Welcome to Historic Joy Kogawa House
Historic Joy Kogawa House is the childhood home of Canadian author Joy Kogawa. Joy and her family lived in the house until 1942, when they were sent to an internment camp along with thousands of other Canadians of Japanese descent. Now used as a site for author residencies and literary events, the house stands as a historical reminder of the internment experience of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War, and by extension, to the experiences of diverse cultural and ethnic groups within Canadian society.
Latest News
Living in a Garden of Chapbooks
Ever since I can recall, I’ve been a maker. Not of anything structurally sound, internally robust, or directly useful to the feeding, clothing, or sheltering of anything or anyone. No, I’ve been obsessed with making ephemera, tiny little objects and experiences that...
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En Parlant Japonais
When I arrive at the Kogawa House and I press the code to let myself in, words leap out of my mouth to fill the empty house: “Tada ima!” The direct translation of this Japanese expression is: here now. A minimal way of saying: I’m home.
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Views to the Interior
I can’t believe my good fortune to be doing my first residency at the Joy Kogawa House. I will be living not only in Joy Kogawa’s childhood home, which has provided her and countless Canadians with so much inspiration, but I will also be living blocks away from where my mother lived in the late 1930s.
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About the House
Historic Joy Kogawa House is the childhood home of acclaimed Canadian author Joy Kogawa.
Residencies
Historic Joy Kogawa House offers writers a unique place to live and work. Find out more and submit and application here.
Make a Donation
Historic Joy Kogawa House is not-for-profit and donations are vital to maintaining our programs and the house itself.
About Joy Kogawa
Joy Kogawa is best known as the author of Obasan. She has also worked to educate the public about the internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War.
Tours
Come and visit a site of national significance. We run tours of Historic Joy Kogawa House year-round for school groups and the general public.
Become a Member
Show your support by becoming a member of the Historic Joy Kogawa House Society.