Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the World War II: Documentary Film Screening "Landscapes of Home" with Director's Talk
2025/8/23
On August 23, the Embassy of Japan hosted a documentary film screening and director’s talk on “Landscapes of Home”, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the War, in collaboration with the Ottawa Japanese Community Association (OJCA) in the auditorium of the Embassy. Ms. Alice Il Shin, director, Ms. Eiko Kawabe-Brown, producer, and Dr. Henry Ryusuke Shibata, Ottawa-residing Japanese Canadian who is one of the featured subjects in the film were present and joined the talk after the screening.
Prior to the screening, Ambassador Yamanouchi said in his opening remarks that this year marks 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He emphasized the importance of learning from history to ensure that such tragedies are never repeated, and highlighted the significance of reflecting through this film on how we can act to achieve world peace.
Then Ms. Caroline Ishii, executive director of the National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC), gave her remarks touching on the wartime internment experiences of Japanese Canadians, stressing that history speaks not just about events but also about human beings, and underlining the importance of passing these stories on to future generations.
“Landscapes of Home” explores the lives of two doctors: Dr. Henry Ryusuke Shibata (1930-present), a Japanese Canadian born in Vancouver and Dr. Stuart Cooper Robinson (1921-2011), a Canadian born and raised in a Canadian missionary family in Nagoya, Japan. As the deterioration of relations between Japan and Canada during the Second World War, both were forced to leave their homes and old lives behind. The film follows them overcoming their scars of war while regenerating for their lost identities in new and unfamiliar lands.
After the film, a talk was held with Dr. Shibata, Ms. Shin, Ms. Kawabe-Brown and moderator Ms. Melisa Kamibayashi, former president of OJCA, where they shared their background story leading up to the production, behind the scenes stories, and their wish for peace.
The event was attended by about 90 people and the audience renewed their determinations to attain peace after learning about these two doctors’ lives full of ups and downs.
Prior to the screening, Ambassador Yamanouchi said in his opening remarks that this year marks 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He emphasized the importance of learning from history to ensure that such tragedies are never repeated, and highlighted the significance of reflecting through this film on how we can act to achieve world peace.
Then Ms. Caroline Ishii, executive director of the National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC), gave her remarks touching on the wartime internment experiences of Japanese Canadians, stressing that history speaks not just about events but also about human beings, and underlining the importance of passing these stories on to future generations.
“Landscapes of Home” explores the lives of two doctors: Dr. Henry Ryusuke Shibata (1930-present), a Japanese Canadian born in Vancouver and Dr. Stuart Cooper Robinson (1921-2011), a Canadian born and raised in a Canadian missionary family in Nagoya, Japan. As the deterioration of relations between Japan and Canada during the Second World War, both were forced to leave their homes and old lives behind. The film follows them overcoming their scars of war while regenerating for their lost identities in new and unfamiliar lands.
After the film, a talk was held with Dr. Shibata, Ms. Shin, Ms. Kawabe-Brown and moderator Ms. Melisa Kamibayashi, former president of OJCA, where they shared their background story leading up to the production, behind the scenes stories, and their wish for peace.
The event was attended by about 90 people and the audience renewed their determinations to attain peace after learning about these two doctors’ lives full of ups and downs.
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| Ambassador Yamanouchi delivering opening remarks |
Ms. Ishii, Executive Director of NAJC delivering remarks |
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| Panel Talk |
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| (from left) Ms. Kamibayashi, Ambassador Yamanouchi, Dr. Shibata, Ms. Shin and Ms. Kawabe-Brown | |||