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From Japan to Canada
current
Japan

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Kizo Kobayashi was born in 1886 in Nishimura, Nagano-ken, Japan. In 1907, Kizo followed his brother Denbei to Canada, and joined him at the Coldstream Ranch in the Okanagan. Kizo remained at the Coldstream until 1917. In 1917, he returned to Japan seeking a wife, and he met and married Ikue Kitagawara of a neighbouring village. Kizo returned to Canada with his bride Ikue in 1918 and they settled in Okanagan Centre.

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Denbei Kobayashi and Kizo Kobayashi
1920s
Okanagan Centre, BC

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Kizo Kobayashi and Ikue Kitagawara at the occasion of their wedding in 1917.

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Kizo Kobayashi and Ikue Kitagawara wedding
1917
Japan

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Ikue Kitagawara (R), age 19, Japan
1917
Japan

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Ikue Kitagawara was born in 1898, in the prefecture of Nagano-ken, Japan. An adventurous young woman, Ikue was yearning to see the world and first considered moving to Brazil. When she heard that a young man from Canada was visiting a nearby village and seeking a wife, Ikue thought, "I'll go!". She was only nineteen years old at the time.

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Kizo and Ikue Kobayashi

Credits:
Mieko Kobayashi Kawano
Margaret Kobayashi Yamamoto
Lake Country Museum, interview 2011

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Kizo and Ikue Kobayashi
1917
Winfield, BC

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Upon their arrival in Okanagan Centre, Kizo and Ikue worked for the Okanagan Valley Land Company, Kizo in the orchards and Ikue as a cook. In January, 1921, Kizo purchased twenty acres of bush land from the Land Company for $2000. While continuing to work for the Land Company, he cleared his own property by hand, cutting down trees and brush and pulling out stumps. He used the pine lumber to build a 24 by 40 foot log house, which had two bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, and a dining room. The logs were chinked with mud for insulation. A well was dug close by for water.

The Kobayashi family lived in this house until 1941, when they built a larger house on Camp Road with electricity and indoor plumbing.

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Kizo and Ikue Kobayashi's house on Camp Road
1923-1924
Okanagan Centre, BC

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The Okanagan Valley Land Company built the Japanese work camp in 1909. The cabins, bunkhouse, and communal kitchen were located close to the Land Company's orchards, which extended from Okanagan Centre across to Winfield. Many of the Japanese pioneers worked first for the Land Company before building their own homes and farms.

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Japanese Worker's Camp, Camp Road, Okanagan Centre
1910
Okanagan Centre, BC

Credits:
Lake Country Museum, Image #1997.000.005

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Kizo Kobayashi (R) with his brother Denbei and their families.