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From Japan to Canada
current
Japan

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Denbei Kobayashi was born in 1878 in Nishimura, Nagano-ken, Japan. He had planned to immigrate to the United States, but instead took a ship to Canada and arrived in Vancouver, B.C. in 1906. He first obtained work as a fisherman on the Skeena River in northwestern British Columbia, then joined a Canadian Pacific Railway work gang and was sent to the Okanagan to help prepare the roadbed for the Okanagan branch line. In the spring of 1907 Denbei visited the Coldstream Ranch, where he met Eijiro Koyama, the 'boss' at the ranch. He stayed on to work in the new orchards until 1909, when he moved to Oyama and then to Okanagan Centre.

Denbei Kobayashi became a Canadian citizen in April, 1908, describing the day as, "the most memorable day of his life".

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Denbei Kobayashi

Credits:
Andrew Hiroshi Kobayashi
David Kobayashi
Lake Country Museum, interview 2011

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The Grandview Hotel, Okanagan Centre
1910
Okanagan Centre, BC

Credits:
Lake Country Museum, Image #1997.000.029

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In 1909-1910, Denbei Kobayashi was employed for a brief time as a cook at the Grandview Hotel in Okanagan Centre. Here, he learned quickly and improved his English. Denbei also learned to cook 'western style', and frequently consulted his cookbook of western recipes with notations written in Japanese for quick reference.

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Denbei Kobayashi's Cookbook

Credits:
Cookbook pages courtesy of Sharon Koyama Hope

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Denbei Kobayashi remained in Okanagan Centre, where he obtained a contract to build fences for the Okanagan Valley Land Company. When this was completed, he undertook a larger contract to plant 800 acres of fruit trees at the Rainbow Ranche, and employed up to fifteen men over the following three years. The contract paid 4 cents for each tree planted, netting the workers about $2.50 per day, a generous wage in those days.

In 1913, Denbei returned to Japan and married Miss Hiro Yanagisawa in February, 1914.

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Denbei and Hiro Kobayashi
5 February 1914
Japan

Credits:
Sakuji and Sachiyo (Kobayashi) Koyama collection

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Hiro Yanagisawa, also of Nagano-ken, was betrothed to Denbei Kobayashi in 1906. She waited patiently for Denbei to return from Canada, and to pass the time, began experimenting with western hairstyles and fashions. Here, Hiro (L) is pictured standing next to her sister Yomeno (R), with her hair fashioned in a western pompadour style.

Hiro and Denbei were married in February, 1914, and they travelled to Canada in March. The journey took several weeks by ship, train, and sternwheeler, and a reception was held to welcome them when they arrived in Okanagan Centre. The next day, Hiro began working as a cook for the Okanagan Valley Land Company.

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Hiro Yanagisawa (Kobayashi) with her sister Yomeno
1907-1912
Japan

Credits:
Sakuji and Sachiyo (Kobayashi) Koyama collection

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Brothers Denbei Kobayashi (R) and Kizo 'George' Kobayashi (L). Denbei immigrated first to Canada in 1906, and his younger brother Kizo followed in 1907. Denbei and Kizo worked together at the Coldstream Ranch until 1909, when Denbei moved to Oyama and Okanagan Centre. Kizo stayed at the Coldstream until 1917 and moved to Okanagan Centre in 1918.

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Denbei Kobayashi and Kizo Kobayashi
1920s
Okanagan Centre, BC

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Denbei and Hiro had seven children. Here they are pictured with their son Tsutai 'Sigh' and their daughter Caroline Aiko.

In 1914, Denbei purchased a ten acre farm in Okanagan Centre, planting the land and rebuilding the existing house while both he and Hiro continued to work for the Okanagan Valley Land Company and other employers.

Denbei and Hiro, with baby Sigh,moved into a larger house on Camp Road in Okanagan Centre in 1915 and started up their own orchard. They grew several varieties of berries and sold them until their fruit trees matured enough to produce. It was on this location that the family started the first independent packing house in the community. It was also here that three more Kobayashi children were born; Caroline Aiko, Blanche Yoshiko, and Andrew Hiroshi.

In 1924 Mr. Kobayashi bought a second plot of land overlooking Okanagan Lake. This land already had a large house, one that would more comfortably fit the growing family, and was within walking distance of the school for the older children. This would be the permanent residence for the Kobayashi family and it was in this house that the three youngest were born, Ruth Sachiyo, Allan Osamu and Susan Suzuyo.

Both Denbei and Hiro were active in the growing community and were well-liked and respected by all.

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Denbei Kobayashi and family
1918
Okanagan Centre, BC

Credits:
Sakuji and Sachiyo (Kobayashi) Koyama collection