1626: Choju Matsushita

1626: Choju Matsushita

Choju Matsushita

Matsushita was born on 08 May 1890. He was a fruit farmer. His family includes Hatsu Matsushita (wife; nee Hatsu Yoshida) and Lily Matsushita [also listed as Nobu Matsushita] [“legally adopted” on 04 June 1938 “from the family of Yoshida Kiyomatsu”] (adopted daughter). He lived on Rural Route No. 2, Como Lake Road, New Westminster, BC [also, Burquitlam, BC], was forcibly uprooted to Hastings Park, Vancouver, BC and Lemon Creek, Slocan, BC, and was exiled to Japan on 02 October 1945. His listed seized property includes: dwelling houses, barn, garage, fruit house, wood shed, and rhubarb house on 9 1/2 acre farm [related to the Veteran’s Land Act]; fruit and berry crops, including 4 acres of strawberries, 1/8 acres of red currants, 1/2 acres of asparagus, 3/4 acres of raspberries, 1/2 acres of rhubarb, and 50 tree plants; farm machinery and tools; horse (mare); vehicle, 1926 Ford; household belongings; gramophone.
Sex M
Date of Birth 08 May 1890
Nationality Japanese national
Locations after uprooting
Lemon Creek, BC
Date exiled to Japan 02 October 1945
Locations before uprooting
New Westminster
Reel
C-9322 (788-880)
Type Person
Custodian Number 1626
Name Choju Matsushita
Dates
Not Before: 30 March 1942
Not After: 20 February 1957
Excerpt Dear Sir: We thank you very much for your kindness during our stay for over twenty years. We were evacuated to interior camp in Slocan. We were in Slocan for four years. In 1945 we were to have a choice of going east of rockies or repatriating to Japan. They said we are not allowed to return to the Coast. So we thought if we aren’t allowed to return to our place, and we were too old to go east of the rockies, the only way was to repatirate [sic] to Japan. After living in Burquitlam for over twenty years and leaving our property after clearing the land and buildings, and also many kinds of fruit trees, we were very disheartened. As you know, everybody used to say, what a beautiful farm you have. (From a letter by Choju Matsushita to the Corporation of the District of Coquitlam)

Metadata

Title

1626: Choju Matsushita

Credits

Metadata Author: Erin Chan
Publication Information: See Terms of Use for publication and licensing information.

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.