Ichirohe Hisaoka and Kin Hirashima ’ s 70 th anniversary celebration article in the Lethbridge Herald
Day-long family picnics were held , but the first organized Hisaoka reunion did not occur until 1968 , in Pincher Creek . Fifty-five family members gathered for three fun-filled days . The celebration of Gichan ’ s eightieth birthday , with all his children in attendance , was a highlight . This reunion began a legacy of honouring Bachan and Gichan , and their children — our parents — for their “ commitment to family .”
The next three reunions in 1971 , 1976 , and 1981 were occasions to honour Kin and Ichirohe on their sixtieth , sixty-fifth , and seventieth wedding anniversaries ; this last one brought accolades from the Prime Minister and Queen Elizabeth . An extensive write-up of the happy couple and their family was printed in the Lethbridge Herald .
Bachan died at age 89 in 1982 , and Gichan at age 98 in 1986 . Although these brave immigrants , dedicated parents , and grandparents had now left us , their children and grandchildren continued with the reunions in memory of them .
A fifth reunion was held in 1988 in Fernie , followed by a sixth in 1991 at Panorama . A marvellous book entitled Hisaoka Family Memoirs was presented to all living children and grandchildren of Kin and Ichirohe . This valuable document was a compilation of written memories from the original Hisaoka children and their spouses , as well as the grandchildren .
Bachan and Gichan ’ s 60 th anniversary in April 1971
It also featured the lineage of all the families belonging to the clan , at that time numbering 137 .
A seventh reunion was held in Lethbridge in 1994 , followed by an eighth in Mission City in 1997 . Family members toured Mission to see the locations of former farms and orchards and to drive the streets on which many had lived — definitely a solemn tour .
Six more reunions in Waterton , Fernie , White Rock , Lethbridge , Sherwood Park , and Kelowna , from 2000 to 2018 , brought family together from all over Canada , the United States , and Japan . Even though sons , daughters , and in-laws from the Hisaoka family had passed away , the next generation continued to organize reunions to honour those who had gone before them . At every reunion , time was set aside to participate in memorial services for our ancestors .
Our fifteenth reunion will be held in 2023 in Kelowna . Only three children survive from the original family , but there are over 350 grandchildren , great-grandchildren , and great-great-grandchildren . A variety of cultures have joined the extended family , who are welcomed and loved unconditionally . I am so happy to be one of them .
Ruby Okamura met her husband at university in Edmonton , before she launched a forty-year teaching career with all grades from kindergarten to Grade Nine , in Lethbridge , Sherwood Park , and Taichung , Taiwan . Since both their retirements from teaching , Ruby and Mas enjoy travelling , hobbies , and grandparenting .
Mas and Ruby thank cousins Marjene and Kathy Turnbull for their dedicated work in compiling articles for the memoirs and the family calendar . news & views WINTER 2022 | 31