Book Launch for Beyond Sayonara, by Eitaro Muramoto with Sharon Kawasaki-Chan

A story of two brothers separated by war, internment, and silence. 

VJLS-JH invites the community to a special book launch event on Sunday, April 6th at VJLS-JH for a special project: Beyond Sayonara by Eitaro Muramoto, with Sharon Kawasaki-Chan.  

The book contains a collection of poems and illustrations by Sharon’s uncle, Eitaro, who died from tuberculosis in Japan in 1952 at the age of 26. As Sharon uncovered her uncle's hidden story by translating his poems and letters to her father, she embarked on a journey of family healing. Through this journey, Sharon discovers that the poems written by her uncle revealed a caring man who was observant, poetic, lonely, sometimes funny, and astonishingly realistic about his own fate. At the same time, she came to realize that her father had been carrying a heavy burden, reflected in his silence. He struggled with the pain of being unable to return to Japan to care for his younger brother.  

Sharon is weaving together the stories of the two brothers, separated by war, internment, and silence as part of her family's healing journey that connects the past and present. We invite you to join her on this journey to resonate with their experiences, find inspiration, and experience healing at the event.

Sharon Kawasaki-Chan, author

“This project has been about a 15-year journey that began with a small, thin, old, blue notebook with Japanese calligraphy and artful drawings that had been kept in my father’s headboard for decades. I had no idea that from this treasure-book, a deep journey of growth and learning about my roots would follow and create this book – a kind of modern treasure-book. During the process, I discovered so much about who my family was and where I came from. I learned more about the hardships that my grandparents endured and the strong bond between my Dad and his younger brother. What happened in the end was that I and my family became closer – both in my current family and with my family passed on.”

Comments from Katsuhiro Yoshida, Attorney at Kouki Law Office, Kyoto, Japan:

村元榮太郎さんの Bending Reed を読みました。詩、短歌、俳句、どれも心打つもので、 読みながら涙が出てきました。残念な気持ち、諦めきれない気持ち、 それでも精一杯生きようとする気持ち、お兄さんを慕う気持ち… どれも心打つものでした。 立派なものですね。

弁護士　吉田克弘

弁護士法人 弘希総合法律事務所

京都市

“I read Bending Reed by Eitaro Muramoto. The poems, tanka and haiku, in the book were so moving that tears came to my eyes as I read them. The feelings of disappointment, not being able to give up, still trying to live life to the fullest, and longing for his older brother all touched my heart. It is admirable that he left behind such a wonderful book.”

Please join us for a conversation between Sharon Kawasaki-Chan and Laura Saimoto on Sunday, April 6th from 1:30 to 3:00 pm at VJLS-JH, 487 Alexander St. The event will be primarily in English. A limited number of books will be available for sale at the event.

For more information, and to register, please visit https://vjls-jh.com/kawasaki-chan, or call 604-254-2551.