Remembered as “Little Tokyo,” Vancouver’s Japantown once stood vibrant. What remains whispers tales of resilience and loss.
Japantown, also known as Paueru-gai, was a thriving hub. It was located east of Gastown and north of Chinatown. This area once teemed with Japanese immigrants. The story of Japantown is one of community, racism, and rebirth.
The late 1870s marked the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants. Many found work at the Hastings Mill. Others took jobs in fishing, mining, and logging. By the early 1890s, Powell Street became the heart of Japantown. It was known in Japanese as Paueru-gai.
By the early 20th century, Japantown faced violent racism. In 1907, anti-Asian rioters attacked Chinatown. They then moved to Japantown, smashing windows and causing damage. Armed residents defended their homes and businesses. The federal government later compensated the victims. However, anti-Asian sentiment remained.
Despite restrictions, Japantown continued to grow. “Picture brides” arrived, ending the “bachelor society.” By the early 1920s, nearly 600 Japanese businesses thrived. Japantown offered bathhouses, sushi restaurants, and martial arts clubs. The first Buddhist temple in Canada was established here. The Vancouver Japanese Language School, Canada’s oldest, still stands on Alexander Street.
Before World War II, about 8,000 Japanese residents lived in Japantown. After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, everything changed. In 1942, the government forced over 22,000 Japanese Canadians into internment camps. Their property was seized and sold.
Japanese Canadians could not return to Vancouver until 1949. Some returned to Japantown, but many did not. The community never fully recovered. The properties confiscated were never returned.
Today, a few remnants of Japantown remain. The Vancouver Buddhist Church still stands at 220 Jackson Avenue. The Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall are at 475 and 487 Alexander Street. This hall is the only property ever returned to Japanese Canadians. Oppenheimer Park, once home to the Asahi baseball team, hosts the annual Powell Street Festival. This festival celebrates Japanese heritage.
Before the 1980s boom in Japanese restaurants, two establishments on Powell Street were the only ones in the city. Aki Restaurant was the first Vancouver restaurant to sell raw fish.
The Vancouver Japanese Language School is a National Historic Site. It stands as a reminder of the past. It is a symbol of resilience. Japantown’s story is a vital part of Vancouver’s history. It reflects both the struggles and triumphs of a community.