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From Japan to Canadacurrent
Japan
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Seimatsu 'Sam' Takenaka was born in 1905 in Nishimuro-gun, Wakayama-ken, Japan. Seimatsu immigrated to Canada in 1925, at the age of nineteen. After a brief visit to Okanagan Centre where his sister and brother-in-law, Oei and Toyokichi Taiji lived, he joined his father in Alberta and worked in farming for two years. In 1927, Seimatsu returned to Okanagan Centre/Winfield and worked in the Aberdeen Orchard.3
Seimatsu Takenaka in Japan1920s
Japan
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Seimatsu Takenaka and Kimie Koyama were introduced by their families and married on December 1st, 1934 at the Winfield United Church. After the reception at the Winfield Hall, Seimatsu and Kimie walked up the hill to their first home, a picker's cabin at the V.R. McDonagh orchard. The cabin had one bedroom, a kitchen, and an outhouse. Here, their first three children were born, Nancy, who sadly passed away in infancy, Addie, and Harold.5
Seimatsu Takenaka's and Kimie Koyama's Wedding1 December 1934
Winfield, BC
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Seimatsu and Kimie's first daughter, Hisae Nancy was born in 1935. Baby Nancy passed away in 1936.The Takenaka's had seven more children: Addie, Harold, Judy, Grace, Gerry, Lawrence, and Ron.
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Baby Nancy Takenaka1935
Winfield, BC
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Seimatsu and Kimie lived and worked at the McDonagh orchard for five and a half years. In 1940, they moved across the lake to Fintry, where they worked for Mr. Stewart. In the fall of 1941, they returned to the McDonagh orchard in Winfield.9
Seimatsu Takenaka at V.R. McDonagh's pickers' cabin1934-1935
Winfield, BC
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At the McDonagh orchard in Winfield, Seimatsu managed the orchards year round, pruning in the winter, spraying the trees, digging ditches for irrigation, and harvesting the fruit. Each fall, he would pick 175 to 200 boxes of apples per day until the harvest was finished.11
Seimatsu Takenaka at the orchard1934-1935
Winfield, BC
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Kimie Takenaka's father, Eijiro Koyama, lived nearby and was known as 'Grandpa Koyama' to their children. Here, Kimie and Seimatsu with babies Addie (R) and Harold (L) are at Eijiro Koyama's house in Winfield.13
Seimatsu and Kimie Takenaka with children Harold and Adelaide1939
Winfield, BC
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Seimatsu and Kimie Takenaka lived at Fintry, on the west side of Lake Okanagan, for a year and a half. |
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