Fonds 2012.012 - Mia Tsuji – The Tsuji Communications Inc.

The fonds consists of 6 series sorted by production companies and subject.
Series 1: NHK, Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai
Tsuji Communications became the distributor/agent for NHK programs from Japan. The first series includes four popular TV series in Japan. The first includes the popular Japanese show Kōhaku Uta Gassen, translated to the Japanese Red and White Show. It is an annual New Year’s Eve television special produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK. The show is broadcast live simultaneously on television and radio by the NHK network and TCI productions. The Japanese Red and White show part of the series features master tapes with edited and satellite versions, from 1976 to 2000. Also included are the promos, clips, and episodes from Toronto Kohaku. The second Oshin is a popular series in Japan, episodes 1-271, in English subtitles and cue sheets to explain the episode’s content. The third is Japan Video Topics, short 15 minutes episodes on different topics in Japan. Lastly is the NHK Weekly News and various news clips aired on the NHK network.
Series 2: Tsuji Communications (TCI)
Susan and Roy Tsuji created the TCI Communication company, sometimes labelled as Tsuji Productions in 1980. Their popular Television series Hello Japan was a half-hour weekly program produced and hosted by Susan Tsuji. The episodes and clips spread from 1977 to 2000, including the short program Hello Toronto. It consisted of interviews, musical performances, and on-location shoots of community and public events (1984-2004). The Tsuji’s captured and recorded the visits of visiting dignitaries (such as the Prince and Princess of Japan). They capture interactions the Japanese Canadian community with federal and provincial politicians, conferences pertaining to the National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC), Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC), and the Redress Campaign and more. As the Tsuji Family was very well connected in their community, they could attract all the important guests to speak on all the topics of importance to the community.
Series 3: Tsuji Family
This series consists primarily of personal videos, documents and objects that once belonged to Susan and Roy Tsuji. The Tsuji’s main objective was to promote Japanese culture to Japanese Canadians, not only in media but to support local schools for children to learn the language and culture of Japan. The textual documents include the materials and textbooks used by the Language International (LI) schools. These textual documents include the international students’ textbooks, schedules, and journals, which students had to keep studying the Japanese language.
Series 4: National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC)
The collection also features video recordings and textual documentation of the Redress Campaign and the 10th Anniversary of the Redress. The NAJC negotiated the historic Redress Settlement on behalf of all Japanese Canadians who suffered injustices and acts of discrimination during World War II. Led by the NAJC, the movement sought to hold the Government of Canada accountable for the severe human rights violations suffered by the community between 1941 and 1949. Many Japanese Canadians were interned and deported, while others were sent to the sugar beet farms of Alberta and Manitoba. The property of Japanese Canadians was seized by the Government and sold without their consent. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and NAJC President Art Miki ended a successful campaign that led to the historic signing of the Redress agreement on September 22, 1988. The Tsuji family interviewed and captured key events and spokespersons from the NAJC for the Redress journey across Canada to Ottawa. Most notable interviews were held for Roger Obata, Joy Kogawa and Art Miki, the president of the NAJC.
The fonds includes footage of the march and progress to Ottawa, city hall, and the Redress rally to celebrate their victory. Interviews of Bob Ito, Roger Obata, various Prime Ministers, and supporters of the Redress campaign are also included in the fond. Footage of the Redress campaign spreads from 1983 to 1997. The last sub-series is the 10th Anniversary Banquet and Gala of the Redress, the gala was to thank the leaders of the NAJC, such as the tribute to Roger Obata.
Series 5: Television Commercials
The Tsuji family also obtained a vast collection of 30 seconds and 60 seconds commercials aired during their programs. Many created by Japanese companies such as the Japan Airline, Sanyo, Mita; and western commercials.
Series 6: Miscellaneous
The final series of the collections are the Miscellaneous. Overall, this collection is a balanced combination of entertainment, drama, local affairs, and international programming of interest to the Japanese Canadian community from the 1980s to 2001.
Please note that this fonds contains confidential information in relation to organizers names, and contact information. This fonds contains primarily textual documents to the Redress campaign, and the media format includes tapes such as Umatic, BetacamSP, and VHS. Also included is Roy’s vinyl collection, Hi8 cassettes, floppy disks, and photographs with colour prints of the singers from the Red and White show.