1567: Fumiko Shimizu

1567: Fumiko Shimizu

Fumiko Shimizu

Shimizu was born on 29 September 1920. She was a housemaid. Her family includes Hana Shimizu (mother; nee Hana Miyagi), Kiyoshi Shimizu (father; deceased at time of file), and James Shimizu (brother). Her home address is listed as 2547 Government Street, Victoria, BC. She was forcibly uprooted to New Denver, BC, where she worked for Cash Service Store for two years, later leaving to join her family at 19 Grandview Avenue, Toronto, ON. Her listed seized property includes a set of silver flatware that Shimizu considered “the most important” of her sentimental belongings. It was her gift to her mother, built up each holiday – Mother’s Day, Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, her mother’s birthday – since Shimizu was sixteen years old. A handwritten letter from Shimizu identifies the property she considers most sentimental, “most dear to our hearts,” and explains what each means to her. She also includes the names of people she feels can testify as to her character. Other listed seized property includes a Crossley Model Standard Radio, two Brownie box cameras, and her stamp and coin collection.
Sex F
Date of Birth 29 September 1920
Nationality Canadian born
Locations after uprooting
New Denver, BC
Locations before uprooting
Victoria
Reel
C-9321 (1229-1254)
Type Person
Custodian Number 1567
Name Fumiko Shimizu
Dates
Not Before: 30 March 1942
Not After: 27 June 1946
Case File Also Contains
This file also contains a letter from H.F Green, Protection Department, stating that Victoria had no thefts of Japanese Canadian property.
Excerpt As I mentioned before I have known the Shimizu family for many years - the children were all born in Victoria and could not speak Japanese. The father died about 3 years ago; I attended the funeral at Sands Funeral Parlors and was amazed at the number of white people present – also telegrams of sympathy from white people who were out of town at the time all expressing sorrow at the loss of such a good man and kind friend. Mr. Shimizu had become a naturalized Canadian over 30 years before his death. (Excerpt from a letter written by Marguerite Havelock to the Office of the Custodian, asking permission to ship Fumiko Shimizu's radio to her at New Denver, BC")

Metadata

Title

1567: Fumiko Shimizu

Credits

Metadata Author: Lindy Marks
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Terminology

Readers of these historical materials will encounter derogatory references to Japanese Canadians and euphemisms used to obscure the intent and impacts of the internment and dispossession. While these are important realities of the history, the Landscapes of Injustice Research Collective urges users to carefully consider their own terminological choices in writing and speaking about this topic today as we confront past injustice. See our statement on terminology, and related sources here.