Obituary of Aiko Murakami

Aiko MurakamiLife came full circle for Aiko Murakami with dignity and grace. Aiko, 103, passed away peacefully at the Toronto Shepherd Lodge on September 2nd, 2020. She lived a long and amazing life. Aiko is survived by her son Michael, grandson Zakari, his wife Evelyn, and great-grandchildren Jace, Nellie, Clara, Leo, Marlee and Austin. And she will be missed by her nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents, her husband Dave Murakami, and her siblings Fumiko, Fusako, Tohachiro, Eichi, and Matsuye.Aiko was born in Steveston, BC, to Kinu and Shinjiro Kondo. She grew up in Victoria, BC, and by 1939, at the age of 22, Aiko was a representative for the Japanese Canadian Citizen League (JCCL) from Victoria, where she worked to promote the rights of Japanese Canadians against discriminatory legislations in Canada prior to World War II. When the executive order forced the removal of Japanese Canadians from their homes in the West Coast in 1942, newly married Aiko was sent to Kaslo and then to New Denver. Aiko became a teacher and principal at the New Denver Orchard internment camp school, helping to ensure that Japanese Canadian children received an education during the Internment years. After the war, the family moved to Ontario, initially to Hamilton. From there, they travelled to Toronto, to start again. Between the 1950s to 1980s, Aiko was heavily involved with the Japanese Canadian community in Toronto. She was the president of the Toronto Nisei Women’s Club. Members of the Toronto Nisei Women’s Club worked tirelessly to better the community including giving headway to establish a Japanese Canadian seniors home in Toronto (Momiji Health Care Society). Aiko and Dave also fought with the Toronto NAJC for an apology and Redress from the Canadian Government for the illegal and unjustified expulsion of Japanese Canadians from coastal British Columbia during the war. In 2009, Aiko addressed the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. Here is an excerpt of her powerful speech:In my 92 years I've seen some of the best and worst of Canadian Schools. Sadly, the Japanese Canadian Internment Camp Schools and the Indian Residential Schools represent what we are capable of - racially segregated schools. Canadians have come a long way since then, but we are far from perfect. Minister Wynne, in the long run, racism will live or die not because of what judges or policemen do, but because of what parents and teachers do when their children and students make decisions about other races or ethnic groups. Racism is learned - not an ethnic trait. So, as a parent, a former Enemy Alien and a former Internment Camp school principal, many thanks for your leadership in fighting racism, for fostering inclusive education and for initiating Ontario’s New Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy. Domo arigato! The family would like to express sincere appreciation to the staff at Shepherd Lodge, for their patient and loving care over 8 years. A celebration of life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are appreciated and can be made to the Momiji Healthcare Centre at 3555 Kingston Rd. Toronto, ON, M1M 3W4.