A new display in the Royal BC Museum is bringing the cultural impact of the Japanese-Canadian community into focus.
The Hayashi Photography Studio, a new display in Old Town, New Approach on the museum’s third floor, is a recreation of an early 20th-century photography studio in Cumberland, inspired by a 1917 photograph of the studio.
"It is encouraging to see this important and little-known slice of Japanese-Canadian history brought to life for new audiences,” says Sherri Shinobu Kajiwara, director/curator of Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre.
Established by Japanese-Canadian photographer Senjiro Hayashi in 1912, the Hayashi Photography Studio captured the lives and stories of the region and its people in Cumberland, creating a photographic record of Cumberland for nearly 30 years. After Hayashi's tenure, the studio was run by other Japanese-Canadian photographers, including Tokitaro Matsubuchi. Over the decades, the studio became an integral part of the community, preserving the region’s vibrant past and depicting the lives of its residents through photographs.
"The opening of the Hayashi Photography Studio display at the Royal BC Museum is an exciting occasion, celebrating the artistry and vision of Senjiro Hayashi, a true leader within the Cumberland community,” said Rosslyn Shipp, former executive director of the Cumberland Museum and Archives. “At the turn of the century, Hayashi used photography as a powerful medium of creative expression, capturing the vibrant diversity of Cumberland's people. His work and those who took up the practice after him offer us a unique glimpse into a pivotal era in our shared history, preserving stories that continue to inspire and connect us across generations.”
The photography studio closed in 1942 amid growing discrimination and the internment of Japanese Canadians. The final photographs captured were commissioned by the Canadian government to create identification cards for the local Japanese-Canadian community as part of their internment and forced relocation.
The Hayashi family said they are deeply honoured Senjiro Hayashi’s photography studio has been selected as the latest display in Old Town, saying it offers a unique and intimate glimpse into the lives of the people of Cumberland and Royston at the turn of the 20th century.
"Through their lenses, we are privileged to witness the stories of early immigrant communities in the Comox Valley – a narrative that resonates with the broader contributions of minority communities to the growth and development of British Columbia as a whole.”
This display is the latest addition to the reimagined Old Town, New Approach, and is located on the mezzanine level of the Grand Hotel. Over time, new stories and previously untold perspectives will be respectfully added to the human history galleries, engaging visitors with the rich history and lived experience of British Columbians.
“The Royal BC Museum is committed to enhancing its core galleries with fresh, engaging and inclusive content, such as the Hayashi Photography Studio,” says Tracey Drake, CEO of the Royal BC Museum.
