Current Initiatives

An historical and cultural review has been completed for the area around Powell Street, formerly known as "Japantown". Learn more

Detailed Historical overview

Several phases of growth and development have occurred over the years:

Nihonmachi: The Early Years

Powell Street - Growth, Prosperity and Loss

Powell Grounds - Asahi and the Labour Movement

Church and Cultural Precinct

Map of Character Buildings in the Area

Powell Street: Evaluation of Historical & Cultural Significance presentation (2.78mb)

Oppenheimer/Japantown

Powell Street – Growth, Prosperity and Loss

Political and economic trends were a strong influence on the development of Powell Street, especially with the recession in the early 1890s and the Sino-Japanese War, and another minor recession coinciding with the Russo-Japanese war. The area, however, generally retained its economic strength and by 1907 was on the upswing again. The influx of a significant number of immigrants that year was not ignored by those on the outside. In September 1907, a white supremacist rally organized by the American Knights of Labour led to the anti-Asian riots: its targets were the Chinese and Japanese neighbourhoods. The government was put in an awkward position: Britain and Japan were allies with strong ties. Nevertheless, shortly after the riots, immigration from Japan was limited to 400 individuals per year. Despite this setback, the community had extended well beyond the original Powell Street corridor to encompass a much larger area, extending into Strathcona and -- by the 1930s -- beyond into many other neighbourhoods in the city. The community was forced to become more self-sufficient, and Powell Street became the economic, social and cultural focus of Japanese-Canadians, not only those in Vancouver, but for those across the province.

A mix of wealthy and middle class families reflected the changes in occupation and background of those living and working in the community. The commercial core of Powell Street had extended east from Main Street so that by 1914 virtually every property on the 300 block had been redeveloped with a commercial building or was a house converted to a store. Powell Street’s vibrancy continued into the Depression, its prosperity reflected in the 1937 expansion of the Maikawa Department Store.

With the declaration of war between Canada and Japan on December 7, 1941, life for the residents of Powell Street changed dramatically. Under the War Measures Act, the limited civil rights previously granted were suspended and they were forbidden to travel beyond the boundaries of their neighbourhood. Despite proclaims of loyalty and dedication to the country which many of them were born in, the Japanese-Canadian community faced heightened levels of racism and resentment by the rest of Vancouver. The government responded by authorizing the forced removal of the entire community in 1942. The administration of this unparalleled suspension of human rights in Canada was handled at the building that still stands at 314 Powell. Buildings at Hastings Park served as dormitories for men, women and children. Men were initially sent to camps in the interior, and women and children soon followed with few possessions in tow. All property of value -– houses, cars, boats, even cameras (for security reasons) -– were confiscated. Any hope for a return to normalcy after the war -– and the return of property -- was dashed when authorization was given to the “Custodian of Enemy Properties” to sell off seized property in 1943.

With nothing left back home, and prohibited from returning to the coast until 1949, many moved east after the war into Alberta and Ontario. Some faced deportation back to Japan. The only piece of property ever returned to the community was the Vancouver Japanese Language School. To this day it serves as a reminder of the historical and cultural roots of the community.