:
731:
726:
723:
719:
714:
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707:
702:
699:
695:
690:
688:
684:
680:
679:Dancocks 1990
676:
671:
668:
664:
659:
656:
652:
651:Wakayama 2005
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645:
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541:
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487:
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475:Personal life
474:
472:
469:
465:
460:
458:
454:
450:
446:
441:
433:
429:
424:
417:
415:
413:
412:samurai sword
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403:Hastings Park
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312:Victory Medal
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185:Victory Medal
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146:
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140:Masumi Mitsui
130:
129:Victory Medal
127:
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99:
95:
92:
89:
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73:
69:
64:
51:
47:
34:
29:
25:Masumi Mitsui
22:
19:
1047:. Retrieved
1040:the original
1035:
1031:
1012:. Retrieved
981:
968:. Retrieved
964:the original
960:The Bulletin
959:
930:
926:
914:. Retrieved
910:the original
905:Toronto Star
903:
879:
850:
809:
797:
785:
773:
761:
749:
737:
725:
713:
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658:
653:, p. 7.
612:
600:
478:
468:Stanley Park
461:
437:
432:Stanley Park
388:
380:enemy aliens
360:
340:
316:
293:
263:
259:
244:
234:
210:
197:Stanley Park
162:
139:
138:
76:(1987-04-22)
18:
1074:1987 deaths
1069:1887 births
1014:31 December
970:31 December
916:31 December
838:Works cited
231:World War I
87:Nationality
1063:Categories
1007:(Report).
675:Daubs 2014
593:Daubs 2014
527:References
418:Later life
369:, and the
55:1887-10-07
947:161218487
862:0225-0519
814:Dick 2010
802:Dick 2010
790:Dick 2010
778:Kwok 2014
766:Kwok 2014
754:Dick 2010
742:Dick 2010
730:Dick 2010
718:Dick 2010
706:Dick 2010
663:Dick 2010
634:Dick 2010
617:Dick 2010
605:Dick 2010
572:Dick 2010
532:Citations
399:Coquitlam
207:Biography
553:Ito 1984
488:See also
453:Hamilton
361:Japan's
347:suffrage
331:sergeant
173:sergeant
91:Canadian
1049:2 April
494:Portals
323:Cologne
255:Calgary
251:Alberta
221:samurai
104:during
65:, Japan
989:
945:
887:
860:
508:Canada
471:1987.
455:. On
213:Kokura
183:, and
112:Awards
81:Canada
63:Kokura
1043:(PDF)
1028:(PDF)
1005:(PDF)
943:S2CID
868:EBSCO
520:Japan
321:into
319:Rhine
1051:2016
1016:2015
987:ISBN
972:2015
918:2015
885:ISBN
858:ISSN
426:The
341:The
310:and
262:RMS
71:Died
49:Born
935:doi
1065::
1036:10
1034:.
1030:.
958:.
941:.
931:91
929:.
902:.
849:.
821:^
686:^
677:;
641:^
624:^
579:^
560:^
539:^
386:.
353:.
333:.
314:.
215:,
179:,
160:.
145:MM
142:,
39:c.
1053:.
1018:.
995:.
974:.
949:.
937::
920:.
893:.
864:.
696:.
595:.
496::
57:)
53:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
