Seattle, WA—Naomi Harrington, 29, sits in her Wallingford home with luggage that includes an ukulele made by her dad, cookware and a notebook. Harrington is a fourth generation Japanese Canadian living in the US for work. Photo by Kayla Isomura, as created for The Suitcase Project
Seattle, WA—Mari Hirabayashi, 42, sits in her living room with her children, Theodore, 5, and Ely, 1, Kennedy. Photo by Kayla Isomura, as created for The Suitcase Project
Seattle, WA—Gabrielle Kazuko Nomura Gainor, 30, is a gosei Japanese American living in Seattle. In March 2018, she was documented for The Suitcase Project with her rokusei daughter, Kiyomi, who is four months old. While Nomura Gainor prepared her family’s baggage, her husband and her discussed whether he would join them or not in an incarceration situation. Because of Kiyomi’s age, he said he would. Photo by Kayla Isomura, as created for The Suitcase Project
TJ Okamura stands near a memorial wall in Seattle, Wash. honouring Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II and those who have served in the military. Currently a reservist, Okamura said both of his grandfathers’ decisions to serve during World War II, despite facing discrimination, inspired him to enlist in the U.S. Army.
Ottawa, Ont.—Alex Okuda-Rayfuse, 27, stands inside the kitchen of his recently purchased home in Centretown. Last fall, he said he purchased the rowhouse due to its location, charm and aesthetic. “Call me old-fashioned but this house reminds me of old Montreal or the places I saw growing up,” he said. Born and raised in Ottawa, he noted that he enjoys the city for its small-town vibe, yet he said it remains large enough to be “relevant.”
Trenton, Ont.—MCpl Windy Lafreniere, 40, kneels next to a group of medicinal plants in the Aboriginal Garden at 8 Wing in the Canadian Forces Base Trenton. Lafreniere, a Mobile Support Equipment Operator, is a survivor of the Sixties Scoop and has connected to her Indigenous roots through the Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group. Through this committee, Lafreniere said she provides supports to other Indigenous serving members. In October, she moved from Borden to Trenton and said she was immediately drawn to the gardens, describing the space as “serenity.” Photo by Kayla Isomura
Kitchener, Ont.—Dozens of people rally together, protesting the Sudanese military coup, in Victoria Park. All ages gathered in front of the clocktower and were chanting, singing and drumming. In some chants, protestors called for military coup leader Gen Abdel Fattah Burhan to be taken to International Criminal Court. Photo by Kayla Isomura
Ottawa, Ont.—Hugo N. lays on the floor of his apartment, surrounded by his collection of Japanese fans. His interest in the fans stems from his relationship to his Japanese heritage. As a teenager, he participated in Japanese traditional dance classes and was gifted his first two fans from a dance teacher in São Paulo, Brazil. While he has never counted his collection, N. estimates to have at least 100 fans. Photo by Kayla Isomura, as shot for The Pioneer
Belleville, Ont.—Devon Porter, 51, owner of the Caribbean Jerk Spot, leans against the front counter of the restaurant. The restaurant originally opened in 2018 but Porter only acquired it last year, fulfilling a life-long dream, he said. According to Porter, it was the first Caribbean restaurant to open in the city. What makes it unique, he said, is the authenticity of the food. His only challenge is some herbs and spices being milder in the area compared to what he would get in Jamaica. While Porter said the dishes at the Caribbean Jerk Spot are tasty, he prepares other dishes when he goes home for variety. “Definitely you eat something else when you go home,” he said. Photo by Kayla Isomura
Vancouver, B.C.—Sabrina Symington plays with a pair of figurines in her Chinatown art studio. Photo by Kayla Isomura
Renton, WA—Participants of a fundraiser for the Japanese Cultural & Community Center rally at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington. Photo by Kayla Isomura
High River, Alta.—Colton Melby from Burneyville, Okla. is bucked from his horse in the final saddle bronc competition at Guy Weadick Days at the rodeo grounds. Photo by Kayla Isomura, as shot for the High River Times/Postmedia Network
New Westminster, B.C.—A firefighter candidate enters an empty house in the Sapperton area of New Westminster as part of the city’s firefighter and rescue training scenarios. Candidates removed props from the house, cleared smoked and hosed the house from the outside and inside. The house, soon to be demolished, was granted use from the city. Photo by Kayla Isomura
New Westminster, B.C.—A firefighter candidate enters an empty house in the Sapperton area of New Westminster as part of the city’s firefighter and rescue training scenarios. Candidates removed props from the house, cleared smoked and hosed the house from the outside and inside. The house, soon to be demolished, was granted use from the city. Photo by Kayla Isomura
Vancouver, B.C.—Suzanne Louie sews a blanket made from repurposed cashmere scraps on the floor of her master bedroom. Photo by Kayla Isomura
Richmond, B.C.—Fran Isomura holds bowl of dried sardines, one of many dishes eaten annually in Japanese culture New Year's. Photo by Kayla Isomura
Vancouver, B.C.—Mike Allen and Katheryn Petersen peak outside of the Firehall Arts Centre as part of a physically distanced performance during the pandemic. The pair perform under the name Teapot in the Tuba, a “miniature circus-jazz orchestra.” Photo by Kayla Isomura
Vancouver, B.C.—Mike Allen and Katheryn Petersen peak outside of the Firehall Arts Centre as part of a physically distanced performance during the pandemic. The pair perform under the name Teapot in the Tuba, a “miniature circus-jazz orchestra.” Photo by Kayla Isomura
Belleville, Ont.—Efio-Ita Ekpenyong, 18, takes a break during a workout at Loyalist College on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. A defensive lineman for the Quinte Skyhawks, Ekpenyong will spend five times a week at the school’s fitness centre. As part of his five-year contract with the Skyhawks, a team of the Canadian Junior Football League, Ekpenyong said he is expected to train and attend practices throughout the year. Photo by Kayla Isomura
Belleville, Ont.—Efio-Ita Ekpenyong, 18, takes a break during a workout at Loyalist College on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. A defensive lineman for the Quinte Skyhawks, Ekpenyong will spend five times a week at the school’s fitness centre. As part of his five-year contract with the Skyhawks, a team of the Canadian Junior Football League, Ekpenyong said he is expected to train and attend practices throughout the year. Photo by Kayla Isomura
London, Ont.—Carter Stephens, quarterback of the Quinte Skyhawks, clutches the ball during a game against the London Beefeaters at City Wide Sports Park as Mathieu Labelle and Jarett Hicks (right) tackle him. The last game of their regular season for the Canadian Junior Football League, the Skyhawks lost 0-49. Photo by Kayla Isomura
Richmond, B.C.—chén xiǎo zhēng, 24, rollerblades near the imperial landing docks along the dyke in Steveston. “I'd blade with my family after dinner everyday because my parents went for walks on the dyke,” he said. “Now it's surprising how much of an integral part of my identity it encapsulates because I have bladed in every city I've traveled to.” Photo by Kayla Isomura, as captured for the Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden (Journeying through Chinatowns, 2019)
Picton, Ont.—Talitha Tolles, 29, stands in front of Wisdom of the Universe, a mural representing Métis beadwork based on an original painting by Christi Belcourt, behind St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. As a queer, Métis artist, Tolles said she experiences the complexities of identity daily but as a Métis woman, she said she has a commitment to her family and community to uphold traditions and to pass them on to future generations. This International Women’s Day, Tolles said breaking the bias means defying stereotypes. “Our world holds many forms of stereotypes and discrimination against women, but specifically Indigenous women. Every day I wake up and make the choice to defy those stereotypes,” she said. “My people are up against systems set out to eliminate us, and yet we continue to survive and in many cases thrive.” After moving to Prince Edward County, Tolles said the Wisdom of the Universe has made her feel both welcomed and at home.
Picture Butte, Alta.—The inside of a sugar beet is shown by a farmer at a sugar beet farm previously owned by Norris Taguchi during a tour of southern Alberta organized by the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre. Taguchi grew up in Sunbury, now known as North Delta, in B.C. before his family moved to Raymond, Alta. in 1942 to labour on a sugar beet farm. When asked why he stayed in Alberta following the Second World war, Taguchi said he couldn’t afford to leave. “We were put on a train to go to ghost towns... but [the government] didn't give us money to go back,” he said. “I was quite poor at one time." Photo by Kayla Isomura
![Picture Butte, Alta.—The inside of a sugar beet is shown by a farmer at a sugar beet farm previously owned by Norris Taguchi during a tour of southern Alberta organized by the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre. Taguchi grew up in Sunbury, now known as North Delta, in B.C. before his family moved to Raymond, Alta. in 1942 to labour on a sugar beet farm. When asked why he stayed in Alberta following the Second World war, Taguchi said he couldn’t afford to leave. “We were put on a train to go to ghost towns... but [the government] didn't give us money to go back,” he said. “I was quite poor at one time." Photo by Kayla Isomura](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/1bf90af5-7431-4938-9fd5-e8e1e4bd36af/1ad422c2-1426-4185-82a8-ef17e70b3bb8_rw_1920.jpg?h=1a6622fa3b9f8aa2fd4ffe67c8805ef2)