Vancouver Japanese Language School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vancouver Japanese Language Schoolバンクーバー日本語学校
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Vancouver Japanese Language School
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
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| Coordinates | 49°17′03″N 123°05′38″W / 49.2841°N 123.0938°W |
| Information | |
| Established | 12 January 1906 |
| Website | vjls-jh.com |
The Vancouver Japanese Language School (バンクーバー日本語学校, Vancouver Nihongo Gakko) is a special language school. You can find it in Japantown, a part of Vancouver, British Columbia. It started way back in 1906. Back then, it was called the Vancouver Japanese Citizens' School (晩香坡共立日本國民學校, Vancouver Japanese Citizens' School). This makes it the oldest Japanese language school in all of Canada!
Contents
A Look Back: The School's Story
How It All Began
The school first opened its doors on January 12, 1906. A Japanese diplomat named Marquis Komura Jutarō helped pay for it to be built. At first, it was a full-time school. It taught regular school subjects to Japanese-Canadian students. They followed the same lessons as schools in Japan.
Changing Focus
In 1919, the school changed its plan. It stopped teaching general subjects. Instead, it focused on helping Japanese-Canadians learn both English and Japanese. This was a big change! At this time, the school also got a new name: the Japanese Language School.
A Difficult Time
Things changed again when the Pacific War started on December 7, 1941. The school was forced to close down. The next year, many Japanese-Canadians were moved away from their homes. This sad time was called Japanese-Canadian internment. The school building was empty for many years.
Reopening and Return
The school finally reopened in 1952. For a short time, it was located at the Vancouver Buddhist Church. But in 1953, it moved back to its original building. This was a happy moment for the community.
A Special Building
Today, the school building is located at 475 Alexander Street in Vancouver. It's a very important place! The City of Vancouver has named it a heritage building. This means it's a symbol of the Japanese-Canadian community. It also reminds people of the internment period.
On June 20, 2019, the building became a National Historic Site. This is a huge honor! It was recognized for being the oldest and biggest Japanese language school in Canada. It's also special because it's one of the few places that was given back to Japanese-Canadians after the internment.
